When is heat shield needed?

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  • #4584
    Carol – Mid-Mo.
    Participant

      I know there are lots of variables, but at what temperature is a heat shield needed? All my boxes are in full sun and we are supposed to have mid to upper 80’s in next few days. My babies are now 5 days old – not very large yet, but there are 5 in there. I would like to wait until I can take off wren guard in a few days so I don’t have so much “garb” on the box. Opinions? My one asset is that this box is one of my originals with a 4X4″ floor size – little larger than my Gilwood boxes.

      #4587
      Lisa
      Participant

        It’s been 80’s here for months. It’s the Texas people who get thee 100’s who have problems. Nicole and I both had great luck last year with late nestings with placing a styrofoam roof up with pins. I will be facing the same scenario with my latest batch. I found a 1.99 styrofoam cooler lid at Walgreen’s last year that did fine. I moved my box to shade and then realized I have too many snakes next to my shady pond and put it back in full sun.

        #4588
        Lisa
        Participant

          I really wouldn’t do a thing with 80’s temps.

          #4609
          dogsandbirds
          Moderator

            I wouldn’t do a thing with temps in the 80s provided the entrance faces away from the afternoon sun and the box is well ventilated. The entrance, even when you uncover it and remove the guard, does not help with ventilation. It’s the vents on the sides of the box that matter.

            Gin
            Atlanta, GA

            #4611
            Carol – Mid-Mo.
            Participant

              Okay, box has good ventilation & does not face afternoon sun, so will leave it alone for now and hopefully they will fledge before temps reach in the 90’s. Thanks all.

              #4623

              Carol,
              My nest box is in the open on 3 sides and has the afternoon and evening sun. It faces SSW. The only “shield” that I have used is this 14″ x 14″ piece of extra T-111 siding that I had left over from a shed project. The temps here get into the mid to high 90’s, and have reached 100+ during the summer but I have never lost a bird to the heat. My neighbors on both sides do have some tall trees that provide shade in the morning and late evening but the midday sun is full on. I have thought about putting some foam insulation on the west (left) side of the box but have not done that yet. If it looks like we are going to have a sustained mid 90’s+ heatwave I might go ahead and do it. As it has been in the 80’s here I am just watching the activity to see if everything stays normal.
              David

              David
              Stafford, VA

              #4625
              Lisa
              Participant

                My poor box looks crazier and crazier and HOA is on my trail. Praying I can avoid heat shield until wren guard comes off but doubt it!

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