How To Build A Bird House
If you wish to attract a variety of birds to your back yard, building wooden bird houses is a fun way to make birds fly to your property. Here are some things to consider before getting started:
What kind and size bird do you want in your bird house? Obviously larger birds need a larger house than smaller birds. You will also need to make the proper sized entrance hole for the bird you are trying to attract.
Next, you will need to decide what material you will use to build the bird house. There are a variety of materials you can use, but wood is one of the most popular. You will not need to paint, varnish, or stain the house as this will keep birds away. Cedar is an effective wood for this purpose as it doesn’t need to be treated.
You can find instructions on the internet to build bird houses of all sizes and types. I’ve included an easy step-by-step set of instructions to build a bird house.
First, get your wood. Remember, cedar and most untreated wood works well. The dimensions of the house will be 6.5 inches x 14.5 inches (back), 6.5 inches x 8.5 inches (roof), and 6.5 inches x 10 inches (sides), 6.5 inches x 10 inches (front), and 6.5 inches x 5 inches (bottom).
Next, you will need to secure the bottom to the sides and the back with long nails or screws. You should drill 1/8 inch holes in the bottom for proper drainage. Also, drill a few holes at the top of the sides for ventilation.
Be sure to secure the front of the bird house with long nails. You can also use a hinge if you want to, so that the door will swing open.
Now, you will secure the top of the house with hinge and brackets, to ensure that the roof can flip open for easy cleaning.
Drill the proper entrance hole for the bird you are trying to attract. A 1 3/8 inch x 2 1/4 inch hole near the top of the front door should work.
Lastly, you will need to find a good place to hang or mount your house. A good place would be somewhere that doesn’t have a lot of human activity and toward an open space. It can be hung on a tree, or mounted to a pole or tree, usually 3 to 10 feet high.
Have fun with this project and enjoy the wildlife you will attract into your own back yard.