Bird Houses Plans





Bird Houses Plans:





Bird House Plans





How to Build a Birdhouse



Providing wild birds with a suitable nest can encourage them to return year after year, filling your yard with beauty and song. Read on to find design instructions for several varieties of birdhouse.





Steps

General Birdhouse
  1. Prepare the pieces of wood as shown in Figure 1. See Things You’ll Need for specifics.
  2. But and glue the two bottom pieces together. Allow one to overlap the other slightly and glue them together to form a 90-degree angle. Allow them to dry before moving on to the next step.
  3. Glue and nail the back panel into place. Apply glue along one edge of the two floor pieces and place the back panel so that one corner aligns with the glued edges. Nail into place.
  4. Attach a supporting piece to each roof panel. Lay the existing birdhouse structure down so that the backing lies on a flat surface, then position the roof panels into place over the top corner of the back panel. (Position the roof sections so that they meet but do not butt together at the top, leaving an open “channel” along the top corner.) Place each support inside the box so that it butts into the corner where the roof panel meets the backing. Once everything is in place, you can attach the supports accordingly:
    • Pressing the support in place with one hand, remove one roof panel and the corresponding support together and lay them on a flat surface. This will allow you to attach the support to the roof panel while taking into account the thickness of the back panel.
    • Trace the outline of the supporting piece onto the roof panel.
    • Glue the supporting piece into place, using the traced outline as a guide. Allow the glue to dry.
    • Nail the supporting piece into place.
    • Repeat with other roof panel.
  5. Attach the roof panels to the existing birdhouse structure. Apply glue to the exposed backsides of the supporting pieces and put both roof panels into place. Allow the glue to dry to ensure that the roof is stable. If desired, provide extra stability by nailing the roof panels to the edges of the thicker floor pieces.
  6. Nail and glue the front panel into place. Position the panel underneath the roof overhang so that the bottom edges line up with the thick floor pieces. Nail the bottom two edges into the thick bottom pieces and apply glue along the other edges.
  7. Drill an entrance hole in the front panel. With a 1-3/8-in (4.2-cm) hole saw, drill into the panel so that the top of the hole is 2 in (5 cm) down from the top corner.
  8. Drill a perch hole in the front panel. Use a 1/4-in (6 mm) bit to drill a hole for the dowel perch 5 3/8 in (14 cm) below the bottom of the entrance hole.
  9. Sand the birdhouse. Sand the edges of the entrance hole so that they’re smooth and sand the outside of the house as desired.
  10. Glue the 5-in (12.5-cm) dowel into the top channel. Drill a small hole in the middle of the dowel then screw in a 7/8" or smaller brass cup hook or eye to aid in hanging the birdhouse.
  11. Glue the 3-in (7.6-cm) dowel into position as a perch (optional). Most birds do not need perches, which actually make it easier for predators a place to launch attacks on the nestlings.
  12. Stain or paint your birdhouse if desired. Keep in mind that wild birds tend to prefer natural, muted colors and may prefer uncolored boxes. If you do opt to paint the house, remember that lighter colors attract less heat.
Gourd House
  1. Find an appropriately-sized gourd. Be sure the gourd is already cured (i.e. dried and solid) before you begin. The type of cavity-nesting bird(s) you hope to attract will determine how large the gourd should be. Since gourds are irregularly shaped, use the measurements below, which are ideal, merely as guidelines for selecting a gourd.
    • Tree swallows prefer an interior space that measures 5x5 in (13x13 cm) wide and 7 in (18 cm) high.
    • Wrens prefer an interior space that measures 4x4 in (10x10 cm) wide and 7 in (18cm) high.
    • Chickadees and downy woodpeckers prefer an interior space that measures 4x4 in (10x10 cm) wide and 9 in (23 cm) high.
    • House finches prefer an interior space that measures 5x5 in (13x13 cm) wide and 8 in (20 cm) high.
  2. Drill an entrance hole. Choose the size of the drill bit based on how large a bird you’d like to accommodate. This is perhaps the most important part of the birdhouse; providing a too-large hole for the bird you’d like to attract will invite predators to attack and bully it. The height at which you drill the hole is also important, as different birds prefer different nest-cavity depths. Use the guidelines below to determine how large the hole should be and how high up from the bottom of the gourd to drill it.
    • Tree swallows prefer a hole that is 1 1/2 in (4 cm) wide and 5 in (13 cm) high.
    • House wrens prefer a hole that is 1 in (2.5 cm) wide and 5 in (13 cm) high.
    • Carolina wrens prefer a hole that is 1 3/8 in (3.5 cm) wide and 5 in (13 cm) high.
    • Chickadees prefer a hole that is 1 1/8 in (2.85 cm) wide and 7 in (18 cm) high.
    • Downy woodpeckers prefer a hole that is 1 3/8 in (3.5 cm) wide and 7 in (18 cm) high.
    • House finches prefer a hole that is 1 1/2 in (4 cm) wide and 6 in (15 cm) high.
  3. Clean out the inside of the gourd. Use a spoon to scrape out any loose seeds, fibers, and debris from the inside of the gourd. Don’t worry about making it perfect; cavity-nesting birds are used to excavating their own homes and won’t mind picking out whatever you miss.
  4. Drill a narrow hole through the neck of the gourd to hang it. Using a small drill bit, drill completely through the neck near the top of the house so that you can string the gourd onto a string, leather strap, wire, etc. Don’t worry about the wind and rain that will enter the gourd through these holes; in fact, the ventilation will actually make the gourd healthier for its inhabitants.
  5. Drill three to five small drainage holes in the bottom of the gourd. Use a 1/8-inch to 3/8-inch (3-mm to 10-mm) drill bit to make the holes.
  6. Add a perch if necessary. Simply find a dowel, twig, or piece of scrap wood that is long enough to accommodate one bird, drill hole underneath the entrance hole with an appropriately sized drill bit, and place the perch inside the hole. You may need to glue the perch into the hole for additional stability; if so, allow plenty of time to pass so that the harsh stink of the glue can dissipate before you hang the nest.
    • Don’t try to make the nest more accessible than it needs to be. While providing an extra-long perch might seem like a kindness, it actually makes the house more vulnerable to predators, including larger birds.
    • Clinging birds like chickadees and woodpeckers don’t need perches. This gives them the advantage of having extra-safe entrances. Check to see whether or not your bird can cling to the front of the house before deciding to add a perch.
  7. Sand the outside of the gourd if desired. Use a fine-grit sandpaper to smooth out rough spots or blemishes. However, don’t expect the surface to look totally even; the naturally uneven texture is part of what gives the gourd house its rustic charm.
  8. Paint the gourd if desired. Use an outdoor paint that can take a weatherproofing finish. You can paint the gourd colorfully if you wish; however, note that birds prefer natural, neutral tones.
  9. Seal the outside of the gourd. Applying a coat of polyurethane, varnish, or eco-friendly wax to the outer skin to protect the gourd from the elements. If applying a harsh-smelling finish, allow the gourd to air out for a very long time before you hang it; just because you can’t smell it anymore doesn’t mean the birds won’t.
  10. Thread a cord through the neck and hang the gourd. The exact height and position of the gourd will depend on what bird you’d like to live there. Read the ideal conditions below for ideas.
    • Tree swallows prefer to be 5 to 15 feet (1.5 to 4.5 m) off the ground in an open area near water.
    • House wrens prefer to be 4 to 10 feet (1.25 to 3 m) off the ground in a field or thicket.
    • Carolina wrens prefer to be 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3 m) off the ground in a field or thicket.
    • Chickadees prefer to be 5 to 15 feet (1.5 to 4.5 m) off the ground in open woods.
    • Downy woodpeckers prefer to be 5 to 20 feet (1.5 to 6 m) off the ground in forest openings.
    • House finches prefer to be 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3 m) off the ground in backyards.
Miscellaneous Wooden Houses
  1. Build a general nest box for garden birds. If you’re more interested in building a nest first and seeing what it attracts after the fact, use these instructions.
  2. Build a bluebirdhouse. Note that bluebirdhouses are also roughly the appropriate size for attracting tree swallows. If you have a specific bluebird in mind, you might also want to:
  3. Build a tufted-titmouse house. Note that titmouse houses are also roughly the appropriate size for attracting chickadees, nuthatches, wrens, and downy woodpeckers.
  4. Build a house-martin house. Note that house martins like to live in colonies and that these instructions are designed to produce a multi-compartment enclosure.
  5. Build a sparrow house. Sparrows like to nest in the eaves of houses and will happily take up residence in a less-than-rural area.
  6. Build a wood-duck house. If you have a large pond and would like to attract wood ducks, use these instructions to encourage them to nest.



Things You'll Need

General Birdhouse
  • Hammer
  • 1/2" (1.25 cm) finishing nails
  • Waterproof glue
  • Sandpaper
  • Drill with 1-3/8" (4.1 cm) hole saw and 1/4" (.63 cm) drill bit
  • 1/2" (1.25 cm) plywood in sizes shown in Figure 1, for two bottom sides and two inside supports
  • 1/4" plywood for two roof sections, each 7" (17.5 cm) x 5" (13 cm)
  • 1/4" (.63 cm) plywood for the front and back sections, each 5-7/8" (15 cm) square
  • 5" (12.5 cm) length of dowel to finish the top
  • 7/8" or smaller Brass Cup Hook or Eye
  • 3" (7.6 cm) length of dowel for bird perch (optional)
  • Bird-safe paint or stain (optional)
  • Goggles
Gourd House
  • Dried, cured gourd
  • Drill
  • Appropriately sized drill bit for entrance
  • 1/8-inch to 3/8-inch (3-mm to 10-mm) drill bit for hanging and ventilation holes
  • Hanging cord (ex. string, leather, wire)
  • Fine-grit sand paper (optional)
  • Weatherproof paint (optional)
  • Water-resistant finish (ex. polyurethane, varnish, eco-friendly wax)


Tips

  • Most birds prefer the colors, textures, and shapes that they find in nature, which is why rough, unpainted, asymmetrical gourd houses are such a great way to invite them to live in your yard. Gourd houses are also excellent insulators in both hot and cold weather.
  • Add several inches of untreated wood chips or shavings to the bottoms of chickadee and woodpecker houses to encourage nesting.
  • If building a wooden box, look for untreated cedar fence boards at your local hardware store; cedar is cheap, weather-resistant, bug-repellant, and ages well. This will save you a bundle.
  • While it's a good idea to make the roof watertight, it's important to drill some small holes in the bottom of the box for drainage, so any rainwater that does get in can drain away. Also, air circulation helps keeps insect populations down.
  • Never put food in a birdhouse. It's a nursery, not a kitchen. Food attracts predators and insects! In fact, nest boxes and bird feeders should be placed far away from each other. Bird feeders are great fun, and will attract a variety of birds, but place them in a different part of the yard.
  • This is a nice gift for nature lovers, gardeners, or for someone special on Father's Day or Mother's Day!

Warnings

  • Birds tend to look for specific features when finding places to nest. If you build a birdhouse whose interior dimensions, entrance size and height, and distance from the ground don’t accommodate a particular bird, it will very likely remain empty.
  • Put the birdhouse in a hard-to-reach location if you have any cats or know that cats come into your garden. It is safe to just presume that you should keep the house up high to discourage all predators.
  • Never paint or stain the inside of the birdhouse.
  • Don’t use treated lumber, which often contains many dangerous chemical compounds like arsenic that could poison the birdhouse's inhabitants.
  • Don't use super glue.







Bird House Plans
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