Mold in nest boxes

[TN Flyers]

I've built several nest boxes for my outdoor flying squirrel avary using hollow oak logs with 2x6 top and bottom. Besides the hinged top there is one 1 1/4" hole for squirrels access. After our 1st temp. drop below 30 degrees, I've noticed the bedding is damp and mold starting to grow on the wood. I took the it down and washed with bleach to kill the mold and then neutralised it with hydrogen peroxide. After several days of drying I allowed the flyers to rebuild their nest. The next week I checked and no mold but the bedding is damp again. It doesn't smell of urine so I feel it is their breath condensing. Any suggestions on keeping the nest dry?

[Fireweed]

You probably need more drainage/air holes. Can you clean them with really soapy water and rinse well and dry very well, then add more holes in the corners - like 1/2" say in all corners. Maybe one on the very bottom. It depends on what the boxes are like. Pics might help.

Good luck!

[CritterMom]

What are you using for bedding? Polyfill - sold in craft stores - it is the polyester stuff that is inside quilts and lots of pillows - is best. You do NOT want cotton, wood chips, or anything else organic like that - it holds moisture. The polyfill is warm and water pours right through it rather than absorbing.

[island rehabber]

Please be careful about nest box molding -- years ago I lost five babies this way. (Back when I gave them to others to release for me.....:( )The boxes I like have 4-5 holes drilled in the bottom for air circulation and drainage. The fleece we love so much indoors can also be deadly outdoors -- it holds the moisture in.

[TN Flyers]

these are the two boxes I'm having the mold problems with. I use cut pieces of wool for the bedding. I heard not to use polyfile because of the danger of tangling around feet.218112218113

[stepnstone]

these are the two boxes I'm having the mold problems with. I use cut pieces of wool for the bedding. I heard not to use polyfile because of the danger of tangling around feet.218112218113

...and there lays your problem, wool.
Poly-fil is the way to go IMO and I can't see how it is even possible to get
tangled around anything unless someone is confusing it with something else. :dono

[TN Flyers]

Thanks for the advice, I was confused about poly-il and cotton so I'll change out the wool bedding and replace with poly-fil. This is the plans I used for the nest box, courtesy of flyingsquirrels.com/ do you see any improvements that could be made?
218132

[Shewhosweptforest]

I absolutely love the nest boxes and the peeking flyers :hyper icing on the cake:grin3 :Love_Icon

Glad you discovered the mold problem:thumbsup Now their homes will be perfect:Love_Icon

[Fireweed]

Those peeking flyers are tooooo much! :grin2

I've seen poly-fill in two types - one has longer-looking fibers, the other is more 'fluffy'. I don't see how wool and poly-fill are different, though, when it comes to longish fibers? :thinking
I cut the poly-fill down into small pieces for my red squirrels--I'd cut them even smaller for flyers. The squirrels, here at least, will make those pieces mesh into one mass of a nest and I can't see anyone getting anything stuck anywhere. You could try with your indoor flyers first and watch closely what they do with it if you're worried.

Your nest boxes could use way more drainage/air holes - right up under the roof and at the bottom for sure. I would consider putting another access hole on the opposite side for air flow and escape if you only have one. Consider slanting the roof some instead of using a gasket. The gasket makes the unit even more air-tight and promotes a better environment for mold. However, if there are enough air holes, the gasket shouldn't cause a problem.

Air flow will make the boxes warmer, too. :thumbsup

[Duckman]

I love those peeking eyes!! :Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon Wonderful nests indeed! IF I ever get fliers, I am going to use this design. Wow wow wow!! :crazy LOL! :Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon:thumbsup:Love_Icon: Love_Icon:Love_Icon

I wanted to add that wet squirrels will go into their nests and that is why you want ventilation in the box, so the moisture that they bring in can dry. It may be water proof and not allow any water to come in, but if the flyer is wet, there is the cause of the mold, if the water can't evaporate out. :grin3 Good call to change out the wool!

[TN Flyers]

I took all your advice and added a second entry and drilled 3 vent holes on the back, I also backed the nest box in the oven at 300 degrees for 4 hours to dry the wood and kill the mold spores. I replaced the bedding with Poly-fil. Now to wait and see if that fixes the problem. 218301218302218303

[island rehabber]

:thumbsup looks good -- that should do it. If it doesn't, the one thing I like to do at least once per season is dip my boxes in a big tub of 10% bleach/water, then let them dry out in the sun.

[Duckman]

Question completely off the mold subject. How do you hollow out the section of tree? I am seriously thinking of making these for all of my NR's. These are the best nest I have seen period! :grin3

[Skul]

I'd be tempted to drill 4 or 5, quarter inch holes in the bottom plate.
They might allow drainage and better air flow.

[TN Flyers]

Question completely off the mold subject. How do you hollow out the section of tree? I am seriously thinking of making these for all of my NR's. These are the best nest I have seen period! :grin3
I was lucky to have had a fallen tree that was hollow. The web site that I got the plan from used a chain saw.

[TN Flyers]

It looks like the nest box modifications worked, there is no more moisture problem.:thankyou

[island rehabber]

:thumbsup:thumbsup Good job! They ARE wonderful looking boxes!

[Duckman]

It looks like the nest box modifications worked, there is no more moisture problem.:thankyou

:thumbsup Woohoo! The power of The Squirrel Board is just AWESOME!! :thumbsup