Bat House Forum

[nolabat]

Hi y'all!

I've been looking all over the internet for info on where to place my new bat house. Seems like location is very important, but the info I find is kinda general.

My house is in New Orleans. The east side of my house has another house next to it about 8 feet away...maybe less. on the South side I have trees that shade the house mostly. On the west side it is pretty wide open and gets a ton of afternoon sun.

Any thoughts on where to hang the house?

I bought the bat house on Amazon...it is the OBC certified one, three chambers. Also right now it is natural wood color...should I paint it? If so what color?

I liver just off of City Park and old Bayou Metairie...plenty of water year round. (about 200 yards away).

I'm very excited about my new bat house, I want to be sure to place it in the best position.

[cloudman75]

Sounds like a great house you have in my opinion. I, and the bats like three chamber houses for maternity colonies. Do you have enough property to mount it on a pole in the yard?
I have visited N.O. many times and my sister graduated from nursing school there. From my experience you don't need a lot of heat since it is warm and humid . A dark colored house is not suitable for N.O. From your description of your house, I would use a pole about 12 ft high above ground or higher and not mount it on your house at all if available property in the open is available. This is just my opinion and I hope others will also post some advice to you.
Good luck and it would be interesting to me to get your thoughts on a pole for the house. What wood is it? If it is cedar
I would not paint it. If pine, a white house or light blue would probably be in order. Do not paint the inside and use a latex water base type paint or stain. There are charts on the net showing what color would be suitable for your location. If you don't find it with a search, let me know, and I'll look for it and post it. Here is some info from the people who designed your bat house. They say unpainted or white I believe. here is a link for you

http://www.batconservation.org/content/ ... #southeast
Good luck with the bats.

Frank

[nolabat]

Hi Frank thank you for the advice...I found a color chart and it puts me in the medium shade. I guess I can keep it natural then, right?

My property isn't that large and I do have trees...

I'm a little concerned about a pole because of the frequent hurricanes and tropical storms...do you think the bat house would shake and rattle too much for the little guys?

Is it more important to have 5 to 6 hours of sun total or to have morning sun?

The southwest side of my house gets sun from about 2pm till sun set (about 8 :30 here in New Orleans).

Also the house I live in is white, does that matter much?

[cloudman75]

Hello again,
I edited my last post to include a link for you to OBC. I saw the medium chart and do not agree with such a wide area that the chart grouped into the same color. To say that parts of North Dakota and Montana fall into the same climate color
chart as New Orleans is absurd in my opinion. I would leave it unpainted as I did my three chamber house purchased from OBC here in the metro Atlanta area. Mine has been used every year since I installed it several years ago. I prefer poles
but many mount them on buildings with great success. I have read that morning sun is required, but I installed my first three chamber under the eaves of my house with little or no sun and it was used the first year. We have hot summers here most of the time as normal. There are others on the forum who can give you some good advice and what I say is just my opinion based on my location and what I have read and/or experienced.
Take a look at the link I posted for you as an edit. OBC recommends white or unpainted for the Southeastern US. for their bat houses. They also say houses mounted on poles tend to be used sooner.

Frank

[Terry Lobdell]

I would have to agree with the advice Frank has given you..........he would know since he lives is a similar climate.........my advice probably would not be accurate since I am much farther north..........

[Emersombiguns]

Hi this is Randy in Haughton, La the opposite end of the state from you. I have my house painted black, and up 16'. It is about 25' away from a tall pine tree. I have open area to the front of the house and a big ham antenna above it. I had 121 come out of it in May. Face it south and let it get some mid day to afternoon sun. Better if morning I think. They found my house in 2 yrs. I just put up another house beside the first one.
You can watch 58 come out and see a south view of the house by looking at a video I made 2 mo ago.
It is called "Bats in Haughton,La #3" on YOU TUBE...
Mr. Mayberry is 50 miles west of me in Daingerfield,TX and has great house and good web site. Good luck and tell us how it does..Randy

[nolabat]

hi guys (are gals here too?)

I mounted my bat house this weekend to the side of my house. I was expecting to get it higher than I did, but once I got on the latter...15 feet is pretty high!

I settled on about 12 or 13 feet from the bottom of the bat house.

I mounted it on the south western side of the house since I didn't seem to have many option as for shade and trees...

The spot I chose gets about 5 hours of afternoon sun...I left the box natural, but did affix a black shingle to the top.

Is there anything for me to do from here of do I just wait now?

I do have the box angled from the house about three inches on the bottom...is this going to matter much?

thanks for all the FANTASTIC info on the site.

[cloudman75]

Glad to hear you have it mounted and 12 ft should do fine. It was 103 F. here today in metro Atlanta. I think the sun you have should also be fine. It is probably too late for a maternity colony this year, but with all the freetail bats you have in NO. I suspect you will have a few bats before the year is out. I had freetails here this winter as they do not hibernate just move to a warmer area with insects. With all the water and swamps near you that should provide them with plenty to eat
well into winter and on warm days even then. I think you made a good choice not to paint it. As for the angle out at the bottom, I doubt if it should be a problem, but really don't know. Good luck and keep us posted on your batting experiences.

Frank

[nolabat]

Hi Guys...I put up this bat house about 4 weeks ago. No bats have checked in yet. Here is a video of the placement on the house. the house is about 12 to 13 feet off the ground.

What do y'all think? Good spot or not? Thanks for the input!

[Terry Lobdell]

Looks good to me!