How To: Build A Birdhouse

Birds can add a lot of life to your garden. They are very playful animals and especially entertaining in the spring. Why not help bring the birds to your yard by building them a birdhouse! By doing this, you can feed them and have more time to admire their beauty.

Now, let’s get started. The most important thing to remember is that you do not want to use any materials that could harm the birds in any way. This means that you should not treat, stain, paint or varnish the inside of your birdhouse or around the hole the bird will use to enter the house. If you do, the birds will not enter the house. Pegs can also be dangerous. Although many plans, including this plan, call for it, do not put a perch on your birdhouse. They are cute and all, but the perch could be used by a predator bird to sit and wait for the unsuspecting victim to arrive.

Materials & Supplies to Build

• Galvanized nails
• Hammer
• Waterproof glue
• Screwdriver
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Hand saw
• Coping saw
• Power drill
• Paintbrush
• Paint
• Safety goggles

Then if you want to decorate use non-toxic paints, woodworking tools or a wood burning kit.

When this birdhouse is completed, it will be 9 ½” high. This birdhouse features a climbing wall to ensure she stays in shape, ventilation, naturally beautiful décor and drainage slots.

You can never have too many nails, screws and waterproof glue on hand. Make sure you have plenty. We will be using ¾” thick pine for this project.

The Wood

Quantity Needed/Length x Width/Part of the House

• 2 – 8 ½” x 5 ½” for the Front & Back
• 2 – 4 ½” x 4″ for the Sides
• 1 – 5 ½” x 3 ¾” for the Floor
• 1 – 5 ¼” x 6 ½” for the Left Side of Roof
• 1 – 6” x 6 ½” for the Right Side of Roof

Step One:

Cut 45° angles on the front and back pieces of wood.

Step Two:

Newly hatched chicks will sometimes find it hard to grip the smooth surface of wood to exit the birdhouse. Use a saw to create tiny ridges inside on the front wall of the birdhouse by the door.

Step Three:

Drill a 1 ¼” hole for the door. The center of the door should be 4 ¾” from the bottom.

Step Four:

Use a Large wood screw that is 3 to 4” long to mount the birdhouse. Drill a 1/8” pilot hole on the back wall of the birdhouse. Make sure this hole is 4 ¾” up from the bottom, just like the door. Start screwing the mounting screw in, just enough to get it started. We lined up the door hole and the screw hole so we could finish tightening the screw through the front door of the house.

Step Five:

Now it is time to nail the birdhouse together. Many times, people like to glue and then nail the birdhouse as well to make it sturdy that is fine.

Step Six:

While you are nailing the birdhouse together, remember to keep a 1/8” gap at the front and the back of the floor for drainage. You should also leave 1/8” gap under both of the eaves for ventilation purposes. If you used glue, allow the birdhouse to completely dry before beginning the next step.

Step Seven:

Paint the birdhouse whatever colors you like. Be sure not to paint the inside of the house. Let your birdhouse dry completely again.

Step Eight:

Find the perfect spot and mount your birdhouse using the mounting screw by going through the door with your screwdriver to finish mounting your house. Now, put another pilot hole at the bottom of the house and then use a 3 to 4” screw at an angle to make it stable.

Now, tomorrow morning you can open the curtains and watch the birds scurry around while you eat your breakfast! You should be able to enjoy your birdhouse (and its residents) for many years to come!

Danielle blogs on behalf of Sears and other prestigious brands. In her spare time, she enjoys making a list of spring projects, crafting and collecting different types of wood glue. Read her work at eatbreatheblog.com