Building a birdhouse is an exciting family project that can bring everyone together, while creating a functional item that you can use year after year! In this article, we will go over the basics of building a birdhouse – the necessary supplies, the steps involved, and how to attract birds to your new home. Whether you’re looking for a fun weekend project, or want to teach your kids about how to construct something useful – building a birdhouse is a great idea. Let’s get started!
1. Gather the Necessary Materials
- Wooden boards: Get a wooden board with at least 1/2 inch thickness for the walls, roof and base. For a smooth finish and to make the birdhouse water-resistant, it’s better to choose pressure treated lumber.
- Nails: You can use small galvanized nail or screws to hold the boards together.
- Plywood: A thin layer of plywood is needed to keep the wood from splitting while creating the entrance hole.
- Plyers, saw, hammer and drill: For sawing, drilling and hammering the boards, you’ll need an adult’s help, since these tools can be dangerous.
- Gorilla glue: Use heavy-duty glue to make sure all the joints are firmly fixed.
- Paint and brush: To give the birdhouse alluring colors and make it even more beautiful.
- Pinecones, twigs or moss: For decoration, you can use natural things like pinecones, twigs and moss.
Once you have the materials ready, you’re all set for the next step. Involve your kids in the creative process, to make this birdhouse a fun project for the whole family.
2. Create a Blueprint of Your Design
Before your family begins building a birdhouse, it’s important to create an initial blueprint for your design. Here are some easy steps you should follow:
- Gather ideas and measurements. Take the time to think about the specific birdhouse you’d like to create, and consider how large it should be, what materials you’ll need, and what type of bird it will attract. Make sure to measure the pieces of wood before purchasing them.
- Draw out a basic template for the birdhouse. Sketch the plan on graph paper and mark any special measurements.
- Draw each side of the birdhouse onto its own sheet of paper. This will give you a blueprint for each wall of the Birdhouse.
- Draw the top and bottom of the Birdhouse onto their own sheet of paper. Again, make sure to mark any special measurements.
Once you have the blueprints ready, it’s time to purchase the wood for your birdhouse. You’ll also need nails and a hammer for the construction. Invite your children to join in on the fun. You and your family can have a great time designing and building something that will attract birds to your backyard.
3. Construct the Body
Constructing a birdhouse is a straightforward project that can take as little or as long as you want it to. All the materials can be bought for a reasonable price and it can be a rewarding family project. Here are the steps for constructing the birdhouse:
- Decide on the Type of Birdhouse – Before you start shopping for materials, decide what kind of birdhouse you want to make: open-end, with a peak, or a simple enclosed haven for birds.
- Gather all the Materials – You’ll need wood, screws, a drill, paint, and fasteners. Make sure everything is in good condition and just right for the task.
- Cut the Wood – You’ll need to cut the wood according to the measurements you’ve decided on. Be sure to wear goggles and safety gloves before you start.
- Assemble the Pieces – After measuring and cutting the pieces, it’s time to assemble them. Use the drill to fasten the pieces together and make sure they stay secure.
- Paint the Birdhouse – Give the birdhouse an attractive look by painting it. You can use any paint color you want, or you can even leave it natural.
- Mount the Birdhouse – Now that you’ve assembled and painted the birdhouse, you need to mount it in a place where birds can easily access it.
Once you’ve completed these steps, your DIY birdhouse will be ready to be enjoyed by your feathered friends!
4. Add Nails for Extra Support
Once all the wood is cut, you’re ready to start assembling the jointed pieces. Before construction begins, it is important to . Here are a few tips for adding nails:
- Pre-drill holes – It’s best to pre-drill the holes for the nails to prevent the wood from splitting and cracking.
- Use rust-resistant nails – Choose nails which are rust-resistant and galvanized.
- Attach slats – Line up the slats at the edges of the constructed walls and attach with nails. It is best to go along the edges of the walls and use two nails for each slat.
When your roof is assembled and the walls are attached, add some additional nails in strategic positions to give extra structural support. Two nails in each corner and two additional nails per wall are plenty.
Finally, be sure to leave some room in the roof for ventilation. This can be accomplished by removing the nails from a few of the slats towards the top of the roof.
5. Add Finishing Features
Hang It Up and Admire Your Work!
1. Decorations: Once your birdhouse is finished, let your family imagination soar with decorations! Decorations can include paint, colorful stained glass or mosaic tiles, and outdoor-safe glue-on accents, such as a flower pot or stone path.
2. Finishing Touches: Make the birdhouse look polished with some finishing touches! Hang it up with a bird- and weather-safe hook, or strategically nail it in its desired location. Bird houses should be approximately 10 feet high off the ground to keep out potential predators.
3. Add a Welcome Sign: Make a personal welcome sign for the exterior of the birdhouse. You can use outdoor paint to write a nice message, or add a small wooden sign.
4. Address: Give your family-made masterpiece an address! Look up your favorite birdhouse-dwelling species of bird, and assign an appropriate alias.
5. Enjoy: Sit back and enjoy your family-made work of art! You should be able to attract birds to your birdhouse in a few weeks. If not, try moving its location and varying the type of food and nesting material used inside.
6. Hang Your Birdhouse
- Position your birdhouse at the right height and place. Choose an area that is protected from strong winds and full sunlight but has plenty of room for birds to fly around. at the right height to ensure easy access for birds. Place the birdhouse in the center of a tree or in an open area for easy visibility.
- Secure the birdhouse to the tree or base. Place the bottom base of the birdhouse flat against the tree or post. Measure the distance between the bottom and the roof of the birdhouse. Make sure the hole is roughly 4-6 inches from the bottom. Then, use a drill and screws to secure the birdhouse in place.
- Install a perch if the birdhouse requires one. Place a perch strip on the corner or near the door of the birdhouse. You can find these perches in birdhouse kits. Make sure that the perch is securely placed on the edge so that it doesn’t fall off when a bird lands.
- Add a few finishing touches to make the birdhouse inviting. Place some material around the opening of the birdhouse and string some jute twine around it. This will make it more attractive to birds. Add some pieces of foliage or plant a few shrubs nearby to make the area more appealing.
Once you are done, your birdhouse is ready to be a home for birds. It’s now time to sit back, admire your work, and wait for your feathered friends to arrive and make your birdhouse their home! Building a birdhouse is an uncommon and meaningful family activity you can take part in. Working as a team to construct a structure for our feathered friends can foster a sense of accomplishment and fun. And if you’re lucky, you may get to witness some of the birds frequenting your birdhouse the next time you’re in your yard. Now go out and get those hands dirty—you’ll have a hand-crafted birdhouse before you know it!