A birdhouse is a great addition to any yard or a great gift to give any bird lover. Sure you can buy one at your local birding store or online, but in this post, I’m going to share with you how to build one yourself for $10.
To build a birdhouse you need very few woodworking skills and only a few tools. This project is great to do with the kids or grandkids and can be completed in less than an hour.
All that is required is a 1″x 6″x 5′ cedar fence board and some 1-1/4″ #6 wood screws available from your local home improvement store. Since the pandemic started cedar has been a bit hard to find and if so you can also use pine. You might even have scrap wood laying around your garage or workshop that will work. Just be sure not to use wood that is pressure-treated, stained, or painted as these chemicals are potentially harmful to the birds.
The plan I use to build this birdhouse I found for free online and is actually for a winter roost box, the only difference is for a birdhouse you mount the front with the hole at the top. Those plans can be found here. Follow the instructions for cutting the wood and assembling the house. Painting or varnishing the birdhouse is not necessary and I recommend leaving the wood natural to avoid any potential ill effects to the birds from harmful chemicals. Cedar or pine left untreated will last many years.
Over the years, I have made many of these birdhouses for my own yard and given several away to friends and family. The 1-1/2″ inch hole will accommodate a variety of species and I personally have seen Carolina Wrens, House Wrens, and Tree Swallows use this house. Other birds including chickadees, nuthatches, and even Downy Woodpeckers may use this house.
When you are finished mount the house 4 to 8 feet off the ground and place it where it is out of prevailing winds or hot afternoon sun. It’s a good idea to put a birdhouse up early so the birds have time to find it and the wood can weather a bit.
Watching birds raise a brood in a house I built myself is something I find incredibly rewarding. I’ve used this plan to build a lot of houses and this has been the most successful design I’ve tried.
If you are thinking about adding a birdhouse to your yard, are looking for a unique gift idea for a friend, or just want a fun project to do with the kids or grandkids why not build this birdhouse? The joy of the building process will far outweigh the time and cost of making it and watching birds raise a brood in it will provide plenty of enjoyment year after year.
Good birding,
Paul