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How to Hang Birdhouses

A birdhouse is a benevolent way to offer protection to your feathered friends from the effects of harsh weather such as snow, rain and hail. These shelters also allow you a chance to view birds from your own backyard as they rest. Once you have bought or built a birdhouse, find a place to put it that allows easy access by your little visitors. By hanging the birdhouse on a tree, you create a more natural setting for the shelter and entice more birds to make a pit stop throughout the day.

Things You'll Need

Wire, rope or chain
Drill
Hammer
Nails
Scissors

Instructions

- 1
  Find a branch attached to a healthy tree, one that can hold the weight of the birdhouse. This prevents broken branches and structural damage to the birdhouse should it fall to the ground. Attract more birds by choosing a tree removed from human activity yet near enough for viewing from a distance.
- 2
  Drill holes into the birdhouse in specific spots. If you have a relatively lightweight house with a cylinder shape, drill two holes in the top, placing one hole at the right side and one hole at the left side. This works well with cylinder-shaped birdhouses because most of the weight is at the top of the structure. For rectangular-shaped houses, drill two holes through the birdhouse ̵1; one through the front side and one through the back side.
- 3
  Cut the wire, chain or rope to create a hanging device that supports the weight of the construction. When deciding the length to cut, remember that the house must be far enough above the ground to protect the little ones from predators, yet low enough for you to enjoy viewing their daily activities.
- 4
  Pull the wire, chain or rope device through the holes that you previously drilled. If the hanging device is too thick for the holes, use a drill to enlarge them as needed. Check to ensure that the device adequately supports the weight of the birdhouse; hold either end of the cord and determine whether the house stays steady.
- 5
  Temporarily remove the hanging device from the birdhouse. Using a hammer, secure the wire, chain or rope to the tree by nailing one end of it directly into the tree trunk. Restring the birdhouse through the holes again, then nail the remaining side of the hanging device to the tree.

Birding