Providing wild birds with a place to live can keep them coming back every year, filling your yard with beauty and song. Continue reading for directions on building some variations of the birdhouse.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Building a Classic House
Step 1. Join the two bottom pieces together
You will need two 1x6 pieces of wood. One was cut to 5” lengths, and another to 6” lengths. Combine the two so that they overlap and the top is even. Glue and let dry.
-
Once dry, nail or drill through one piece of wood into the other for a tight fit (use 2 nails/screws, evenly spaced).
Build a Birdhouse Step 1Bullet1
Step 2. Connect the back panel
Cut the plywood back panel into 7” squares. Glue the back side of the bottom wood and glue it. Once dry, screw four equally spaced screws through the back wood into the sides of the bottom wood.
It helps to drill the holes first before inserting the screws
Step 3. Connect the roof sections
Place the birdhouse on a stable workbench, with its back flat against the roof of the workbench. Take both roof panels, cut from 1x6 wood. One was cut to a length of 9”, the other to a length of 8”. Join them so they overlap and the mounts are flush with the sides and back panel. Glue and then screw in, using 4 screws equally spaced between them as before.
Step 4. Add reinforcing handles
Take the 4 letter L brackets and attach them in the middle of the four corners of the square you created (joining the sides and roof). Make sure the screws used to attach the brackets are not too long; just get to the center of the wood.
Step 5. Cut the front panel
Using a 1 3/8-" hole saw, drill through the front, so that the roof of the hole is 2 " below the highest point.
Step 6. Add a hole for the perch
Look for dowel rods, close to . These will be cut to size and used as a place to perch. Drill a hole using a drill bit that matches the size of the existing dowel, about” below the inlet.
-
The length of the dowel rod is at least 3.
Build a Birdhouse Step 6Bullet1
Step 7. Join the front panel with the rest of the birdhouse
Glue the sides of the sides and roof, then glue the front and hold it in place using 8 screws, two on each side and side of the roof.
Step 8. Sand the edges and holes
Sand the edges and inlets until smooth.
Step 9. Add dots for hangers
Screw two huk screws at two equal points on the roof of the birdhouse. It will help if you drill a hole first.
Step 10. Add a perch
Cut your dowel rods into 3” and add glue. Place it in the perch hole. Let dry.
Step 11. Add additional touches
If this birdhouse is going to be used for wild birds, paint it in a color that doesn't stand out, such as brown or green, because wild birds like these colors. Add what you think is necessary and hang the birdhouse.
-
Enjoy!
Build a Birdhouse Step 11Bullet1
Method 2 of 4: Building a Gourd House
Step 1. Find the right size gourd (a type of fruit that has a hard skin and is often used as a place to put things)
Make sure the gourd is ready to use (ie dried and clean) before you begin. The size of the gourd is determined by what kind of bird (the type that nests in the hole) you are going after. Because gourd is not neatly shaped, use the size below, which is ideal, as a guide to choosing gourd.
- tree swallows prefers interiors measuring 5x5 inches (13x13 cm) wide and 7 inches (18 cm) high.
- Wrens prefers interiors measuring 4x4 inches (10x10 cm) wide and 7 inches (18 cm) high.
- Chickadees and downy woodpeckers prefers interiors measuring 4x4 inches (10x10 cm) wide and 9 inches (23 cm) high.
- House finches prefers interiors measuring 5x5 inches (13x13 cm) wide and 8 inches (20 cm) high.
Step 2. Drill the inlet
Choose a drill bit that matches the size of the bird that will live there. This is the most important part of a birdhouse like this; If the hole is too big, it will invite other predators to enter and attack the bird. The height of the inlet is also important, as each bird is comfortable at a different depth. Use the directions below to determine how large the hole should be and how high from the bottom of the gourd should be drilled.
- tree swallows prefer holes 1 inches (4 cm) wide and 5 inches (13 cm) high.
- house wrens prefer holes 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide and 5 inches (13 cm) high.
- Carolina Wrens prefer holes 1 3/8 inches (3.5 cm) wide and 5 inches (13 cm) high.
- Chickadees prefer holes 1 1/8 inch (2.85 cm) wide and 7 inch (18 cm) high.
- Downy woodpeckers prefer holes 1 3/8 inches (3.5 cm) wide and 7 inches (18 cm) high.
- House finches prefers holes 1 inches (4 cm) wide and 6 inches (15 cm) high.
Step 3. Clean the inside of the gourd
Use a spoon to scrape loose seeds, lint and debris from the gourd. Don't worry about making it perfect; Hollow nesting birds are used to digging their own homes and are fine with cleaning up any missed areas themselves.
Step 4. Drill through the neck of the gourd to hang it
Using a small drill bit, drill through the neck of the gourd close to the top so you can insert rope, wire, etc. Don't worry about wind and rain coming in through this hole; in fact, the ventilation resulting from this hole is good for inhabiting it.
Step 5. Drill a drain hole at the bottom of the gourd
Use a 1/8 – 3/8 inch (3 mm to 10 mm) drill bit to make the hole.
Step 6. Add perches if needed
Find a dowel, twig, or piece of wood that is long enough for one bird, drill a hole under its entry hole with a suitable drill bit, and place the perch. To add stability, can also be glued; if so, let it sit for a while until the smell of the glue is gone before you hang it.
- Don't make the house more accessible. While providing a longer perch may seem more useful, it will make the house more inviting to predators, or larger birds.
- Types of birds that like to cling, like chickadees and woodpeckers no perch needed. This gives them the advantage of having a secure entrance. Check to see if your bird can perch to the front of its house before deciding to add more perches.
Step 7. Sand the outside of the gourd if desired
Use fine sandpaper to smooth out any rough or crooked areas. However, don't expect the outside to look even and smooth; The irregular shape of the gourd gives it the distinct character of a gourd house.
Step 8. Squeeze the gourd when cool
Use a special paint for open areas that can be finished with a waterproof layer. You can paint the gourd in various colors; but note that birds prefer natural, neutral colors.
Step 9. Coat the outside of the gourd
Coating the exterior of the gourd with an eco-friendly polyurethane, varnish, or wax will protect it from the outside elements. If coating with a strong smelling material, allow it to air first before hanging it; if you don't smell it doesn't mean the bird can't smell it.
Step 10. Thread the rope through the hole in the neck and hang the gourd house
The best height and position will depend on the type of bird you want to keep. Read the ideal conditions below to get an idea.
- tree swallows prefers to be 5 to 15 feet (1.5 to 4.5 m) above open ground close to water.
- house wrens prefers to be 4 to 10 feet (1.25 to 3 m) above ground or bush.
- Carolina Wrens prefers to be 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3 m) above the ground in fields or bushes.
- Chickadees prefers to be 5 to 15 feet (1.5 to 4.5 m) above the ground in open forest.
- Downy woodpeckers prefers to be 5 to 20 feet (1.5 to 6 m) above the ground at the forest surface.
- House finches prefers to be 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3 m) above the ground in the backyard.
- Enjoy!
Method 3 of 4: Building a Soda Bottle House
Step 1. Prepare your ingredients
Take one 1 liter (0.3 US gal) and one 2 liter (0.5 US gal) bottle of soda. This bottle should have a flat bottom, and not be curved. Then, prepare a 3 inch thick cable, at least 2mm wide. you will also need sharp scissors, nails and a hammer, and paint.
Step 2. Empty the soda bottle and clean it
Remove the label and any existing glue.
Make sure you save the bottle caps for larger bottles
Step 3. Cut a 1 liter (0.3 US gal) bottle
Cut a 1 liter (0.3 US gal) bottle approximately halfway between the point where the neck extends and the bottom of the bottle. Save the bottom.
Step 4. Cut a 2 liter (0.5 US gal) bottle
Cut a 2 liter (0.5 US gal) bottle at the widest part of the neck, where it lays flat from the bottle tube. Keep the neck/top of the bottle. You can make the edges interesting by cutting them with a pattern.
Step 5. Cut out the opening
Cut a 1.5 – 2 inch hole in the side of the smaller bottle, about 1 inch from the top of the leg. Just make sure it's not less than inch from the top edge.
Step 6. Try installing the roof and bottom sections
The big bottle will be the roof and the small bottle will be the main part of the house. Combine the two and see how they come together. If the top looks too big, you need to trim the edges to make the big bottle short and look more natural as the roof of the house.
Step 7. Add the hanging holes
Use nails and a hammer to drill holes in the bottle. This will be used to insert the wire that will hold the two bottles together and hang the housing.
-
Two holes on opposite sides of the smaller bottle are required. This hole is” from the top edge of the bottle and not on the same side as the inlet.
Build a Birdhouse Step 28Bullet1 -
Now make four holes in the bottle cap. Not too close, nor too close to the edge of the bottle cap.
Build a Birdhouse Step 28Bullet2
Step 8. Paint the birdhouse
Use acrylic, tempera, or whatever paint you have available. This is the part that can involve children. Make the birdhouse beautiful! Let dry before continuing.
Make sure all the holes remain open
Step 9. Combine everything
Cut about 1.5' from the wire. Insert it through one of the holes in the bottle cap. Then thread the wire back through the outside of the small bottle and then up again through the other hole. Repeat for the other side with a different wire.
Step 10. Hang the birdhouse
Make sure all wires are the same length, increasing the ends by about 2 . Wrap the ends together, either with duct tape, wire wrap, or some more wire. You can also bend and twist together. Now you are ready to hang your birdhouse!
Method 4 of 4: Building Another Birdhouse
Step 1. Build a common box for garden birds
If you are interested in building a nest first and see what will be attracted to it, use these instructions.
Step 2. Build the blue birdhouse
Note that the size of the blue birdhouse is very well liked by tree swallows. If you want a specific type of bluebird, you may also want to:
- Build a mountain blue birdhouse.
- Build a southern blue bird house.
- Build a western blue bird house.
Step 3. Build a tufted-titmouse house
Note that this type of house will also be liked by chickadees, nuthatches, wrens, and downy woodpeckers.
Step 4. Build a house-martin birdhouse
Note that "house-martins" like to live in colonies and these instructions are made for producing closed multi-part containers.
Step 5. Build a sparrow house/church
Sparrows/churches like to nest on the edge of the roof of the house and like to live in rural areas.
Step 6. Build the “wood ducks” house
If you have a large pond and want to attract wood ducks, use these instructions to get them to nest.
