Author Topic: Swallow & bat friendly doors (Read 3189 times)

Foobar · « **on:** August 10, 2016, 11:14:56 am »

I need to put new doors on my hay lofts - one currently has no door and the other has a very old door that's half hanging off its hinges. I have active swallows nests in one loft and historic nest in the other, and we have bats around the place. I must put the doors on in order to keep the weather (and unwanted humans) out, but I don't want to stop the birds accessing the nests (I tarp over all my hay anyway so I don't mind clearing up their poo).

Has anyone had this problem and come up with a nifty solution?

There is no way of putting in another opening which would allow access as the walls are stone 60cm thick. From what I've read swallows need the hole to be the size of a house brick, so I was thinking could we make the door with a little flap that would fold down (inside), and we could keep that open from April to Oct, then shut it up over winter. The flap could be vented with holes too in case we get bats in during the winter. These doors are sheltered so don't get the rain direct into them (very often). Thoughts anyone?

Fleecewife · « **Reply #1 on:** August 10, 2016, 11:54:30 am »

We have a stable door with a hand aperture so you can slide the inside bolt from outside. The swallows fly straight out through that, without slowing down. If you're really lucky you get a face full of swallow. The other stable door at the other end stays open throughout the swallow season.
Our hen houses (converted garden sheds), where we have had swallows nesting ever since we first put them up, have an extended ventilation hole above the door - about 6" wide by about 3 - 4" tall. That's high enough for the swallows to fly straight in, or to sit in and contemplate the world. Originally we intended to make a flap as you describe but we never have as the hens need the air. However, if it wasn't for the swallows we would cover the hole with small mesh to make sure the stoats don't get in - they haven't climbed that high yet.

We have bats flying at night, but they don't roost here. If they did there would be no problem with access to any of our sheds or the barn, as none of the doors fit so tightly that a bat couldn't shuffle through.

What you describe sounds perfect.