Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
I have included several designs of bird houses I have build at my home for you to use for ideas. Don't limit yourself. You can make a functioning bird house from a tin can nailed to a fence post, with the entrance cut in the lid. I have seen bird houses made from large bleach bottles (cleaned out and rinsed really well to get rid of all traces of bleach), even an old boot and a discarded mailbox.
Box Bird House: Simple to build, basically this is a four sided box, made from scrap lumber with a solid bottom and a hinged top. Build the box on a 4" x 4" or 6" x 6" base. Make the sides 6" to 8" high. You can use an old hinge for fixing the roof on, fix it to the back. You want to hinge the roof so you can clean out the nest from the year before to encourage new nesting the next year.
Gourd Bird Houses: I raise bottle gourds so it is easy for me to make one of these. Bottle gourds can be purchased at garden centers, hobby shops and often at farmer's markets. They need to dried out, the hole drilled and emptied of seeds. See my article on How to Build a Gourd Bird House at: http://www.ehow.com/how_2090973_build-gourd-ird-house.html.
Simple Traditional Bird House. Make the base 4" x 4" or 6" x 6". The sides should be about the same as the base measurement. The ends should be at least 2" taller. Cut out the sides first. Lay one of the sides on one of the boards you are going to use as an end. Draw a line with a pencil across the top of the side board with the pieces even. find the
Hanging Bird Houses: I use black electrical wire, you can get it from your local hardware store by the foot. You can also find it once in awhile at garage sales and flea markets. It is strong, flexible and because it is copper wire encased in insulation, it doesn't rust.
Putting Your Bird House on a Post or Pole: One method is to put a board on top of the pole in a "T". Fasten it down to the top of the pole with wood screws. Now fasten the birdhouse base to this board with wood screws. Use screws long enough to go through the board and into the bottom of your bird house, but not long enough to stick up through the bottom of your house and injure the baby birds you want born there!
An alternative is to fasten a board to the back of your bird house. This board is longer than the bird house is tall, so it hangs down long enough to fasten to the back of the pole or post. The bird house can sit on the top of the post for added support. The bird house in the photo is fastened this way.
You can also use a board fastened to the back of the bird house and screw the board from the front to a pole, a tree or building.
Diameter Holes for Different Birds:
Different birds desire different size holes. If you want to attract birds to your house, know what size entrance they like. Some common sizes:
* Sparrow or Wren 1 1/4 inches
Painting and Decorating: Paint your bird house with non-toxic acrylic house paint. Don't paint the inside, the paint is not healthy for young birds. Use bright colors or white. Dark colors may make your bird house too hot.
Decorating: Use your imagination. Pick up odds and ends. Use some whimsy. I cut an ad off of a soda can and used it on my Country Store Bird House. The weather vane was odd scrap. Be creative.
The most important thing is have fun.
My bird houses are more conventional if not a little whimsical. Take a look and build your own.
Use eye hooks screwed into your birdhouse roof or ends. Hang your bird house at least six feet off the ground to discourage cats, yes they can jump that high!
* Finch 2 inches
* Blue Bird 1 1/2 inches
* Purple Martin 2 1/2 inches
* Titmouse 1 1/4 inches
* Swallow
My Blue Bird House in the image, is white with little blue birds. Don't know if that attracted them but I had a pair of blue birds living there last summer.