All over the world there is a tradition of hanging birdhouses on Bird Day. This fashion came to us during the time of Peter the Great, who first saw bird houses in Europe. In terms of nests, starlings are unpretentious and therefore can settle in crevices of buildings, burrows or hollows.
In fairness, it must be said that these beautiful birds are very grateful creatures that provide invaluable assistance to gardeners in pest control. Therefore, many owners of household plots specifically attract starlings by making birdhouses with their own hands. Having the appropriate drawings and studying the video instructions, anyone can make bird houses.
The most desirable and most common inhabitants of birdhouses are common starlings. These are quite large birds, so the house for them must be extended upward, have the appropriate dimensions, a removable roof, a solid bottom, a notch (hole) and a pole.
The size of the house for feathered friends depends on the type of birds for which it is intended. Standard birdhouse sizes:
- 20−40 cm - height;
- 13−15 cm - bottom width;
- 3.8−5 cm is the diameter of the tap hole.
It is not recommended to make a more spacious structure. Of course, a large house will accommodate many chicks, but it will be quite difficult for parents to go out and feed them. Only two or three chicks can fit in a compact birdhouse, but they will grow up healthy and capable of long-distance flights.
Roof needed make it removable so that you can easily inspect and clean the house in the fall. Of all the birds that can settle in it, only starlings, nuthatches and tits do “spring cleaning”. The rest of the birds leave behind garbage, and no one may move into uncleaned housing next year.
Materials for making a birdhouse
It is advisable that the bird house be made with your own hands from natural materials. Most often, dry boards are used, prepared made of oak or birch. Coniferous trees are not recommended, as they emit resin.
Boards should be rough at least on the inside, so there is no need to sand them. It will be difficult for birds to get out on smooth boards, so the sanded material should be scratched with a knife. The thickness of the board should be from 20 mm, in this case the birdhouse will retain heat well.
It is not recommended to use laminated or compressed wood for construction, since it toxic and short-lived. Plywood is also not suitable for construction. It retains heat poorly and practically does not allow sounds, which are very important for birds, to pass through.
DIY birdhouse: stages of work, video
The design of the house depends on where it will be hung. If to a pole, balcony or under the roof of a house, then in order for feathered friends to have a place to walk, it is necessary to provide additional perches in the form of a triangular shelf or thin sticks.
For a birdhouse hanging on a tree, such perches need not be made, so the birds will sit on the branches and delight their owners with chirping.
To build a convenient and compact birdhouse with your own hands, the drawing of which must be prepared in advance, you will need the following materials and tools:
- Boards.
- Wood glue.
- Nails or screws.
- Two blocks and steel wire for hanging the house.
- Chisel.
- Hammer.
- Wood drill.
- Drill.
- hacksaw for wood.
- Ruler.
- A simple pencil.
Work on making a tower for starlings should be carried out in several stages.
Stage No. 1 - preparing wooden elements with your own hands
On the prepared boards, according to the drawing, using a simple pencil and a ruler, mark the dimensions of the walls, bottom, roof and hole. In this case, you must follow some recommendations:
- The roof must be made with a slope, so the front wall must be made four cm longer than the back, and the side walls on top must be cut downward.
- The bottom should be made in the form of a square with a side of 13 cm.
- The roof is made from two different elements. One of them should look like the bottom of a birdhouse, and the other should be made in the form of a large rectangle, with the help of which a canopy will be created.
Having drawn and checked all the design details with the drawing, you can start cutting them out. To ensure that paired elements have the same dimensions, they are recommended prepare sequentially.
To make the starling house look beautiful from the outside, the boards on one side can be additionally planed.
Tray preferred make it round, since then it will look like a hollow; birds live in natural conditions. To protect the chicks from encroachment by cats, the entrance to the birdhouse must be located five cm from the top edge.
Stage No. 2 - assembling a house for starlings with your own hands
First of all it is necessary fasten the front facade and side walls designs. This is done using wood glue, and as it dries, the elements are additionally fixed with screws or nails.
Next, using the same principle, the side ends of the birdhouse bottom are attached to the side and front walls. Lastly, it is glued to the structure and the back wall is nailed. During work, it is necessary to ensure that there are no gaps between the elements.
If the roof is removable, then its parts are attached only to each other. There is no need to glue or nail it to the birdhouse. It is installed on the structure using rubber or door hinges. In this case the birds will protected from visits from cats.
Stage No. 3 - installing a birdhouse
The finished bird house can be tied with wire or nailed to the selected surface. To make it easier for the chicks to exit and provide additional protection, the design is recommended lean forward a little. If the birdhouse will be installed on a tree, then it is better to wrap it with wire.
Basic rules for placing an “apartment” for birds:
- the optimal height is 3−5 meters in a summer cottage or in a village and from 8 to 10 meters in the city;
- the birdhouse should not be exposed to direct sunlight in the midday heat;
- the entrance to the house should be turned to the side with a minimum amount of wind;
- tilting the structure backwards is not allowed;
- it is necessary to ensure that there are no branches near the birdhouse through which a cat can get to the birds’ home;
- It is recommended to install houses for feathered friends in early April.
The birdhouse was made and installed with your own hands, all that remains is to wait for the residents to move in. But what to do if there are no boards, but you want to make a house for birds? In this case, materials that are always at hand will come to the rescue.
Birdhouse made from plastic bottles
To make such a birdhouse you will only need one large plastic bottle, scissors, wire, paper or paint.
You will need to make two holes in the bottle cap for the wire with which the house will be suspended. At the top it should be cut a hole for entry. To make your home comfortable and cozy, the outside of the bottle can be painted or covered with paper.
You can make a birdhouse with your own hands in much the same way. from juice boxes or milk, the capacity of which is more than one liter. When using such materials, they must first be prepared. To do this, the container is thoroughly washed and dried.
Having made a birdhouse with your own hands, you should keep in mind that birds may not move into it right away. It will take some time to settle into the new housing. There is no need to worry about this. Sooner or later, the starlings will appreciate your work, and after they move in, you will be able to enjoy the singing and bustle of the birds, and not worry about your harvest.
Birdhouses are an invention of civilization. Until recently, birds, even without humans, found shelters in which they could lay eggs, hatch them and hatch chicks. But the situation has changed: there are practically no hollow trees left, especially in urban areas. It became difficult for birds to find places for nesting and people figured out how to help them. They invented analogues of natural nesting places - these are birdhouses, titmouses and houses for other birds that you can make with your own hands.
How to make a birdhouse with your own hands at home
The most popular indoor nesting sites for birds are birdhouses. Starlings need this house not for living, but for breeding. Therefore, a number of specific requirements are imposed on it.
Requirements for proper crafts for birds
- Safe for birds;
- Convenient for laying eggs and hatching chicks;
- Warm enough but with good ventilation;
- With a tray of the appropriate size.
Materials for production
What are bird houses made from at home? Nature came up with the best material - a tree familiar to birds. Practical houses should not be made from chipboard, fiberboard, plasterboard, soft cardboard and other unsuitable materials. Wooden structures can stand for a long time, while paper, lining and cardboard quickly collapse under adverse weather conditions.
It is better to take hardwood boards. Conifers are not the most suitable material. They secrete resin and make bird housing sticky and dangerous for birds. Resin can glue the plumage of birds, and this is fraught with diseases and even death of birds. But you can hang a birdhouse on any tree in your country garden or yard. Here it doesn’t matter where the birds live, the main thing is that it is warm and protected. 
For decorative birdhouses, which are installed in places protected from wind and rain, boxes, bottles, cardboard and other materials are used.
Designs, forms and diagrams of the device
All birdhouses can be divided into two groups according to schemes:
- Houses of various shapes;
- Duplyankas.
A traditional birdhouse is a rectangular box with a flat, pitched or gable roof and a round entrance hole. The size of the entrance determines who will live in the house.
Dimensions
- Height: 30–40 cm;
- Bottom length and width: 14–16 cm;
- Taphole diameter: 5 cm.
If you reduce these dimensions and make a hole 3–3.5 cm in diameter, you will get a titmouse. Birds will settle in it, and every day they eat insect pests and various larvae several times more than their own weight.
How to make according to drawings
The house must be built as it should be, otherwise it will simply fall apart from the first gusts of wind. It is important to respect the dimensions. In a house that is too small, the birds will be cramped; in a large house, it will be cold. Often a perch is made in front of the entrance - a perch. Birds use them extremely rarely.
It is especially important to maintain the correct size of the tap hole (inlet hole). It should be such that birds can pass there freely, but predators such as cats and crows cannot get in.
You can make a birdhouse in the form of a nest box. To do this, use part of the trunk of a deciduous tree and hollow out the core in it. The nest is closed at the top and bottom and a hole is made in the side wall. Such a house will resemble a natural hollow for birds.
How to make from wood
Boards made of alder, birch and aspen are suitable for nesting. The inside of the house should be rough. Smooth boards need to be treated with a chisel - apply horizontal notches. The chicks will be able to cling to these ledges and easily get out of the house.
In addition to the boards you will need:
- Nails;
- Wood glue;
- Ruler and pencil;
- Wood hacksaw, jigsaw;
- Chisel or drill;
- Hammer.
- Water-based paint and decorative elements.
Sometimes the houses are painted. You should not decorate them with bright flowers, as this may scare away the birds.
Birdhouse made of plywood and clapboard on a branch
This is the simplest design of a bird house. The tools are no different from those used when working on a wooden birdhouse. Depending on which roof you chose for the birdhouse (single or gable), you will need 6 or 7 parts. So, let's build a house out of plywood.
Manufacturing stages:
- Drawing. You need to decide on the dimensions, make a sketch, clarify the placement of the walls, lid, bottom and fastenings and start creating a drawing.
- Cutting and Sawing. First you need markings. All parts are transferred to plywood so that the bottom covers the sections of the walls, and the upper part protrudes in the form of a visor. Cut plywood adjusted for the width of the jigsaw and the gap.
- Assembly of parts. All cuts need to be sanded. You can connect the parts using glue and self-tapping screws. It is necessary to glue the side walls and the front facade. After the glue has completely dried, the structure is strengthened with nails or self-tapping screws. The back wall is nailed last.
- Bottom and Roof. The bottom is screwed around the entire perimeter with self-tapping screws. It is better to make the roof removable. This makes it easier to care for the birdhouse. Once a year, the birdhouse will need to be thoroughly cleaned of old nests, so the roof is secured with only two screws. It should protrude by 3–4 cm, forming a visor in front of the entrance.
- The birdhouse is ready. It can be painted and decorated to your taste.
How to build a cardboard
Cardboard is not the most durable material, but birdhouses made from it also have a right to life. It is better to take thick cardboard. Binding cardboard works well. It holds its shape well and is easy to paint and process. Choose non-toxic ingredients, because birds will raise their offspring in this house!
Birdhouses made of cardboard will not be durable, but if everything is done correctly, they will survive the season.
To make such a poultry house, you need to adhere to the following steps:
- Development of sketches. You need to make sketches and clarify the dimensions.
- Drawing and cutting. Depending on the chosen design, a drawing is developed. All dimensions are transferred to cardboard and cut out using a stationery knife or jigsaw.
- Connecting parts. Assembly is carried out using wood glue. Its order is no different from the previous model.
- Finishing processing. Even the best cardboard is afraid of moisture. Therefore, such birdhouses need to be treated with special means. These can be protective varnishes and paints.
Out of the box (cardboard and paper)
Cardboard boxes can make life much easier for bird lovers. Birdhouses from them are made quickly and do not require special tools. 
Manufacturing stages:
- Decide where the entrance will be in the birdhouse and make a marking.
- Cut a hole in the intended location. Treat the cuts with moisture protection products.
- Attach the roof. All parts can be connected with glue or tape.
- Cover the birdhouse with varnish or paint. A beautiful painting adds color to your design. You can come up with interesting decorative details.
Bottle houses
Our industry offers such a variety of beverage containers that it is difficult to resist reusing them. Plastic bottles are an interesting material not only for children’s crafts, but also for such a useful thing as a birdhouse.
Manufacturing stages:
- Preparation. Plastic bottles with a volume of at least 1.5 liters are suitable. They must be clean and free of foreign odors.
- Make markings on the bottle. Mark the location of the tap hole. Cut a hole with scissors or a knife.
- Cover the sharp edge of the cut with tape or adhesive tape.
- Insulate and decorate the house with burlap, wrapping it with twine or tying it with thick yarn.
- If desired, you can paint the house with acrylic paint. This will add rigidity to the structure and give it a finished look.
Unusual and original birdhouses made from scrap materials
You won’t see any kind of birdhouses today. Designers are developing entire collections of these unusual houses from scrap materials. Amateurs are not far behind them. In the gardens you can see bird houses of the most intricate shapes and designs. For this purpose, traditional and modern technologies are used. 
The most popular types of original birdhouses are:
- Wicker houses made of wicker. Birds like these birdhouses. They are made from environmentally friendly material. Fans of weaving paper tubes can also use their skills to create a bird house.
- Houses made from cork. Wine corks are used for this. The material is durable and tolerates precipitation well. The only negative is the complexity of assembly. Therefore, it is used in combination with wood or plywood.
- Barrel birdhouse. Small barrels are shaped like nest boxes and are perfect for a bird's home.
- Shoe houses. You will need a large boot, which is hung on a tree at the desired height.
- Birdhouse made of branches. For such a house, the branches are connected with self-tapping screws or intertwined with rope.
- Pumpkin house for birds. To do this, use a special tableware pumpkin lagenaria. They simply make a hole in it for the tap hole.
Decorative and beautiful for the garden
Birds don't need painting. They can easily get by with a simple birdhouse. But for humans, a birdhouse is a space for creativity. So interesting ideas for decor appear.
How to decorate a birdhouse? Acrylic paints are used for painting. The birdhouse must first be treated with a primer. 
You can make a whole series “Seasons” and display changes in nature on the walls of the bird house. For those who do not know how to draw, appliques and decoupage are suitable. Just don’t forget this beauty is covered with varnish afterwards.
New Year's birdhouses
Such houses decorate gardens during the January holidays. Birds do not nest at this time. But the birdhouse can be used as a feeder. And in the spring this structure will turn into a real nest. You can decorate New Year's birdhouses with pine branches, berries and other materials, but only natural ones!
How to hang a house?
You need to attach a bar to the back of the house; it will be hung on the tree using bark. It is advisable to hang it vertically straight or tilted forward. If wire is used for this, it must be at least 2 mm thick; it is better to take stainless steel. You can hang birdhouses at any time of the year, but it is better when the birds return - in the spring.
Video
The video shows different options for bird houses:
Bottom line
Birdhouses installed in the garden attract different birds. Don't be upset if they don't settle in your house right away. Sometimes this takes time. Use a simple birdhouse base and all your imagination when creating the decor. Your efforts will be appreciated not only by your winged friends, but also by your neighbors, and even more so by the garden, which will reward you with a good harvest.
If you have your own plot, then attracting birds that destroy harmful insects is a great solution. For these purposes, a birdhouse will be very useful to you. It can even be made from various available materials. To do this you will need the dimensions of the birdhouse and a drawing. For starlings and other birds, the dimensions of the product will be different. And it is important to take this into account in your construction work. Let's look at design options for such products, and also select the right materials.
You can make a beautiful birdhouse with your own hands from various available materials. But the best option, of course, is wood. But only deciduous trees will do, because conifers are too resinous. In this case, the resin can stain the feathers of birds, which will provoke their death. It is not the best solution to use plywood, OSB or. Birds rarely live in such structures. It is better to assemble blanks using screws and nails. Adhesives should not be used.
You can make the structure from boards or from logs. The photo shows what such products look like. It is important to take into account the dimensions of the birdhouse and the drawings and model of the product.
Manufactured from boards with a thickness of at least 20 mm. Such parameters are important for maintaining the required temperature for breeding. It is recommended to use unplaned boards. In this case, the inner surface should be rough. It is recommended to specifically scratch the front part under the tap hole. This will make it easier to lift the birds up.
birdhouse
You can build a structure from scrap materials, but it is important to follow certain rules.
The birdhouse device must have an elongated cavity, with a solid bottom and a removable lid. Under the roof there is an entrance, a special hole for birds.
The cover should be removable for easy inspection and cleaning of the product. In addition, unwanted animals can get inside.
The bird house must meet the following requirements:
- be opaque and durable;
- the walls must be rough so that the chicks can move for food brought by their parents;
- the material should retain heat well, be moderately sound-permeable and there should be no cracks in it.
The table shows standard and original materials for making a bird house.
| Image | Material | Peculiarities |
 | Plastic bottles | It looks original, but not the best solution. Birds do not like such smooth, transparent and unnatural material. You can only make a feeder out of bottles. |
 | Pumpkin | An unusual option is a pumpkin house. It is hung from branches or placed on special stands. This option will not last more than 1 season. |
 | Branches | From thin shoots you can weave a small basket with a lid. You need to leave a hole in it. Thick and massive branches can be connected using self-tapping screws. |
 | Log | Not a bad option. The structure can be made from a single log or from separate parts. |
 | Box or cardboard | This option is very unreliable. It is intended rather for decorative purposes. Before use, such a product is treated with special impregnations. |
 | Plywood and chipboard | Such materials can be harmful to birds and also do not retain heat well. It is better to make decorative structures from plywood. |
 | Tree | An ideal solution, but only hardwood. Coniferous varieties cannot be used. |
Birdhouse made of wood: naturalness and reliability
In nature, many birds settle in hollows made by woodpeckers, so artificial dwellings should not be large.
When deciding how to make a structure with your own hands, first of all, you need to choose the right material. Hardwood boards are most often used. The best option: alder, birch or aspen.
Other materials have different disadvantages. For example, fiberboard and chipboard can emit toxic substances, and plywood does not hold heat well.
In the photo you can see how to make a simple design. Before work, make a drawing with dimensions. You can find high-quality and simple diagrams and drawings on the Internet. This will reduce the consumption of materials, as well as perform correct cutting.
The diagram can be transferred to wooden blanks. Then prepare the following materials:
- untreated hardwood boards;
- long and thin nails;
- special impregnations and safe paints;
- The tools you will need are a hacksaw, a tape measure, a pencil and a brush.
All blanks are cut according to drawings. The boards should only be planed on the outside, leaving the inside rough. A hole is drilled in the front wall. A plank is mounted to the rear wall, onto which the house is secured in a suitable place.
For your information! The roof needs to be made protruding so that it protects the entrance from rainwater.
birdhouse
Birdhouse made of cardboard: ease of manufacture
This option is often used as a decorative house. This is more of a toy for children. A cardboard house is good for one season. It is better to choose thick corrugated cardboard to create it.
So, let's find out how to make such a design with your own hands. In addition to corrugated, you will need twine, starch and laminated paper. A pre-made template with dimensions will greatly facilitate the work.
The order of assembly of the product has its own characteristics:
- The blanks are marked, and then the parts are cut out in double quantities;
- made from starch;
- All parts are glued together in pairs. A hole is made in the front part. And holes are cut in the back wall for twine;
- all walls are glued end to end;
- the roof is made of two elements.
Birdhouse made of paper: decorative functions
Many people are interested in how to make a simple birdhouse out of paper with their own hands. This material is only suitable for decorative ideas. There are different schemes of unusual models.
Such houses are decorated with acrylic paints. You can make a whole composition, for example “seasons”. In addition to drawing, you can use techniques or applications. All this beauty can be varnished.
The Christmas theme is suitable for the January holidays. This can be a wonderful garden decoration. You can make feeders this way, but not housing for birds.
Birdhouse from a bottle: an option for temporary housing
To make any birdhouse, the drawing and dimensions must be learned and prepared in advance. A handmade product made from a plastic bottle is considered the most affordable.
This option is best used as a feeder or as a decorative garden decoration. The choice of options for how to make such a device is not varied. Two holes are made in the lid for the wire. The outside of the plastic surface can be pasted over or painted.
You can see the designs of models made from plastic bottles in the photo.
Birdhouse made of plywood: is it a good option?
You can make a bird house with your own hands from plywood. This option is suitable as a temporary home or as garden decor. When deciding how to make such a structure, first think about the drawings and size of the product. All elements are transferred from the diagram to plywood. In this case, the upper part should act as a visor. All cuts need to be sanded. The elements are connected using self-tapping screws and glue. In this case, it is necessary to glue the side walls and the facade, and then additionally fasten the product with self-tapping screws. The roof must be removable, since the internal cavities must be cleaned periodically.
The product can then be decorated to your liking.
Birdhouse out of the box: convenience and simplicity
How to make a structure out of a box with your own hands will be interesting to learn for those who do not want to spend a lot of time on work. This is a simple option, but it doesn’t last long and it’s better to use it as a... You can buy materials or just take a small box.
First you need to secure a strong roof and then cut the required hole. Its edges can be covered with tape. You can use plywood as the back wall, as it should be especially durable. The product should be painted with moisture-proof paint, but odorless. Then the product is attached to the base.
Choosing the right birdhouse sizes
If you don’t know how to properly make a bird house, then first you need to find out what the dimensions of the structure should be according to GOST. We make the product taking into account the fact that the dimensions of the structure will differ for different birds.
When deciding how to build a product with your own hands, first choose a simple design that has standard dimensions for a birdhouse.
Before making drawings and dimensions, consider a number of certain conditions:
- the diameter of the hole in the birdhouse should be about 50 mm;
- the height of the structure varies between 30-35 cm;
- the length from the hole to the bottom must be at least 20 cm;
- the bottom must be at least 15*15 cm.
Using these parameters, you can build strong birdhouses for birds with your own hands. The drawings assume the designation of all elements. The sizes given are more suitable for birds such as sparrows and starlings. It is also necessary to indicate the dimensions of the tap hole on the drawing. In the photo you can see what similar structures look like.
Dimensions of a birdhouse for starlings
When making a birdhouse with your own hands for starlings, you need to take into account that this is a fairly large bird. This design should be deeper and larger than other options. To correctly complete the drawing, you need to find out the main dimensions of the product.
The size of the hole in the birdhouse is of great importance. It should be about 5 cm. The height of the feeder or birdhouse should be 35-40 cm. The bottom dimensions should be about 15*15cm. It is better to make the entrance round in shape. In this case, the diameter of the hole in the birdhouse for a starling depends on the overall dimensions of the structure.
Titmouse: drawing and dimensions, some features
How to make the design of a titmouse depends on the selected materials and its size. There are standard birdhouse sizes for tits. The bottom should have dimensions of 10*12 cm, the height of the structure should be 25-35 cm, and the dimensions of the taphole should be about 30-35 mm. The depth of the product should be about 50 cm. Using this data, drawings are made.
For your information! Such a house must be mounted on deciduous trees with a dense crown. This should be done at a height of 3-4 meters.
House for a wagtail: drawing and dimensions
When making a house for wagtail birds with your own hands, you will also need to know the recommended dimensions. The bottom must be made with dimensions of 10*8 cm, and the height of such a structure is within 20 cm. The taphole has dimensions of about 35-40 mm. When deciding how to make such a design, it is worth considering that the taphole should have the form of a slot, the width of which is no more than 40 mm.
The kids make similar products during labor lessons. In this case, special drawings are used. A special feature of this design is the presence of a platform at the entrance, the width of which is about 10 cm.
For your information! You can place such buildings not only on a tree, but also on the roof of a house or on the top of a fence.
How to make a birdhouse yourself
You can see how to make the simplest version for birds in the video below.
You can try making a simple, beautiful DIY birdhouse with a flat roof.
For this you will need unplaned boards. We make this design only with gloves. This will prevent splinters from appearing. The cuts must be smooth and there should be no gaps. Remember that hatched chicks do not have feathers, so they can die from a draft. To prevent the manufacturing process from taking much time, it is recommended to make a drawing of the birdhouse with dimensions in advance. A flat roof does not require much effort. It just needs to fit tightly.
At home, you can make a nest box or bird house from a log. This option is more like regular housing for birds. This can be seen in the photo. In addition, such structures are practically invisible on the tree, which makes them safer for living. Such a product can also be made according to the scheme. To do this, you can use a piece of dead wood. In this case, the core will have to be picked out by hand. It’s good if you come across a log with intact edges and a rotten middle. This will speed up the work.
Such wood has rotten bark that needs to be cleaned. The log is then sawn into suitable logs. For a bird house, the internal diameter should be 25-30 cm, and the external one 30-36 cm. For a titmouse, the internal size of the hollow should be 15-25 cm, and the external one – 20-30 cm. When sawing, the bevel at the bottom should be made even, and at the top parts at a slight angle. This will allow precipitation to drain from the roof. For the roof, use scraps from the boards. The middle of the log can be picked out with a chisel. To make the job easier, drill a few holes and then pick out the jumpers. The walls should remain 1.5-3 cm thick. The insides should be smooth without large chips. The bottom consists of pieces 2.5 cm thick. It is screwed on. Finally, the lid is nailed on.
For your information! Perches are not always a good solution for poultry houses, as cats can lean on them to reach the chicks with their paws.
How to build a birdhouse with your own hands
Let's find out how to make a birdhouse correctly. You can watch the working process in the video below.
How to make a birdhouse yourself and its design depends on where it will be hung. If the mounting will be carried out on a pole, under the roof of a house or, then it is worth planning special perches. If the structure is attached to a tree, then birds can walk along the branches.
To build a wooden house with your own hands, you will need certain materials. By the way, you can buy a birdhouse set with your own hands in a specialized store.
Here are the tools and materials you will need:
- boards and bars;
- carpentry glue, screws and nails;
- hammer, chisel, drill, hacksaw and drill;
- pencil and ruler.
You can see how to make a simple design in the photo. Drawings and diagrams will also help you make beautiful bird houses.
Before making such a design, you need to complete the blanks. To do this, markings are made on the boards according to the drawings. The correct house involves marking the dimensions of the roof, walls, bottom and holes. The following recommendations will help you when making preparations:
- since the roof is made with a slope, the front wall is made 4 cm longer than the others, and the side walls are cut with a bevel;
- the bottom is made in the form of a square with sides of 13 cm;
- the roof is made of two different elements. One part is made like the bottom, and with the help of the second a canopy is created.
Sawing is done carefully. All paired parts must be the same size. The outside of the house had a decorative appearance; the boards needed to be planed. It is better to make the hole round so that it resembles a hollow.
Then the structure is assembled. To do this, you need to fasten the side walls and the front facade. This is done using wood glue. Nails and screws are used as additional reinforcement. Then the bottom of the birdhouse is attached. Finally, the back wall is attached. It is important to ensure that there are no gaps between the elements. If the roof is removable, then the parts are fixed only to each other. In this case, the roof is mounted using rubber or special hinges.
The finished product can be nailed to a suitable surface or tied with wire. To make it easier for the chicks to exit, it is recommended to attach the structure with a slight forward tilt.
There are also unusual types of birdhouses. Decorative options can be used to decorate the garden, and even taken to kindergarten.
Here are some original solutions:
- An unusual bird house can be made from an old barrel. In this case, you can make a hole and then decorate the structure;
- You can weave beautiful products from willow growth. The weaving technique is identical to the method of weaving baskets. But the house at the top should narrow. The roof should protrude 3-5 cm at the edges;
- For an unusual-looking nest, you can use plugs. They are dense, fit perfectly and retain heat. They can be used to finish the finished frame. You can glue the elements using hot glue;
- a decorative house can be made from a pumpkin. In this case, it is necessary to pull out the pulp, cut the necessary hole, and attach a canopy on top;
- a beautiful and decorative option is obtained from a flowerpot. To do this, you need to braid it with a strong rope;
- Among the most unusual options, we can mention a product made from old shoes;
- used vessels with necks. In this case, the neck turns down;
- It's a good idea to use tubes.
How to decorate a birdhouse with your own hands
A birdhouse can become not only a useful item, but also a wonderful one. Let's look at how you can decorate a bird's house.
Photos show how unusual birdhouses look. You can make similar products with your whole family. For children you can make a product with a picture. For example, beautiful flowers, ornaments will do, or you can depict how a starling looks out in a birdhouse.
Using original ideas, you must remember that such a product should not attract the attention of various predators. You should also not overuse with various shiny and rustling parts that can frighten your feathered friends.
Unusual decor can be made using wine corks. This material has a porous but durable structure, which protects the structure well from moisture. In addition, such a coating allows you to retain heat. Cork is also easy and simple to process.
To make this option, you will need corks, a finished frame, a device with hot melt glue and twigs. You should not nail or screw such elements. Because the tips of the screws can penetrate the walls and injure the birds.
The work is carried out like this:
- the adhesive composition is applied to the plugs, which are glued in rows to the wall;
- the plugs are glued all the way to the roof. In narrow places you can use parts of plugs;
- on the front side, the central row can be laid out vertically;
- for the roof, you can cut the corks in half and lay them on the surface like tiles.
The sides of the structure and joints can be decorated with twigs, moss or pieces of cork. You can see in the photo how beautiful the birdhouses are.
Not everyone knows whether such structures can be painted. It is better to use odorless, moisture-resistant compounds. You can see in the photo how to paint surfaces with acrylic paints.
Article
One of the conditions for a rich harvest in the garden or garden is the fight against numerous arthropod pests. Using insecticides for these purposes means harming the health of the surrounding environment. It is better to “entrust” this task to birds - they become indispensable helpers in this matter.
But hoping that the birds will fly to your site on their own is short-sighted. A more reasonable solution would be to organize conditions for birds to settle directly next to humans. And for this it is necessary to attract them to the site with ready-made “comfortable housing”. A do-it-yourself birdhouse for birds, equipped according to all the rules, will be a good prerequisite for birds to choose a site for permanent residence. And the family that has settled in it will do an excellent job of controlling garden pests, collecting them from plants and even removing them from the soil.
And simply such proximity to living nature cannot but be beneficial, and it especially brings a lot of joy to children. So it makes sense to roll up your sleeves.
What material to choose for a birdhouse?
When planning to build a bird house, you need to take into account some nuances when choosing material for these purposes. Therefore, first you should consider various options, weigh their advantages and disadvantages.
- Natural wood- This is an ideal material for a birdhouse. It is easy to work with, it is environmentally friendly, has natural warmth, and most importantly, it is natural for the habitat of the vast majority of birds. However, there are also important nuances. So, for the construction of bird housing, you should choose a board made of hardwood.
The ideal material for a birdhouse is a hardwood board, preferably linden or aspen. Softwood lumber is not welcome The trouble is that coniferous boards can begin to release resinous substances over time, especially in the spring, with the onset of heat. And this is not only a pungent smell that sometimes scares away some birds. Resin may well stick to the plumage, and sometimes this even causes the death of birds.
- , chipboard and plywood- this is a bad choice. Such wood-based composite materials have a layered structure and therefore do not have adequate resistance to the combined effects of moisture, direct sunlight and temperature changes. Thus, the glue used when joining shavings, chips or veneer sheets may not withstand winter frosts, so microcracks quickly appear at the ends of the material. Over time, for example, during a thaw, water will penetrate into them, which, upon subsequent freezing, increases in volume, which leads to further delamination of the material. This design will not last long in outdoor conditions, even if the birdhouse is painted.
Wood composite materials are easy to use, but short-lived and unsafe for birds. Not in the picture are the delaminated walls of a birdhouse made of chipboard and plywood. It is unlikely that such a house will attract birds In addition, all these materials contain formaldehyde resins, which act as binding components during manufacturing. Such substances, firstly, have a very noticeable specific odor, and secondly, they emit toxic fumes. Both of these can scare birds away from such a dwelling. Although, despite the recommendations, some craftsmen still choose these materials for making birdhouses.
- Cardboard, even a durable one is still a short-lived material, and a birdhouse made from it will soon fall apart when wet. The roof of a cardboard house may sag or the bottom may fall off, on which the birds build a nest for laying eggs. This means that the clutch or brood will simply die. Therefore, it is better to abandon the idea of using this material immediately.
- Plastic bottle is also not the best option, since it has thin and transparent walls that are unlikely to attract birds. Some craftsmen paint the outside of the bottle, but the paint may peel off under the influence of temperature and moisture. Thin walls in winter or, conversely, with strong heating, will deform, shrink or expand, making clicking sounds that frighten birds. It’s funny to talk about at least some insulation of such a birdhouse.
A birdhouse made from a plastic bottle is unlikely to become a cozy home for a feathered family. But it’s worth making feeders out of bottles for the winter In addition, plastic bottles are lightweight, so when suspended they will be swayed by strong winds. If you fasten the product to a tree with brackets, then the same wind can simply tear off and carry away the bottle along with all its contents.
So, you can't think of anything better than wood. And then we will consider various options for birdhouses made only from this material.
Varieties of houses for different birds
To attract certain birds or even several species of birds to the site, it is necessary to create comfortable, familiar conditions for them. Due to the fact that birds have different sizes, differ in flight speed and peculiarities of movement on a hard surface, the parameters of the “living space” intended for them will also vary.
Birdhouses according to their design can be divided into two types - prefabricated and “nesthouses”.
- Prefabricated bird houses, of course, are assembled from parts cut to specific sizes from boards.
“Duplyanka” made from birch logs - A “duplyanka” is a piece of log (log) from which the inner layers of wood have been removed. Walls with a thickness of 15–20 mm are left, depending on the diameter of the log.
When choosing the size and type of birdhouse, it is also necessary to take into account the fact that some birds prefer a certain shape of “house”.
Birdhouse prices
birdhouse
For example, if you plan to attract and house wagtails on your property, then you will have to make a house for them, which will be significantly different from the birdhouse that is familiar to everyone. The height of such a dwelling will be 140÷150 mm, width 150 mm, depth 350÷400 mm including the landing area. In this design it is made in the form of a rather large board measuring 150x100 mm. Thanks to this entrance and narrow entrance, the bird can enter the house on foot.
Some birds prefer to live in semi-open homes For redstarts, flycatchers, and white wagtails, a house that resembles a feeder is suitable, since they are reluctant to settle in closed birdhouses. Due to the fact that such dwellings become poorly protected from predators, for safety reasons they must be raised to a height of 2–6 meters, positioned so that there are no thick branches nearby that a cat can use to get to the nest.
The width of the house is 120÷140 mm, the height of the rear wall is 140÷150 mm, the front wall is 80÷90 mm, the depth is 120÷140 mm. The roof of such a house has dimensions of 160x200 mm. Since the entrance clearance is large, the roof must reliably cover it from rain and snow.
The pied flycatcher is a small bird belonging to the tit family. She prefers a more secure home, so it is recommended to make a hole for entering it on the side of the front panel. The depth of the house can vary from 150 to 200 mm, the width - 150 mm, the height of the structure is from 150 to 25 mm, the entrance hole, as a rule, has a square shape and its size can be 35x35 or 40x40 mm.
Swifts and a house for them Another species of bird that is an excellent fighter against garden pests is swifts. These birds prefer to live in boxes fixed under the eaves of the house; sometimes they do not have a front wall at all, sometimes they resemble an ordinary birdhouse, but turned to a horizontal position. The entrance holes - tapholes - are also different; they are not round, but elliptical in shape. Other birds do not settle in such nests, since everything is designed for swift nesting. The height of the house is 180, width 550, length 225 mm, entrance hole size 32x60 mm.
Open shearers Another housing option for swifts is a box divided into several compartments and reliably protected from precipitation. Having chosen one of the compartments, swifts arrange a nest in it, bringing various natural materials for this. This version of the shearer can be called “multi-apartment”. And living in entire “colonies” for swifts is a common thing.
A traditional birdhouse of simple shape - this design is perhaps the most popular The traditional birdhouse is loved not only by starlings, but also by many other birds. This design can have different dimensional parameters.
The house shown in the illustration above has the following dimensions - width 180 mm, depth 200 mm, height 350÷400 mm. The dimensions of the bottom are 160×180, and the roof is 200×200 mm, the diameter of the inlet is 50÷60 mm, the perch (sixth) has a length of 50 mm and a diameter of 10 mm.
Multi-story birdhouse Starlings, and sparrows too, get along well in “multi-apartment” birdhouses, which are installed on a metal stand embedded in the ground. The height of such a house must be at least 1500÷2000 mm. Next to the photograph is a drawing of a two-story birdhouse with five compartments, that is, five feathered families can live in it at once. The only thing that would not hurt to add to this design is landing areas on each floor of the building, such as shown in the illustration.
To make such a birdhouse, first internal compartments-apartments are created from prepared parts, which will become a reliable frame for the external façade cladding. In the external panel for each of the “apartments” there is one round taphole with a diameter of 50 mm.
Houses are a favorite place for many birds to live. Hollows are a natural habitat for birds in the wild; most bird species live in them, from sparrows to owls and even ducks. Therefore, a birdhouse made from logs will appeal to many feathered inhabitants, as it is made without the use of paints, glues and varnishes. You can always select a log with the required parameters and create comfortable, close to natural living conditions inside it.
Having decided to equip a house for birds, it is necessary not only to choose the correct design, but also to think about the place and method of its installation on the site. Not only the attractiveness of the home for potential residents, but also their safety, as well as comfortable conditions for raising chicks, will depend on this decision. By taking some protective measures, you can protect the birdhouse both from weather influences and from various predators.
- First you need to determine how to install the birdhouse. Some people advise securing the bird house so that the entrance faces the south side. However, this decision cannot be called correct, since a birdhouse turned to the sunny side will overheat, which can lead to the death of the chicks. You can turn the entrance to the south only if the birdhouse is shaded by tree branches.
- Another important factor that must be taken into account when choosing the location of the birdhouse is the wind rose in the region, that is, from which direction the wind blows more often and more intensely. The fact is that along with the wind, water will enter the birdhouse through the entrance during rain and snow in winter.
That is why the bird house entrance should be turned to the leeward side or, at least, to the side parallel to the predominant direction of the winds.
Prices for edged boards
edged board
- To install birdhouses, tree trunks, house walls, masts made of metal pipes or durable wood can be used.
Birdhouse installation options - Birdhouses are installed at a height of 2÷3.5 meters above the ground, in a place where there are no factors that can cause disturbance to birds. For example, if there are railway tracks, recreation areas or public buildings nearby, then it is recommended to raise birdhouses to a height of 4.5–5 meters.
- It is also necessary to maintain the distance between individual birdhouses. By the way, it depends on the type of birds that have settled. For example, a tit does not tolerate “competitors” within a radius of about 50–60 meters around its habitat. The flycatcher requires about 20 meters of its “own range”. True, many birds are not so picky, and as we have already seen, they get along quite well in entire colonies in “multi-apartment” birdhouses.
A birdhouse on a pole can be attached to a tree trunk using nylon twines or plastic wire - The fastening of birdhouses to one of the supports depends on their design. If the fastening is provided using a pole attached to the back wall of the birdhouse, then it is nailed or screwed with long screws to the base - the pole. Nailing to a living tree trunk - sometimes some people don’t understand the hand. This means that you can secure the birdhouse by tying it with flexible wire or even a strong cord. In other options, birdhouses are hung by special brackets, also attached to the rear wall or roof of the structure.
Birdhouses need to be protected from predators - In addition, we must not forget that predatory animals pose a great danger to birdhouses. It sounds scary, but in fact the main threat is our beloved cats, whose call of nature draws them to robber adventures, even if they are well supplied with food. If the entrance is too large, the cat can reach the chicks or hidden birds with its paw.
To prevent the cat from reaching the bottom of the birdhouse with its paw, it is necessary to make a sufficiently large canopy. If the drawings show parameters from 40 to 50 mm, then it is worth increasing them even to 80 ÷ 100 mm. Wood consumption will increase slightly, but effective protection for the nest will be provided. Another way to protect birds from cats is to make a gable roof on the birdhouse, with the slopes placed at an acute angle. Even the most dexterous “bandit” will not last long on such a structure.
Safety measures against woodpeckers and cats If the birdhouse is fixed to a tree, then to make it difficult for the cat to lift or descend from above to the birdhouse, the trunk is covered with metal belts 600–800 mm wide. The distance between the bottom of the birdhouse and the protection should be 350÷400 mm, and between the roof and the metal 1300÷1400 mm. When choosing this method of protection, you must remember that the metal belt around the trunk should not prevent the tree from increasing in diameter. That is, either a certain gap must be set between the tree and the belt, or some kind of sliding structure must be made that can increase in diameter.
Another option that can be chosen instead of installing metal is to attach a bundle of branches lowered down to the trunk. The branches must be securely fixed to the surface. A cat will never overcome such an obstacle.
The woodpecker expands its entrance to reach the masonry Another danger to the nests of small birds is, oddly enough, woodpeckers. These birds are considered very useful; they are called “forest orderlies.” But along with actively eating tree pests, woodpeckers do not refuse to destroy the nests of small fry.
The entrance to bird houses is traditionally made small; the woodpecker cannot climb into it and is not even able to stick its head in to break an egg with its beak. But often this does not stop him. To get to the masonry, these “beauties” know how to expand the entrance, hammering it with their sharp beak.
To protect the masonry from woodpeckers, other methods are used, which are also shown in the above figure in its first line:
The area around the taphole is lined with metal;
Several nails are driven in a circle around the hole;
It would be nice to hang up a kind of “store” for material that is perfect for building a nest. If the birds find everything they need in one area, they will stay there forever. Chicks raised in a comfortable birdhouse will definitely return to it next year.
Making birdhouses with your own hands
In this section of the publication, four options for making birdhouses will be considered, from the simplest to the more complex. After studying this information, each master will be able to choose an acceptable solution for himself.
The first option is to assemble a kit from ready-made parts
If it is not possible to find a suitable material or there is no ability to prepare from it all the elements necessary to create a birdhouse, then a ready-made set of wooden parts is purchased. You can quickly and easily assemble a bird house from them.
Prices for popular models of screwdrivers
screwdriver
A complete set of wooden parts for building a birdhouse - can be purchased in the store The parts are made of well-dried and treated wood. The manufacturer even provided holes for screwing in self-tapping screws. The kit comes with an assembly diagram, so the job can be completed in just a couple of hours, having only a regular Phillips screwdriver or . This is the simplest option for making a bird house. By the way, a good option for introducing a child to creative work.
The second option is the simplest “classic” model with a pitched roof
This option is more complicated. But only because you will have to find a suitable material and make parts of the required size from it.
Simple design of a bird house | Illustration | |
|---|---|
 | Before proceeding directly to the work, you need to select a ready-made one or create your own project-drawing of a product suitable for the parameters. In this case, an easy-to-make model is presented, which can be manufactured even for a novice craftsman. |
 | From the finished drawing, all dimensions of the parts are transferred to well-processed boards. The thickness of the board can vary and range from 15 to 25 mm. For marking you will need a tape measure, a metal ruler and a simple pencil. After all the structural parts are marked, they are cut out using an electric jigsaw. You can, of course, use a regular hand hacksaw for wood, but burrs will remain on the ends of the parts. And it’s much more convenient to work with power tools. |
 | On the finished front panel of the birdhouse structure, the location of the entrance hole is marked. Then, it is drilled out using a core drill of the required diameter - in this case it is 50 mm. |
 | For comfortable movement of birds along the inner surface when climbing to the entrance, it is made “embossed” and rough. To do this, it is scratched and drilled, making blind holes to a depth of 2–3 mm. Scratches and holes are made below the tap hole. |
 | To prevent the ends of the boards from splitting when screws are screwed into them, first the front panel is placed against the side panel, and small diameter holes are drilled in the right places. Then, using a screwdriver, screws are screwed into the resulting holes, which will create a reliable connection. |
 | Next, the second wall is fixed to the facade in the same way as the first. The last operation at this stage of work is to fix the rear panel. The parts are fastened in such a way that the right angles of the birdhouse are maintained. It is enough to use three self-tapping screws on each side. In some structures, to more securely fasten the walls together, craftsmen install bars with a cross-section of 25×25 mm inside the structure in the corners, to which the walls are fixed. True, this somewhat reduces the spaciousness of the birdhouse. |
 | The next step is to mark the bottom of the birdhouse and determine the line along which the screws will be screwed in. They should be at a distance from the edge equal to ½ the thickness of the bottom panel. Holes are drilled along the edges of the drawn line. After this, the square bottom part is installed in place - it should fit tightly between the walls already fixed to each other. Next, self-tapping screws are screwed into the prepared through holes, which finally secures the bottom of the birdhouse. In other designs, the bottom element can be placed on the end sides of the walls and fixed to them with the same screws. |
 | Next, markings are made on the inside of the roof for mounting a wooden square-liner, which will fit tightly between the walls of the birdhouse when the lid is closed. First, the square is fixed to the roof with one self-tapping screw, which is screwed into its center. Then, after the final adjustment of the roof, the part is additionally secured with four self-tapping screws installed in the corners. |
 | To preserve the possibility of carrying out internal treatment of the bird's home, it is recommended to fasten the roof not permanently, but hingedly, on one wide or two narrow hinges. At the same stage, a pole-bar is installed and fixed in the middle part of the rear wall, with the help of which the birdhouse will be secured to a tree or other base. |
 | If you plan to fix the roof permanently, then after installing it in place, through its panel, through holes are drilled into the walls. After this, you can safely screw the screws into them, being sure that they will not split the side panels. Finally, a blind hole is drilled under the tap hole into which the pole is inserted and fixed. Or - a small “take-off platform” or a piece of board or block. |
The third option is a birdhouse with a gable roof
This birdhouse model differs from the previous one in the shape of the roof, size and some manufacturing nuances.
| Illustration | Brief description of the operation performed |
|---|---|
 | For this version of the birdhouse, it is necessary to prepare parts having the following dimensions: A1 and A2 – 300 × 160 mm - front and rear walls; B – 2 pcs. – 220 × 120 mm - side walls; C – 1 piece – 120 × 120 birdhouse bottom; K1 – 1 pc. 200 × 160 mm - one side of the roof; K2 – 1 pc. 200 × 180 mm - second side of the roof. |
 | The above dimensions are carefully transferred to the boards. Then the parts are cut out using an electric jigsaw, which will make the edges smooth and without burrs. |
 | The finished parts are checked against each other so that when assembling the structure it does not happen that unwanted gaps arise between the individual parts. If this happens, you will have to disassemble the birdhouse and adjust its elements to each other. If necessary, minor adjustments are made to complete congruence. |
 | Now all parts and their edges must be sanded. It is especially important to sand the outer sides of the walls well so that they absorb moisture as little as possible. |
 | The taphole can be marked and drilled before the structure is assembled or after it is assembled. But it is necessary to work on the inner surface of the facade before the walls are fastened together. Using a knife, drill or other sharp tool, the part of the inner wall under the tap hole is made rough. |
 | The finished parts in the example under consideration are first glued together with wood glue. The first step is to glue the side panels to the back wall. |
 | They are pressed tightly and tightened with clamps until the glue dries completely. Then, without removing the clamps, holes for the fasteners are drilled with a thin drill. |
 | Nails are driven into the resulting holes or self-tapping screws are screwed in. To attach the back and front walls to the side panels, two nails or screws are enough for each side. |
 | After the walls are fastened together, markings are made on the facade panel for drilling the taphole hole. |
 | Then, using a core drill with a diameter of 45 or 50 mm, the tap hole is drilled. It is advisable to immediately treat the finished hole with sandpaper. |
 | The next operation is to install the roof slopes of the birdhouse. First, one, shorter roof part is glued exactly from the ridge line. Then - the second, with an overthrust on the first. After this, you need to wait until the glue sets, and then small holes for fasteners are drilled in the roof slopes. |
 | In this case, nails 25÷30 mm long are used for fastening. |
 | The next step is to install the bottom of the birdhouse. If the marking and cutting of parts are carried out correctly, then the bottom should fit very tightly between the walls - sometimes you even have to knock it slightly with a hammer. |
 | Holes for mounting are drilled at the bottom of the side, rear and front panels. Then nails are driven into them. |
 | Under the taphole, 20 mm away from its bottom point, drill a hole for the pole. |
 | The pole is glued into the resulting hole using wood glue. |
 | The result is a neat birdhouse with a gable roof, which will not allow the cat to lie in a long “ambush” waiting for the birds to appear. |
Fourth option– making a nesting birdhouse
This section will discuss the process of making a nest box, which is favored by many species of birds.
| Illustration | Brief description of the operation performed |
|---|---|
 | In order to make a nest box, you do not need to make calculations or draw up drawings. The only thing that needs to be observed is the approximate dimensional parameters of “classic” birdhouses, taking into account the diameter of the entrance. To implement this idea, you need to find a log that is suitable in size and type of wood. An aspen or birch log that has been lying outside for about a year is perfect for a nest. After lying in outdoor conditions, the core of these tree species becomes soft, and the outer layers retain their rigidity and strength, which is what we need. |
 | If the bark of the wood has become unusable, it should be removed from the log. If it is dry and has an aesthetic appearance, it can become a camouflage and decorative element of the nest. The top side of the log can be cut at an angle to secure a pitched roof, or cuts can be made on both sides of the log for a gable structure. When choosing a single-slope option, it is necessary to provide such a slope so that water flows freely from the roof during rain. |
 | The next step is to gradually remove the inner part of the wood from the log. It should be noted here that the fibers can be removed along the entire length, or a bottom 40÷50 mm thick is left in the lower part of the workpiece. The second option is more difficult to implement, but you won’t have to fix the bottom panel, and the birds will have more natural living conditions. If such a bottom is left in the log, then it must be made as even as possible. It is easier, of course, to clear the core of the log along its entire length. To select wood, a chisel with a hammer and an electric drill with a long drill are used, which drills several holes that weaken the array of fibers. |
 | The core is removed from the log so that the remaining walls have a uniform thickness of 20÷30 mm. It is necessary to remove protruding chips and large burrs from the side walls. Next, you need to mark the outer wall of the log where you plan to build a tap hole. It should be located at a distance of 70÷80 mm from the top edge of the workpiece. A hole is drilled using a core drill of the required diameter. |
 | As a bottom, you can use a piece of log (die) 30÷35 mm thick, with a diameter corresponding to the size of the internal hole of the nest. The bottom should fit tightly into the hole. Then, it must be secured in several places with self-tapping screws, for which small holes are pre-drilled. Instead of a piece of log, a round bottom piece can be cut from a board of the same thickness. To determine the exact shape of the circle with minimal errors, you need to place a blank on top of the board and draw the inner diameter of the circle on the board from the inside. The bottom is cut along this line. If, after installing the bottom, small gaps remain between it and the walls of the hollow log, you can simply caulk them with flax fibers. |
 | The final stage of work is securing the roof. The blank for it is usually made from slab. The roof must be attached very carefully, as the walls of the log can be split. Therefore, first small holes are drilled into which self-tapping screws are screwed. The roof is mounted so that the canopy protrudes above the entrance by approximately 100 mm. To secure the birdhouse to the tree, a pole is mounted on its outer rear wall. If desired, a landing pad or pole can be secured under the taphole. At this point, in essence, the work is completed and the nesting box can be installed in its intended place. |
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Now, having familiarized yourself with the basics of the process of making birdhouses, as well as what models of bird houses there are, and for which birds they are mostly intended, you can choose a certain option.
Of course, the proposed options are among the simplest. But in fact, craftsmen sometimes create genuine masterpieces, which become not only a convenient place for birds to live, but also a decoration for the site. An example is shown in the video below - a birdhouse using prefabricated log house technology.
We have made a birdhouse, now you can start making a doghouse, and you can find the instructions in our new article on our portal -
Video: Original birdhouse - miniature log house
Studying the habits of birds and listening to their singing is a fascinating activity. It’s easy to attract birds by making a birdhouse and placing it in a convenient place. At the dacha there will be an additional benefit from this - insectivorous birds will destroy pests in the garden and garden.
For those who have children, this will teach them something useful and bring them joy. After all, what a pleasure it is to make a birdhouse out of wood together with your parents, and then watch how the birds inhabit it and the grown chicks fly out.
Materials for production
It happens that birds nest in an old basket, a dried pumpkin, a cardboard box, even in a mitten or boot. But the material familiar to birds, natural to nature, will be wood.
True, there are limitations here. Coniferous wood is not suitable. Even when dried, it releases resin that can damage feathers. Although sometimes they take pine boards, checking that there are no resinous streaks on them. Of the deciduous species, birch, linden, and aspen wood is preferable, since it is softer and easier to process.
You should not take wood boards and plywood glued with formaldehyde glue. In general, birdhouses are made from thick plywood.
Note! The most common unplaned boards are best suited for construction.
There should be no smooth surfaces inside the birdhouse. You can specially apply serifs. The thickness of the walls, bottom and roof is at least 2 cm. Thin walls will not retain enough heat, and this is important when hatching chicks.
It is better to fasten all the elements together with nails or screws. Glue mounting is used if the composition does not have a strong odor. Due to the smell, it is not advisable to paint the birdhouse. If you still want to decorate it, then it is advisable to use water-based paints.
Sizes for different birds
It is clear that a birdhouse is a general name for a home for any small birds; it is not at all necessary for only starlings to live in it. But the right bird house should attract the species that are found in the surrounding area.
Birds react differently to the size of the birdhouse and the hole for entering it - the entrance, trying to choose what is more familiar to them. Approximate sizes that are attractive to certain species have been empirically determined.
It is worth mentioning separately about such a cute bird as the wagtail. The design of the wagtail looks unusual. It looks like a birdhouse laid on its side. 25–30 long, 10–12 high, and also 10–12 centimeters deep. The entrance is not round, but rectangular - full height and 4 cm wide. There is a flat shelf along the front wall so that the bird can approach the entrance on foot, without clinging to the perch with its paws.
Hanging Rules
Making a good birdhouse out of wood is only the first stage. The house still needs to be located in a “prestigious area” without offering a ground floor. When placing a birdhouse, there is no need to take into account the wishes of different birds, although wagtails prefer houses located near the roof of the building.
- hang away from crowded places. In the city there will be problems with this, but you should try to find a remote place in a park, garden, quiet alley;
- location height – at least 3 meters. In the city it is better to hang it even higher - 4–5 meters;
- do not place it in a place exposed to sunlight, do not place it deep in the crown of a tree. Access to the tap hole must be free;
- location along the cardinal points is not critical, but it is better to direct the entrance to the southeast, towards the rising sun. It is much more important to determine the direction of the prevailing winds, to turn the birdhouse so that they do not blow inward;
- You need to install the birdhouse by slightly tilting the front wall down from the tree trunk. This will make it easier for the chicks to get out.
There are different methods of attaching to a tree or pole. For example, a plank or board is nailed to the back. Then this plank is nailed to the support on which the house is attached. If you don’t want to spoil the wood with nails, you can fasten it with wire or rope. The original way is not to attach the birdhouse, but to hang it, but there is a risk that not every bird will want to live in a swinging house.
Protection from predators
The main enemies of birds are cats, squirrels, and weasels. In rural areas there are also woodpeckers that break the walls or entrance of birdhouses and eat the chicks.
One of the cat protection measures is to lengthen the roof of the house so that the cat does not reach the entrance. By the way, such a roof will additionally protect from slanting rain.
But what’s more important is to prevent the cat from getting near the birdhouse itself. There should be no strong branches or other supports next to it from which you can jump onto the birdhouse. To prevent the cat from climbing up the trunk or post, they can be wrapped in sheet iron or other material that does not allow the claws to cling to the tree.
If woodpeckers pose a danger, then there are techniques against them. It is necessary to paint over or cover with plasticine the knots on the walls of the birdhouse. And to protect the tap hole, it can be covered in a circle with tin. You can also increase the length of the tap hole by stuffing an additional spacer around it with a longitudinal arrangement of fibers. But the birds themselves may not like the elongated entrance.
The simplest option
A flat pitched roof and a square base – it couldn’t be simpler. The drawing is made schematically so as not to make mistakes with the dimensions. Sloping and gable roofs, decorative design, and other tricks are unlikely to be appreciated by starlings.
Material: unplaned hardwood board 25 mm thick and 15 cm wide; nails 50 mm. The screws hold more firmly, but there won’t be any special loads on the product (a starling weighs 75 g on average).
The diagram for making a wooden birdhouse with dimensions for small birds is as follows:
- the boards are sawn into pieces 30 cm long - these are the walls, 4 parts are required;
- Another piece that needs to be cut 20 cm long is the roof. This size will provide a protrusion above the taphole;
- two squares with a side of 10 cm - the bottom of the birdhouse and a spike for a removable roof;
- In one of the workpieces, a hole for the tap hole is drilled using a drill with a feather drill with a diameter of 30 mm. Drilling location – 21 cm from the bottom edge, in the middle of the width;
- the front wall with the taphole is nailed to the sides, 3–4 nails on each side;
- The structure is turned upside down. The bottom is inserted, the front side and sides are also nailed to the bottom;
- cover the top with the remaining long piece and nail it to the sides and bottom;
- another square 10 x 10 cm is installed on one edge of the roof of the birdhouse so that 25 mm remains on the sides. Then they nail it to the roof, which is now removable;
- The roof is tightly inserted into the birdhouse. You may need to do a little work with the chisel.
The birdhouse is ready. The removable lid will allow you to clean it at the end of the season, when the starlings fly to warmer climes. There is no need to make a perch in front of the entry hole, since it will provide additional support for the cats, and starlings do not sit on it anyway. You can decorate the structure by painting it with soft green, white and brown paint.
Birdhouse nest
The nest box imitates a real hollow in a tree and is made from scraps of logs. It is best to choose aspen; although the wood on the outside is strong, it usually has a weak or rotten core - it will be easier to remove it.
The dimensions of the logs are selected in accordance with the desired type of house, taking into account that the thickness of the outer walls must be at least 20 mm. A block of wood of the required length is sawed off, and then the core is selected with a chisel. This is not difficult, but long, monotonous work. The inner surface remains rough, but without large scuffs.
The bottom and roof are made of boards. To make the house beautiful, you must try to cut a round bottom. The tap hole is drilled anywhere at a distance of 2/3 of the length of the log from the bottom.
Such a house, installed on a tree, does not catch the eye; tits and sparrows like to live in it. The nest box additionally attracts birds due to its shape as a safe home.
Is it necessary to decorate a birdhouse?
When a bird house is installed on a summer cottage or in a city with direct visibility from a window, then, of course, you want it to look beautiful. You can see birdhouses that look like works of art - original shape, decorations made of various materials, carved patterns and other beauties. But the main beauty of any birdhouse is the birds living in it. Why do you need a wonderful but empty house?
