Make Birdhouse | How to Build a Birdhouse: Gardening

Helping You Become a More Successful Gardener

This droll mansion will house a flock of wrens, martins or other small songbirds while adding charm and appeal to your garden. It can be assembled in one weekend from copper flashing, molding, pine, plywood and dowels using a drill, carpentry and shot-filled hammers, a rotary handsaw, a table saw, sheet metal shears, a socket wrench, a steel straightedge plus brads, finishing nails, paint and primer. Looking for a fun build-it-yourself garden accessory that combines beauty and functionality? Gather your materials and gloves, and follow the steps shown in the pictures and described in their captions to build a fabulous new home for your feathered friends!

This beautiful post-mounted birdhouse features a wide base with a bottom overhanging molding that acts block climbing animals that prey on birds.

Materials

Various pieces of wood (see detailed component diagram)
4 hex frames
6 beveled side panels
6 roof sheathing panels
3 baffles
6 rafter braces
4 rafters
6 decorative molding sections
12 2-inch half-round moldings
12 4-inch half-round moldings
6 5⁄8-inch dowel perches

Other Components

1 4x4 mounting fixture
4 bolts, nuts and washers
6 copper roof flashing shingles

Fasteners

100 6d galvanized finishing nails
25 4d galvanized brads

Adhesives and Finishings

1 6-ounce wood glue
2 applicator tubes panel adhesive
1 quart primer and paint
1 pint trim paint

Birdhouse Measurements

Floor and side panel details

Roof sheathing and flashing details

Molding and baffle details

Rafter details

Fitting it together

Now that you have the materials in mind, let's get to work.

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Facts

Birds are particular about where they rear their young! Build or buy a birdhouse that’s specific to the bird you want to attract. There are specific birdhouses created for most species, with different heights, diameters of entry holes, and varied interior dimensions and depths.

Tips

Adding a baffle to the post-mounted birdhouse adds an effective barrier against climbing pets and predators that otherwise would gain access to the birds and their young.
Protect birdhouse entry holes by adding an extra thick piece of wood cut to fit around the entrance hole. A deep opening keeps birds like gray jays from getting their beaks in far enough to reach eggs or young hatchlings.

Next Steps

Gourds – Going to the Birds!
Gourds make pretty fall centerpieces and can nicely decorate a front porch. But why stop there? With a little creativity, you and your children can turn a regular old gourd into a unique birdhouse sure to impress your garden visitors (feathered friends included).
This Garden’s for the Birds (and Bees and Butterflies)
Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees are responsible for many food crops and keep life growing! Unfortunately, these amazing creatures are losing their natural habitats. Create a space for them in your back yard and bring environmentally sound beauty to your garden. (If you grow it, they will come!)
Bob & Betty Bluebird, Sittin’ in Your Tree (S-I-N-G-I-N-G)
Add flashes of brilliant blue to your outdoor living space – and an enchanting spring song! With the right food and shelter, your garden can be a year-round home to a family of bluebirds. Here’s how to put out the welcome mat for these special feathered friends.

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Housing Your Feathered Friends (How to Build a Birdhouse)