How to make a beautiful and bird-friendly birdhouse with your own hands. DIY birdhouse made of wood: drawings, materials, decor and installation How to decorate a birdhouse

Craft: Cardboard house

I suggest you take a look at my master class.

This master class is designed for children in grades 5 - 7 and creative people. All materials for production can be found in any home. The house is made of thick cardboard, covered with non-woven fabric and painted yellow, decorated with flowers and grass, the roof of the house is covered with dermantin.

Target: teach the technology of making a house, develop a plot idea.

A wonderful house will serve as decoration in your winter garden or garden plot. A little free time and only the desire to create will not prevent you from making such a craft.

To create such a wonderful cardboard craft “Bird’s House”, we will need the following materials:

1. Thick cardboard

2. PVA glue

3. TITAN WILD glue

4. Scissors

5. Simple pencil

6. Velvet paper

7. Fluorescent paper

8. Universal yellow color paste

9. Water-based paint

10. Brush

12. Non-woven fabric

13. Dermantin

We make a template: a rectangle 15.5 cm x 29.5 cm for the roof and two squares 14 cm x 14 cm for the sides of the house.

We take the house templates, transfer them using a simple pencil onto thick cardboard and cut out the details of the house.

Now we begin to assemble the house, glue all the parts using TITAN WILD glue (you can use another glue, I used this one).

From non-woven fabric, we cut out the details of the house according to the templates and begin to glue it with PVA glue. We start gluing from the sides one by one: first we smeared the right side and glued the interlining, the allowances were taken to the front and back sides of the house, we will do the same with the left side of the house. We will do this work with the front and back sides of the house (parts without allowances).

After the house is dry, cut out the window of the house. Now let's start painting the house. We mix the color with water-based paint and a little PVA glue and, using a sponge, begin to paint our house.

The next stage is the decorating stage. We cut out flowers, grass, petals from velvet paper according to patterns, cut out butterflies from fluorescent paper (you can use non-loose fabric).

We start from the front side of the house. Glue on the curly grass, then the petals with flowers and finally the grass.

On the side of the house we glue grass, flowers along the grass and a butterfly in the middle of the side of the house, the same work needs to be done with the other side of the house. On the back side - first glue the grass, and the flowers scattered along the grass.

Then we start making the roof. We will cover the roof part with dermantine.

Our interest in birdhouses awakens in the spring along with raindrops, bright rays of the sun and the ringing voices of birds. I really want nimble and cheerful birds to settle in our yard. It's nice to watch the family activities of birds and listen to their trills. It’s equally nice to know that birds will help protect your garden from pests.

Birdhouses for birds: what are they?

We have all observed a considerable number of different birdhouses. You may get the impression that these are just small houses with a hole of different shapes and colors. In fact, bird houses can be made from various materials and must have certain parameters for different types of birds. There are certain requirements for their design and placement.

Especially for you, we have grouped the existing options into an easy-to-read form. Of course, before you start assembling a bird house, you need to see what they are like.

Birdhouses made of wood - classics of the genre

There is no doubt that wood is best suited for making a classic birdhouse. The reason is in the whole complex of its characteristics:

• good thermal insulation;
• acceptable sound insulation;
• sufficient strength;
• environmentally friendly;
• well processed;
• affordable.

We have prepared for you photos of 40 types of wooden birdhouses, arranging them in order of increasing complexity and quality of design.

Here are images of the simplest designs. As you can see, they suit the starlings themselves. Unless they suspect that the lifespan of an untreated house is limited. If appearance doesn't matter, choose one of these options.

If you spend a little more time, you can make a much nicer house for the birds. Perhaps you use another type of lumber for this purpose. Definitely, it will take a little more skill and effort.

In these designs, fantasy played the main role. Moisture-proof impregnation and a tin roof will definitely increase the service life of the crafts. The products are somewhat more complex than ordinary bird houses.

As you can see in the photo, the birdhouse can be decorated by cutting a hole in the shape of a bird’s silhouette. At least the roof can be painted. To assemble a bird house, you can use clapboard treated with a blowtorch.

The photographs above show the application of paints. In principle, one color is enough to decorate a craft. Several bird houses painted in different colors look great.

If you try, paints will help turn a bird's home into a fairy-tale house. The design itself is not complicated. Imagination and diligence are the main tools of the presented success.

A few more options for successful and simple solutions. Small cross-section sticks allow you to complement the craft with a fence, trellis, and so on. Using a jigsaw helped a lot in the bottom two photos. The use of wood of different colors and unusual shapes of the bird house ensured the exclusivity of the work.

The photos presented above say: don’t limit your imagination! Of course, to assemble an airplane and helicopter you will need parts made on a lathe. However, the locomotive and the tiger are made from ordinary planks using a simple tool. Can be repeated!

The two elegant bird houses pictured above were crafted with great taste and care. It's not easy to repeat this. To create something similar and your own is even more difficult.

We present four more examples that will decorate a site of any level. Of course, wood carving is not for everyone. Note that the two lower options are quite realistic for copying. It will take a lot of time and effort.

A birdhouse made of logs is a separate topic

A great idea is to use an ordinary log for a birdhouse at the dacha. This is also wood, but untreated. Please note that an old tree trunk with a rotten core is the best option. Such housing for birds resembles a hollow and is called a nest box. As you can see, the design of the product can be very different.

For many, an old log is more affordable than an edged board. Birds don't care what their home looks like. A simple deck or palace made of birch will do. You make the choice.

The nest can be decorated with branches, boards, and mushrooms. Again we are talking about the manifestation of imagination.

In any case, those who decide to make the house more complex and interesting must definitely link its design with the place and environment where the birdhouse will be located.

They also make plywood bird houses.

It is believed that plywood is not the best choice for a bird house, as it has an unpleasant and harmful smell of glue. However, the starling in the picture likes the plywood housing. You probably shouldn't use products with a noticeable glue smell. It can be assumed that the slight odor will subside over time. Plywood is more expensive than edged boards, but it is stronger and will last longer.

Here is a factory kit for assembling a bird house. Its main advantages are its interesting design and high assembly speed. Thin plywood has reduced heat and sound insulation. This type of bird house is best used in warm regions and will not last long.

Several more design options for birdhouses made of plywood demonstrate the wide decorative capabilities of the material. The use of paints will ensure a flawless appearance. It is probably better to use such crafts for decorative purposes.

Here are the simplest plywood bird houses. They are best used in relatively warm regions. They won't last long in this condition.

The use of 20mm thick plywood and paints greatly improves the position of plywood houses. Experiments with the shape of the craft are encouraged.

Birdhouses made of cardboard - it's possible

Cardboard birdhouses are difficult to take seriously. As follows from the pictures, such products exist. At the same time, they are made at enterprises producing corrugated packaging.

Of course, such a bird house is inexpensive, can be assembled quickly and even looks decent. Obviously, they will last one season, and in those areas where it will not be soaked by rain. However, we decided to overcome the identified shortcomings of the material and further in the text we offer a diagram for assembling a fairly reliable bird house made of corrugated cardboard.

Birdhouses made from plastic bottles - a backup option

At first glance, plastic containers are very suitable for a bird’s nest: they cost nothing, are durable, and are not afraid of rain. Note that birds do not like to sit in a transparent room with poor heat and sound insulation. In addition, the slippery surfaces of the bottle make it difficult for the bird to move around in the house.

However, these shortcomings can be combated. Note that the assembly of such a product does not require a hacksaw or drill and can be done by a woman or child. A plastic bottle can be painted, covered with an opaque material and lined with fabric on the inside. It is better to use five-liter eggplants.

To prevent the lightweight structure from being swayed by the wind, it must be securely attached to the tree, for example with tape. Obviously, in this situation there is a wide scope for decor and decorations. Below we offer a practical way to use plastic bottles for a bird house.

Bird houses made from scrap materials

A very interesting house for birds is made from a pumpkin. The internal contents of the plant are cleaned with a spoon through the future entrance. The craft is dried, decorated and hung on a tree.

Options for “decorating the room” outside can be very different. Note that even in its simplest form, the product has a certain decorative value. Often it is for this purpose that such crafts are made.

A wooden barrel or pebbles and cedar cones, as well as beer cans, are suitable for building a bird house. Almost any material will do, from beer cans to shoes.

At the same time, it is important to comply with the conditions for comfortable living of birds, which we discuss further in the text.

An old boot is an excellent home for birds. By the way, the leather version will last quite a long time. The convenience of living in an old snag with a hollow for birds definitely doesn’t need to be explained. Nothing prevents us from adding our human decorations.

An old bucket is perfect for birds. It is especially convenient to use a piece of plastic pipe to set up a bird house. Very simple and durable. The possibilities for decoration are, as always, unlimited.

Multi-family houses or townhouses for birds

Probably, apartment buildings were first developed by birds, and then by people. There are a great many options for execution. Just like people, an apartment building can be beautiful.

These examples look more like townhouses. Probably, next to a “high-rise building” for a large number of birds it will always be possible to observe at least one of them.

At the same time, we must not forget that a cheerful company of birds can harvest your entire garden in one sitting.

Decorative birdhouses

Decorative birdhouses also have a place. They are designed to decorate rooms. Often decorative crafts are placed in the garden.

Bird houses can be made by children from paper, cardboard boxes, plastic bottles and beer cans. Of course, in this case no dimensions need to be observed. We have selected for you images of the most typical products that are suitable for a child.

Dimensions of birdhouses and other requirements

There are general requirements for bird housing, regardless of what specific birds they are intended for:

1. The bird house must have sufficient thermal insulation and be protected from noise, moisture and drafts. To do this, a wooden birdhouse is made from boards at least 20mm thick. The seams and cracks of the house are sealed with clay, plasticine or tow.
2. The structure should not have sharp protrusions that could injure feathered inhabitants. The protruding parts are treated with emery cloth.
3. The configuration of the birdhouse should allow birds to easily get in and out. In a birdhouse made of planed boards, the front wall from the inside is roughened using a hacksaw and a drill. A birdhouse made from a plastic bottle is trimmed from the inside with a coarse cloth.
4. The material of the bird housing should not emit unpleasant odors. Laminated chipboard and OSB board contain formaldehyde and are not suitable for birds. For the same reasons, the use of plywood is also discouraged. Inorganic adhesives should not be used to assemble the birdhouse. It is better to paint the product with acrylic paints.
5. You should not use too bright colors to decorate the house. Birds distinguish colors much better than people, and in nature they are not used to showing off their nest to everyone. It is better not to create a tip for birds of prey and cats. Good paint will significantly extend the life of your product.
6. The design and placement of the birdhouse should provide sufficient protection from cats and woodpeckers.
7. The birdhouse should not be too large so as not to provoke the female to lay too many eggs. It is difficult to provide food for a large number of chicks, and they will not survive.

Let us add in more detail a few more significant comments on the “architecture” of bird houses. To protect against feline organized crime groups (organized criminal groups), the birdhouse should be positioned so that it is impossible to climb into it from nearby branches.

It is better not to make a support under the entrance, as the entrance to the bird’s house is called: branches are enough for the bird if the birdhouse is on a tree, and the cats will definitely take advantage of the additional opportunity for criminal purposes. To protect the chicks from attack from above, the overhang of the birdhouse canopy is increased to 70-80mm. The greater the angle of inclination of the roof, the more difficult it is for cats to commit a dirty deed.

To prevent cat gangs from reaching the birdhouse along the support from below or above, it is wrapped in tin in accordance with the image. The cat slides on the metal and will not reach the chicks. To protect against the claims of a woodpecker, the bird entrance is reinforced with a metal or thick wooden overlay, as in the photo. Then he will not be able to expand the entrance and get to the eggs.

Quite often, birdhouses are made from coniferous wood. Resin released from wood can ruin the plumage of birds. It is better to use birch or alder for a bird's nest. As a last resort, you should choose pine boards without knots.

Different birds have their own characteristics and choose their “apartments” according to their needs. When planning to make a house for certain birds, use its standard GOST dimensions from the table below.

The bird house mentioned in the table, called a “half nest,” is intended for birds that are accustomed to nesting not in the hollows of trees, but in the recess between the branches. These birds prefer a certain amount of light, and a slit-shaped entrance is suitable for them.

Please note that it is difficult for a wagtail to move on vertical surfaces, and it is better for it to arrange a comfortable area in front of the entrance 8-12 cm wide. For small birds, like pikas, two entrances located opposite each other are organized. It is believed that starlings do not live in green houses.

Choosing a location and methods of attaching bird houses

Ornithologists recommend placing one birdhouse on an area of ​​20 m2. In practice, one birdhouse in the garden is enough, since a larger number endangers your cherries and even tomato seedlings. If you install several bird houses, ensure a distance of more than 15 meters between them.

Usually the birdhouse is installed at a height of 2.5-3.5 m from the ground. If there are objects nearby where people often appear and will disturb the birds, increase the height to 4.5-5.5 m.

It is necessary to think about the optimal orientation of the bird's house relative to the cardinal directions. If the entrance to the open space faces south, the house may overheat. It is better to place it in the shade. It is also incorrect to point the entrance towards the most frequently blowing winds, since rain will enter through the entrance to the birdhouse. Also, to protect from rain, you should use the wall or roof of a building, tree foliage, etc.

Often the birdhouse has a special bar for attaching to the support. It can be fixed to inanimate objects with nails and screws. Flexible clamps are used for fastening to trees. Reliable and durable cords and ropes are suitable. In this case, the fasteners should not pinch the tree as the trunk thickens. If the birdhouse you installed is not occupied by residents, try moving it to another location. This circumstance will probably influence the birds' decision.

Workshops on making bird houses

Drawings, dimensions and photos of assembling a wooden birdhouse with decorations

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the drawings of three options for the most common birdhouses made of wood. Let us repeat that it is better to make them from deciduous wood or use pine boards without knots with resin. If you check the size table, you will find that for starlings and other birds the house may have different dimensions than in the drawings. Next, we describe a diagram for assembling a bird house with a pitched roof, following which you can carry out any of the three projects yourself.

Here is a drawing of a birdhouse made of boards, which is the simplest. A special feature of this design is the removable lid. In order for it to be securely fixed, a 120x120mm insert is provided, attached to the lid from the inside. If you do not plan to remove the cover, the liner is not needed.

The gable lid looks more interesting, but the design is a little more complicated. Pay attention to the accuracy of the connection of the roof parts with the side walls. Additional compaction with plasticine, clay or hemp may be required in these places. The design does not provide for a removable cover.

This drawing shows a design with an inclined removable cover. You should pay attention to the careful execution of inclined cuts of the side walls. We present a master class on assembling a birdhouse in two stages: first we make a birdhouse according to the description, and then we decorate it at our own discretion.

This is what the finished birdhouse will look like

Let's consider the sequence of actions step by step:

1. To make the birdhouse, I used a pine board with a section of 160x20mm. The knots are very small, so the resin will not interfere with the birds.
2. For parts 120mm wide, I cut the board lengthwise to this width. I used a 40mm wide scrap as a pole to attach the birdhouse.
   
3. I used a square to mark the parts. Otherwise, cracks in the craft cannot be avoided.
4. I marked the length of the insert under the lid “in place”, it’s more convenient.
5. I carefully marked and made a bevel cut on the front and back walls of the product.
6. First, I drilled the tap hole with a feather drill.
   
7. However, I didn’t have a feather drill of the required diameter, so I finished the job with a jigsaw.
8. I scratched the inside of the front wall with a hacksaw to make it easier for the birds to get out of the house.
   
9. The result was a set of parts shown in the picture.
10. The entrance was cleaned with sandpaper for the convenience of the birds.
11. To assemble the house, I drilled holes with a diameter of 2 mm for screws. On long walls, three screws are enough, on short walls, two.
    
12. I fastened the side walls with 3.5x40mm screws; 3.5x35mm screws were used to assemble the lid.
    
13. The result is a birdhouse without cracks or gaps. For those who want to extend the life of the craft with the help of paints and at the same time make a funny birdhouse, follow below.
14. First, let's turn the canopy over the entrance into the visor of an improvised cap. We carry out the markings using a compass.
    
15. The cut along an arc was made with a jigsaw and the sharp edges were treated with emery cloth.
    
16. I also used sandpaper to smooth out all the sharp edges of the craft. When doing this type of work, it is convenient to wrap the sandpaper around a wooden block.
17. Next, I cut out templates for the eyebrows, eyes, lips and ear of the “Cyclops” from paper. I tried them on for a craft project and remade those that didn’t fit the proportions.
    
18. For false ears I used 16mm plywood, for the mouth – 10mm. I pressed the corresponding templates onto the plywood and outlined the outlines with a marker.
19. I cut out all the complex shaped parts with a jigsaw.
    
20. The nose has a geometric shape, so I marked it out using a ruler. I cleaned the cut parts with sandpaper.
21. I painted the ears, nose and lid of the birdhouse with brown paint in two layers. For the lips I used red color.
22. The body of the “Cyclops head” was painted with yellow acrylic paint. To mark the whites of the eyes and eyebrows, I attached the corresponding templates to the front wall and outlined them with a marker. I did the eyebrows and eyelashes with a black marker. The white of the eye was painted over with white paint.
23. The ears, nose and mouth were secured with screws. I invited a cheerful bird – a fashion model – especially for photography.

New technologies for assembling a birdhouse from cardboard and bottles for women's and children's hands

Not everyone who wants to build a birdhouse with their own hands has the ability to saw boards, drill and drive screws. On the other hand, plastic bottles and cardboard boxes are available to everyone. Both materials are not suitable for creating a bird house.

We came up with the idea that a wonderful result would be obtained if these available materials were used together: plastic protects from moisture, and corrugated cardboard provides thermal insulation. We bring to your attention an original project of a bird house made from improvised materials, which can be implemented by anyone at home. Look how we did it in the picture.

Here is a presentation of a master class on making an apartment for birds from plastic bottles and corrugated cardboard. In this case, a drawing is not required, since the dimensions are marked on the parts:

1. To start, you will need two identical five-liter bottles. We cut one of them from the bottom along the line marked with a marker. The cut is below the protruding part so that the second container can be inserted into the first.
   
2. Corrugated cardboard is best suited two-layer 6mm thick. The marking should be done in a rectangle. We cut the cardboard with a stationery knife using a metal ruler.
3. First, we cut out one piece 118x118mm and check how it fits inside the cut container. It is ideal if it clings a little to the walls of the jar. If it passes with a large gap or passes into the container with difficulty, you will have to choose other square sizes. In the case when the size of the bottom and roof is changed or cardboard with a thickness other than 6mm is used, the drawings of the parts will be different. The height of 300mm will not change, the width of the front and rear walls is equal to the size of the bottom and roof, the width of the side wall is equal to the width of the front, minus double the thickness of the cardboard.
4. We mark the entrance with a marker in accordance with the image. To obtain a circle, it is convenient to trace the lid of the container with a marker. Cut the hole with a narrow knife.
   
5. We cut out all the details from corrugated cardboard in accordance with the image.
   
6. Using a glue gun, apply glue to the bottom of the back wall.
7. We install the bottom liner on the glue. To ensure proper assembly, temporarily install and hold the side wall with your hand. You need to hold the parts until they are fixed with glue.
8. The result will be an assembly in the shape of the letter “G”.
   
9. Apply glue to the end of the bottom.
10. Apply glue to the edge of the side wall.
11. After installing the side wall and the glue has cured, you will have an assembly of three parts.
12. Apply glue to the upper parts of the side and back walls.
    
13. Once the roof liner is installed and the glue has cured, you will have a four-piece assembly.
14. Apply glue for the second side wall.
15. We install the second side wall and get a box without a lid.
16. Apply glue to the ends of the four parts and install the front wall.
    
17. The base of the craft is ready.
18. At the ends of the craft, remove the exposed glue to glue the bottom and roof.
19. Apply glue to the four ends of the walls and the bottom liner.
20. Install the bottom of the birdhouse.
    
21. Now we have a bird house with an insulated and reinforced bottom.
22. This is what the finished cardboard capsule looks like after gluing the roof.
    
23. Carefully insert the cardboard insert into the bottle and mark the tap hole on the bottle with a marker.
24. We cut out the tap hole in accordance with the markings.
25. We prepare corrugated cardboard parts for insulating the bird house in accordance with the image.
    
26. Everything worked out for us, and the “insulation” is in place.
27. We push the parts into place. If they do not fit well, the parts can be trimmed or the cardboard can be crushed at the edges of the long sides.
28. After adjusting the size of the second bottle and assembling, mark holes for wire staples on the sides of the birdhouse with a marker. We punch holes at a distance of 20mm so as not to perforate the walls of the product.
    
29. We make two brackets from copper wire with a diameter of 0.5-1 mm in accordance with the holes.
30. We move the bottom eggplant down and insert staples into it on both sides. We bend the ends of the staples so that they easily fit into the upper bottle.
31. We move the lower bottle into place and insert the staples into the holes on the upper bottle.
32. We push the bottom part of the plastic container into place.
    
33. We twist the wire and bend the twist.
    
34. This is what an almost finished bird house looks like. We received impeccable thermal insulation and protection from moisture of the bird house.
    
35. We painted the top of the house with brown paint, and the bottom with yellow paint. The sharp edge of the plastic can injure the bird. We took a piece of corrugation, cut it lengthwise and put it on the edge of the tap hole. You can color the product at your own discretion. The craft resembles a castle tower, so you can create a pattern of battlements from below.

How to make a birdhouse from a log easier

We have already given examples of arranging an original birdhouse made of logs. Birds will definitely like this project, as it resembles a hollow bird familiar to them: it has no cracks and blends in with the surrounding environment. Now let’s look at a master class on assembling such a bird house yourself.

Taking a family of birds under your wing is a noble and pleasant task. And the first step towards this is the construction of a bird house. You can easily make a birdhouse familiar from childhood with your own hands, but for each type of bird there are design and placement features that must be taken into account before inviting new neighbors to the site.

Classic wooden birdhouse

A birdhouse of the simplest design consists of a square bottom with a side of 13-15 cm, side blanks 30-35 cm high with a slope in the upper part are cut end-to-end to the size of the bottom, the end and back parts should be 2-4 cm wider for fastening.

The difference in length between the back and front walls of the birdhouse should be calculated so that the slopes fit tightly to the lid. Another piece is cut to size and attached to the inside of the removable roof, providing a seal and the ability to open the birdhouse for cleaning.

Another option is a house with a pitched roof. Two identical blanks are overlapped on the trapezoidal façade and rear wall. Such a roof should not be nailed tightly to ensure access to annual cleaning and disinfection.

A round entrance hole is made with a distance of 5-6 cm from the top edge and a diameter of 4-5 cm. There should be sufficient space (10-15 cm) for the nest in the lower part of the structure, protected from the wind.

The birdhouse parts are fastened together using nails or self-tapping screws and wood glue.

The roof slopes protect from excess moisture; they should protrude slightly from the sides to protect the walls as well. The joints should fit neatly, without gaps, adjacent to each other. It is necessary to avoid unnecessary decorative elements on the walls and facade, which can become a place for moisture accumulation.

The building material used is pine or deciduous tree boards with a thickness of 2 to 4 cm. Fibreboard and chipboard are not recommended, since the smells of the chemicals contained in them can scare away birds.

For the same reason, the internal surfaces of the birdhouse are not treated with varnishes or paints. The outside can be sanded and made into a waterproof coating.

Wooden birdhouses are a good object for realizing creative abilities. They can be painted and decorated, but it is better not to use glass or other light-reflecting materials. Photos of ready-made birdhouses of different styles will help you choose the most suitable option.

Duplyanka

In order to cut a birdhouse from a wooden block, it is more convenient to use a chainsaw. Brief instructions for creating such a birdhouse are as follows.

To begin work, you need to firmly install the deck in a vertical position. The proposed cut is divided into three equal parts: the upper one for the roof slopes, the middle one for the hollow and perch, and the other third for the nest.

First, the upper slopes for the roof are cut at an angle of 45 degrees. Then, as smoothly as possible, the core is removed along its entire height and an entrance hole is cut. And only after this the birdhouse is cut off from the deck along the bottom line.

Bird houses made from scrap materials

Boots, bags, lamp shades, similar-sized containers with necks, dried pumpkin - can become building material for a bird house.

Before you make a birdhouse with your own hands, you need to remember to maintain the correct proportions to accommodate the nest.

You also need to take into account that the entrance hole should allow the inhabitants to pass through, but not be too large, for the sake of their safety. A homemade house should provide protection from moisture and wind.

Birdhouse installation

The ideal place for a birdhouse is a tree trunk free from branches. A wooden beam or pole of triple length is attached to the back wall, which is fixed by wrapping it with wire.

Then you need to give the birdhouse a slight forward tilt using a small piece of wood placed between the trunk and the house. This will protect the chicks from falling and make it difficult for enemies (cats and crows) to get to them. The entrance, and as it is also called, the entrance, should face south or southeast to avoid cold winds.

Another option is to attach it to the facade of buildings. But you should not hang or place the house on the branches; it must be stable and securely fastened. For comfortable living, you also need shade to protect from direct sunlight.

The bird house must be mounted at a height of 2.5 to 5 meters, out of the reach of cats and other hunters. It is worth taking care that there are no steps or branches that will help them get to the nest.

Often, a traditional perch in low-mounted birdhouses becomes a support for unwanted guests to enter.

Photo of a birdhouse with your own hands

Birds are invariably an indispensable assistant in the fight against all kinds of pests of green spaces. To attract them to your garden plot, you should make a house for them. If you give the birds a comfortable home, then there will be no need to worry about the safety of the harvest. Although a birdhouse is usually called a birdhouse, not only starlings, but also other birds can live in it. Such apartments are home to sparrows, flycatchers, tits, blacklings and swifts.

The location and size of the bird house must be chosen in accordance with the characteristics of different birds. For example, it is more convenient for tits when the height of the birdhouse is about 30 cm, the bottom is 12 cm, and the diameter of the entrance is 3–3.5 cm. As for wagtails, these birds do not have the necessary tenacity of their paws, so a small one should be installed before the entrance ladder. Such a house is suspended under the roof of buildings, at a height of 3 to 5 m. The pika bird feels comfortable in a house with two through holes located on the right and left. The presence of additional entrances allows the bird to hide from predators.

Selection of materials

When thinking about how to make a bird house, you should first take care of preparing the necessary material for construction.

Coniferous wood is not suitable for building a birdhouse because it releases resins, causing the interior to become sticky.

Toxin-releasing materials are also unacceptable for the construction of a bird house, including fiberboard and chipboard. Plywood is also not an option, because it practically does not allow sound to pass through, and feathered friends need very good audibility to avoid danger. In addition, plywood does not retain heat well, so it will be difficult for birds to hatch their brood. The best material for a birdhouse is larch wood. The inner surface of the boards should remain rough. This will make it easier for the birds to get out. On a smooth surface, you can make horizontal notches using a chisel.

Drawing and dimensions of a wooden structure

A drawing of the product can be made directly on the boards. They need to be laid out on the table. For marking you will need a pencil and a square. Particular care should be taken to lay out the boards for the front and back walls, as well as for the side surfaces. For these purposes, boards of different widths are needed. At the end you should get 7 blanks with preset parameters:

• 2 side parts 15 cm wide, made from edged boards;
• 3 parts for the front, back wall and lid, with a typical size of 30x20 cm;
• 2 pieces measuring 15x15 cm, used for the bottom of the roof and the bottom of the birdhouse.

To simplify the connection of parts, they need to be cut out as carefully as possible, and then signed with a pencil.

The typical size of a bird house is 20 cm wide, 15–20 cm deep and 30 cm high. Spacious bird quarters are not always the best idea. Of course, a large house will house more chicks, but feeding a brood consisting of many individuals is not always within the power of the feathered parents! If the chicks do not receive the necessary care and are poorly fed, they will not be able to make long flights and will grow up sick. And, conversely, a compact house can accommodate only 3 chicks, but they will grow up healthy and capable of maintaining the strength of the population of their species.

Blueprints

Assembly sequence

Initially, the front wall is connected to the side ones. Nails should be driven in along the edges and center of the board. It should be a U-shaped structure. Before further connection, it is important to check the reliability and rigidity of the elements that are already connected. To strengthen it, you can hammer in a few more nails between those that were hammered in earlier.

To avoid driving a splinter into the skin, it is better to work with wood while wearing gloves.

The back wall and bottom of the structure are assembled using the same method. To round the internal corners, you can nail a wooden bead to the bottom. All elements are fixed with nails. If necessary, you can strengthen the structure with additional nails. Now you need to prepare the roof, which must be removable. This will allow you to clean the birds' home if necessary. The edges of the roof should protrude beyond the dimensions of the birdhouse itself. This is especially important to do on the façade side. This way you will protect the bird house from rainwater and other precipitation.

The roof must consist of two parts - a sleeve and a main part. The roof is held in place by a second piece. It needs to be adjusted to size and the two parts connected with nails. Now a board or perch is installed on which the birds will sit before entering their comfortable home.

When painting a finished birdhouse, it is better to use soft colors. Dirty green and brownish tones are perfect. In this case, it will be more difficult for predators to detect the bird’s house.

Economy version of the birdhouse

In some cases, you can make a temporary birdhouse using available materials, such as cardboard. Although this type of construction cannot be compared with its wooden counterpart, it may well become a haven for birds for the season. Thick corrugated cardboard is used as the starting material. The following materials are needed for work: corrugated cardboard, starch, self-adhesive paper with a laminated coating and twine. Tools: scissors, ruler, cardboard cutter, pencil, square, compass.

First, all the blanks are marked; they all must be duplicated. You need to make a paste from starch. Finished parts need to be glued in pairs. All walls will be double, which increases their strength. A hole for the tap hole is cut in the front wall. 4 small holes are made in the back wall for twine, thanks to which the house can be tied to a tree. The walls of the birdhouse are glued end to end at right angles. The end result should be a box. While drying, it should be wrapped with thread.

The roof should consist of two parts glued together. Its outer part must be made with allowances. This product will be more durable if you paste it on the outside with laminated paper.

From a box or plastic bottle

If there is nowhere to get lumber, then you can make a bird house from a ready-made box, for example, from juice or milk, with a capacity of more than 1 liter. It must first be washed and dried. After this, the taphole is cut out. To strengthen the bottom, you can use thick cardboard. Small holes are made on top of the box so that the wire on which the birdhouse will be attached can be threaded through. The outside of the product can be covered with decorative laminated paper.

Another option uses very few materials: a plastic bottle, paint to color the bottle or laminated paper, wire and a knife. A hole for the tap hole is cut in the upper part of the 5-liter bottle. Two holes should be drilled in the roof for the wire on which the structure will be attached. Birds feel uncomfortable in a transparent house. Therefore, to create coziness, the bottle can be painted or covered with laminated paper.

As you can see, making a simple version of a birdhouse is not at all difficult. However, in order for the bird house to fully perform its tasks, it is important to install it correctly.

Installation rules

It is necessary to follow some installation rules. It is commonly read that birdhouses need to be installed in early April, but birdhouses can be installed at any time of the year. The installation height is on average 3–5 m, this applies to cottages and villages. In cities, such structures are mounted at a height of 8–10 m.

The inlet should be on the side with minimal wind. The birdhouse should be installed in the shade or partial shade; it should not be exposed to direct rays of the sun. The structures need to be suspended at a certain distance from the branches. This will protect birds from domestic cats and other predators.

The position of the birdhouse should be strictly vertical. A slight forward bend is acceptable, but no backward bend is allowed. If the structure is made of durable materials, then you need to provide access inside for annual cleaning.

Building birdhouses for birds on your own the first time is not an easy task. However, it is completely solvable. This text will describe in detail how to make a birdhouse. By following the following instructions, you will easily understand the features of the process.

You will also be able to select a tool and material and move on to the active phase.

With the right approach, you can build a birdhouse in a few hours. However, for this it is necessary to understand the material that will be used to make the birdhouse.

You can use wood, plastic, plywood, even paper. However, any material requires pre-processing. And for this you need certain devices.

Required Tools

In this regard, everything is quite simple. Before making a birdhouse, you should make sure that you have the various necessary tools. Let's list the main ones. In this case you will have to use:

1. Carpenter's hammer.
2. Chisels of different widths.
3. A hacksaw for wood.
4. Wooden hammer.
5. Ruler, pencil.
6. Drill, drill.

Types of birdhouses

First you need to decide on the size of this structure. The type of birdhouse will depend on this. There are several types of such houses. Namely:

1. Standard birdhouse.

In this case, its dimensions will be as follows:

• length – 16 cm;
• width – 15 cm;
• height – 40 cm;
• taphole diameter – 5 cm.

2. Titmouse. This is a small birdhouse. It will become a wonderful home for birds that are no larger than a tit. This structure is suitable for different types of birds. Perhaps these will be sparrows, redstarts, and pieds. Or the titmice themselves.

In this case, the dimensions will be as follows:

• width – 12 cm;
• length – 10 cm;
• height – 30 cm;
• entrance – 3.5 cm.

3. Wagtail. This type has a protrusion in front of the entrance. Here will be the following sizes:

• height, width – 15 cm;
• length – 30 cm.

4. Triangular birdhouse. This is a house for common pikas. Its hole is through. It has the following dimensions:

• width – 15 cm;
• height – 25 cm;
• entrance – 3x6 cm.

If you just want to make a birdhouse for the forest or have no idea what kind of birds you have in your garden, then make a standard type. You just need to remember that, for example, tits prefer small, comfortable houses. They feel uncomfortable in large ones. But the starlings will not fit in the titmouse. This is important to consider.

This construction is very simple, it can easily be done in a couple of hours. Its disadvantage is that it, of course, is not particularly reliable and will only last for one year.

This house can be made from any small box. To do this, you need to do the following:

1. Glue the lid to the box itself. It must be securely attached.
2. Cut a tap hole in the lid with a diameter of about five centimeters. The hole should be located no higher than 20 cm from the bottom. For complete convenience, the taphole should be round. To do this, you can glue the edges of the hole several times with wide tape. And it will serve longer.
3. The back wall of the box must be very strong. After all, it is the basis. It would be nice to glue plywood onto it. Wooden planks are also suitable in this case. Instead of glue, it is generally better to use small screws or brackets for fastening.
4. To protect the birdhouse from moisture, you need to paint it. It is desirable that it be odorless.
5. And the very last thing. Wait until everything dries. Then the product should be secured to the base.

You can make a cardboard house in the same way. Only with him there will be more hassle. You'll have to work hard to connect all the parts and give rigidity to the cardboard itself. You can try to make a birdhouse out of paper. However, it is unlikely to be reliable.

Birdhouse from a bottle

Making such a product will not take much time. An hour maximum, maybe even less. To do this, you will need a five or three liter plastic bottle. It all depends on the size of the birdhouse you need. This house is very similar to a feeding trough. Everyone did them in childhood. But there are still small differences.

In such a birdhouse you will have to make a standard entrance. And everything else needs to be done as described above. The only, but significant, disadvantage is that the bottles are often transparent. But birds need comfort and privacy. So in this case, the birdhouse will have to be either painted or covered with paper. This product can be simply attached to a tree by the bottle handle. The care of these structures will definitely be discussed below.

Such a design will take much more time, knowledge and effort. But the result of your work will be a durable and durable birdhouse that will serve the birds for many years. The main thing in this matter is desire. Although it is much more difficult to make a wooden birdhouse, the efforts made will not be in vain. In addition to the set of tools listed above, in this case you will need certain materials:

1. Aspen or birch rough-hewn dry boards.
2. Odorless paint.
3. Wooden planks for reinforcement.
4. All kinds of consumables.

When everything is already assembled, you can begin to construct the house. To do this you need the following:

1. Create a birdhouse design on paper. This is quite significant. You need to measure the birdhouse correctly. In this case, a drawing of the designed product is required. You should also calculate the amount of materials.

2. Then all dimensions should be transferred from paper to material. Using a tool, cut out the necessary parts. Referring to the drawing, we connect all the parts using nails or self-tapping screws. We will get a durable and cozy box. For this house to be very reliable, after connection, not a single part should wobble.

3. Then we make a ledge for the birds in front of the “entrance” to the birdhouse. This device serves for the convenience of birds who want to get into their shelter. And it usually consists of a small plank. Birds love to rest on such a ledge. It also needs to be secured with nails.

4. Next stage. It consists of making a mount for installing or hanging a birdhouse. Most often it consists of special holes on the back wall of the house. It can also be other fastenings - a clamp or a clamp.

Making a birdhouse with your own hands is not a particularly difficult task. You just need to follow certain rules and listen to the advice of experts:

1. The ideal material would be wood, as it is quite durable.
2. You need to use special wood. Birch, aspen, alder, and other deciduous trees.
3. Fibreboard, chipboard and OSB are not recommended for use. Firstly, they are toxic, and secondly, they are not durable.
4. The smell of paint does not attract birds. So its use is not mandatory. If you still decide to take this step, then use odorless paint.
5. You don’t have to make a perch inside. But it’s better to attach the ledge from the outside.
6. The inside of the birdhouse should be rough so that the birds can move comfortably. If the board is smooth, you will have to put notches on it. This can be done with a chisel.
7. It is better to make the entrance round so that the birds do not get injured.
8. The roof of this product can be made removable to make it easier to care for the birdhouse.
9. It is also advisable to make the roof sloping so that moisture does not accumulate. It won't last long if it's even.

Birdhouse installation

This is an important process. Making a birdhouse, the photo of which is provided in this text, is half the battle. You don't need any special experience for this. But then it needs to be placed correctly. After all, if you attach this house poorly, and even in the wrong place, then it can turn over or, even worse, fall.

There are a few tips to follow in this regard:

1. It is necessary to take the choice of location seriously. For example, it could be the end of a house, a strong pole, a tree, a pillar and much more.
2. It is better to install the birdhouse no lower than three meters from the ground. And always in a place where a small predator like a cat, marten or weasel cannot reach.
3. The birdhouse should be strengthened at a slight slope. That is, it must be placed so that raindrops do not fall into the entrance.
4. You can fasten the birdhouse with the same nails and screws. But if you decide to hang the house on a tree, then it is better to use clamps, do not injure the tree itself.

In principle, it is possible to install bird houses during the entire warm season. The birds will settle there in any case. However, the ideal time is early spring. After all, the bird family needs time to settle down and have offspring.

There is nothing complicated in this regard. After you have made and installed the birdhouse yourself, you, of course, want it to serve the birds for as long as possible. And for this you need to constantly look after the house.

How to do this? The answer to this question is quite simple. This does not require any extra costs or additional time. Everything is done simply and quickly. You just need to clean the bird house of dirt and feathers at the end of the season.

Making something with your own hands (a feeder, a birdhouse, various garden structures and much more) is a very exciting activity.

It is not a pity to allocate several hours a week, or even a month, for this work. After all, you are going to do very useful things.

After you make a beautiful decorative birdhouse yourself, the desire to create further will certainly awaken in you. Such crafts will not only create comfort for your garden animals, but will also significantly decorate the interior of your summer cottage.

Having read the above, everyone will be able to figure out how to make a birdhouse. But exactly how it will look depends on individual desire. The main thing in this case is hard work, scrupulousness and patience. All in your hands!