What to do with enclosed “hummingbird house”?

December 26, 2023 9:30 AM

We were gifted an enclosed, turned wood “hummingbird house”. As handmade wood-crafted items go, it’s lovely; but an internet search for where/how to hang it turned up the info that hummingbirds don’t actually use enclosed bird houses (though there seem to be many YouTube videos about how to make this style of turned wood birdhouse that claim to be for hummingbirds - maybe nest/house preferences vary by hummingbird species?). What else could we use this item for? Would other animals use it instead? Or is there some decorative or crafty use you clever and creative folks can think of?
posted by eviemath to Home & Garden (17 answers total)

Paint the top red, add a couple sleepy eyes, and glue a cotton ball beard on it and you have a yawning gnome. I dunno what you do with a yawning gnome though.
posted by seanmpuckett at 10:28 AM on December 26, 2023 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Side note: I dislike gnomes. Of more relevance: it has a smooth varnish (likely for weather-proofing) on the outside. (Not paint-friendly.) Some not-identical but kind of similar reference images from the internet: 1, 2. Shape-wise, ours is a little fancier than those images, but it doesn’t have any burned-wood designs in the side like most of the other images I’m seeing online.
posted by eviemath at 11:06 AM on December 26, 2023

What is the size of the aperture and cavity? There are some other small cavity nesters that could potentially use it.
posted by agentofselection at 11:09 AM on December 26, 2023

Does the top open/unscrew?
posted by trig at 11:10 AM on December 26, 2023 [1 favorite]

This might work well for house wrens. They prefer a smaller entryway. Depends on where you live; wrens vary in size by geography, not sure if you have house wrens, your entryway size Maybe check with your local Audubon/Bird Alliance/Ornithological (facebook) group? Sorry my internet is spotty but you can google to get more specifics on wren house requirements and see if they live in your area. I have never heard of hummers living in houses (most build adorable nests out of moss and feathers), but maybe some do?
posted by j810c at 11:35 AM on December 26, 2023 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: What is the size of the aperture and cavity?

3/4-inch diameter opening. No idea what size cavity.

Does the top open/unscrew?

Nope, it’s all one piece.
posted by eviemath at 1:24 PM on December 26, 2023

What about putting an air plant in the cavity so it becomes a plant hanger?
posted by wicked_sassy at 1:47 PM on December 26, 2023 [6 favorites]

It looks like a 1-inch diameter hole is recommended for house wrens, with an interior depth of 6 inches. The opening might be close enough to the recommended size to work but I'm guessing the overall size is probably a bit too small. Every other species has an even larger recommended hole size.

Maybe you could find a toy animal the right size to be posed sticking its head or rear end out of the hole.
posted by Redstart at 1:55 PM on December 26, 2023 [1 favorite]

I would personally use this as a cute landing pad for keys or spare change or something. It's not weatherproof and the animal is it for will never use it. I would also be cute as décor with a fake bird sitting in it, mounted in a wreath.
posted by blnkfrnk at 2:06 PM on December 26, 2023 [3 favorites]

Drill out the hole to be oval: bluebird box. Bluebirds like a shallow box with an oval entrance, apparently (and they need nest sites to protect them from house sparrows, starlings and even wrens).

If it's not weatherproof, varnish it with something bird-safe.
posted by Pallas Athena at 2:11 PM on December 26, 2023

I have one and I hung it inside because I think it’s lovely. Depending on the size, it could also be a Christmas tree ornament if you celebrate that.
posted by manageyourexpectations at 2:24 PM on December 26, 2023 [1 favorite]

If you're in a warmer climate, geckos will inhabit the house if there are no birds using it. So, perhaps that is an option.
posted by mightshould at 2:54 PM on December 26, 2023

Response by poster: The inner cavity is probably no more than 2 inches diameter or height, max, given the overall size of the item.
posted by eviemath at 3:01 PM on December 26, 2023

Your instinct was right, this isn't going to fit any birds. Little frogs might sit in it if left in a hidden, moist spot. I'd worry about amphibians interacting with unknown varnishes, though. Invertebrates might use it (like wasps, bees, or spiders). Otherwise, I like the idea of it as a planter!
posted by agentofselection at 3:12 PM on December 26, 2023 [1 favorite]

You could integrate it into a larger insect hotel - there's a picture here using a small birdhouse as an example.
posted by EvaDestruction at 5:47 PM on December 26, 2023 [1 favorite]

Pour in sunflower seeds or bird feed as a snack station.
posted by sweetmarie at 6:17 PM on December 26, 2023

Response by poster: I’ve had a ground-nesting bee of some sort and her daughters in my garden for a few years - first year or two in the end of a bamboo plant support (a horizontal piece on a trellis-type support), last couple years in the dirt in one or another planter. I’ve read that it’s important to be able to clean out the cubbies in bee hotels to avoid harmful fungus and diseases, but the hole on this hummingbird house looks about the right size for sticking a small section of thicker bamboo plant stake into, which could be swapped out annually to keep a healthy bee nesting environment?

I like the air plant or other mini planter idea, too, thanks!
posted by eviemath at 6:40 PM on December 26, 2023 [3 favorites]