This DIY birdhouse project is perfect for beginners and can be completed in just a few hours. It requires only a single board and can be made from a single board, making it a fun and affordable project for the whole family. The birdhouse can be made from a gourd, a piece of wood, and a comb. The project requires tools such as a forstner bit, drill bit, awl, band saw, clamps, and comb.
The birdhouse can be made from a single board and requires only a few tools. For Eastern Bluebirds, the hole size should be 1½ inch round, a 1⅜ x 2¼ inch vertical oval hole, or 1⅛ inch horizontal slot entrance. For Western and Mountain Bluebirds, the hole size should be 1-9/16 inch round opening or 1-3/16 inch slot entrance.
Predator guards can be built or purchased for the entrance. The house can accommodate up to three breeding pairs and is designed to provide protection from predators. The birdhouse can be built with suitable building materials and features such as drainage holes, a ladder, and drainage holes.
Bird house trapping is a Hunter technique used to catch birds, and the project has a left click/tap build option for easy assembly.
📹 EASIEST DIY Birdhouse with Minimal Tools, Every Step Explained
Anyone, including you, can build this simple bird house for under $5 and with only the most basic of tools. I explain every step of …
Will birds use a ceramic birdhouse?
Anna, I wouldn’t recommend a ceramic bird box. I’ve tried the Woodcrete type, which isn’t popular either. Stick to a cedar wood box or similar wood of good quality. Birds like Blue Tits tend to peck (maybe marking) the entrance, which they can’t do on ceramic or woodcrete. They just don’t seem to choose them. The BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) website says not to use solid ceramic boxes either. I hope this helps. Thanks for your reply. What about terracotta and clay? Would making air holes on the sides affect the temperature?
What wood finish is safe for birds?
Choose a clear coat treatment. There are ways to protect wooden bird feeders from the weather. Popular options include polyurethane, marine varnish, and exterior wood sealer. We like a spray-on polyurethane that dries fast. Think about where you’ll put your bird feeder before you choose a clear coat or weatherproofing treatment. Apply the weatherproofing treatment. Now you can apply the clear coat to your bird feeder. Make sure you have all the materials, including a clean cloth or brush, gloves, and a well-ventilated workspace. Follow the instructions on the packaging for the best results. Let the clear coat dry. Wait for the weatherproofing treatment to dry before using the bird feeder. This can take a few hours to a few days, depending on the product and your environment. Wait the right amount of time for the product to dry.
What is the best shape for a birdhouse?
To attract a specific species, you need a bird house that suits them. Purple Martins nest in colonies, and Robins nest on platforms without roofs. Bird houses are usually square or rectangular with an entrance hole. The size of the box and the entrance hole attract certain species. Here are some bird houses for different species. Bluebird nest boxes. Bluebird houses have a small entrance hole and a large roof. Bluebird boxes are often taken over by other small birds like house sparrows. Since their population is declining, it is important to include a cone-shaped predator baffle and monitor the activity around the nest box. You could also drill a second entrance hole to help bluebirds defend boxes from sparrows. Attach bluebird boxes to a pole and put them in the sun, about 4 to 6 feet off the ground. Put the nest box so the entrance is east and open. If you’re putting more than one box in your yard, space them about 15-20 feet apart to reduce competition.
How do you make a bird nest easy?
First, make the main structure. You’ll need your privet twist. Make a circle with the first length. Bending the branches can be tricky.
How to make a bird house PVC?
PVC Birdhouse Tools & Materials: Cut and sand PVC for the birdhouse. Step 3: Drill holes in wood for the birdhouse. … Step 4: Paint and cut dowel for perch. … Sand, fit, and glue birdhouse pieces. Step 6: Enjoy your new birdhouse! I have 33 trees and lots of wild birds. They live in the very tops of the trees, where I can’t see them very well. I like to keep birdhouses near the house so I can watch the birds. If you have the tools, one birdhouse will cost about $7. If you’re new to working with PVC and want more info, enroll in the PVC Class taught by Audreyobscura!
What color birdhouse attracts birds the most?
Birds like birdhouses in colors like grey, green, and brown. Colored birdhouses can hurt birds. Don’t paint the inside or the entrance hole of a birdhouse.
How to make a simple bird house?
Measure and cut the pieces. Cut the 1×6 board and ¼-inch plywood to size using a miter saw and the provided cut list. Drill a hole. … Attach the sides and front. Add the back. … Mount the base. … Attach the roof. Finish. … Add a hanger.
You can find scrap wood in any garage or shop. Use it! Building a birdhouse is a simple woodworking project for parents and children to do together. Learn to build a birdhouse with everyday materials.
Building a Birdhouse: 1. Measure the pieces. Cut the 1×6 board and ¼-inch plywood pieces to size using a miter saw and the provided cut list. Mark the center point on the front and back walls. From the center point, cut each top corner at a 45-degree angle to create a peak.
2. Make an opening. On the front board, make a mark 3½ inches from the peak. Use a hole saw, paddle bit, or jigsaw to make a hole about 1¾ inches in diameter.
How do you waterproof a wooden birdhouse?
The easiest way to protect your birdhouse from the weather is with a spray clear coat. You can find polyurethane spray clear coat at any hardware store. They come in different sheen finishes and are made by different brands. They all say they dry fast or are very durable. Apply the spray clear coat after you’ve assembled the birdhouse. This material can build up in places where the wood needs to fit tightly. Spray the clear coat from about 6 inches away, moving back and forth. Don’t apply too much in one area. Also, do this in a well-ventilated area. Let it dry and reapply. The more coats, the longer it lasts. Over time, your camper might get dust, dirt, or mold. Don’t worry! Use fine sandpaper to remove any gunk from the surface, then reapply the spray clear coat.
What size hole should be in a birdhouse?
Hole size matters. Top priority! The entrance hole should be between 1 and 1.25 inches. If it’s too small, no one can fit in. If it’s too big, unwanted guests like house sparrows and starlings will get in. See below for more info about predator protection. If the hole is larger than 1.25 inches, get a reducer. Ask us at the store.
Easy to install and maintain. You need to be able to access the inside of your nest box. Look for a hinged side or lifting roof to make cleaning the nest between broods easier.
What is the best material to build a birdhouse?
Wood is the best material for birdhouses. Introduction; Building Tips; Dimensions; Instructions; Placing Tips; Save a Snag; Build a house for a specific bird. Build a birdhouse for a local bird that nests in the area where you plan to put it. (See the Birdhouse Dimension Table to choose a species.) Build the right size house and hole dimensions. Birds need different-sized houses and entrance holes. The inside must be big enough for the bird to lay eggs and for its babies to grow. The entrance hole is important. If the hole is too small, the bird won’t fit inside. If the hole is too big, predators and mammals can get inside and reach the nest. Cavity-nesting birds may not use the house.
Do birdhouses need ventilation?
Watch the dimensions. Birdhouses need to be the right size. A birdhouse should be the right size. Birds need different sizes. Using the right dimensions helps keep out the wrong birds and protect the hatchlings. Choose the right materials. The best birdhouses are made from untreated wood and use galvanized screws. Birdhouses should have ventilation and drainage holes to keep baby birds safe. A sloped roof with a bit of an overhang can also help keep the nest dry. If your house doesn’t have these, you can drill holes in the floor and sides for drainage and ventilation. The easiest are birdhouses with one side that lifts out. Stay away from any birdhouse with an outside perch. Cavity-nesting birds don’t need them, and outside perches make it easier for predators or unwanted birds to get in. Keep it neutral. Birds avoid bright, unnatural colors and like natural, unpainted houses.
📹 DIY Birdhouse | Build It | Ask This Old House
In this video, Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva helps a pair of woodworking siblings build a DIY birdhouse in their …
i’ve been perusal all your builds lately and this is the first article of yours i’ve seen where you’re speaking and teaching. i have to say, you are really bloody good at it. you’re very clear, informative and concise. you’re a natural on camera. i love the builds but i would really love to see more of these kind of instructional vids.
Today my daughter and I built a birdhouse to your specifications and it came out great and was a fun activity for us. The only change I made was rather than nailing the floor I used screws. Therefore, I can remove the floor and clean out the inside before putting in storage for the winter. Thanks for your article!
I learned some really good tips – particularly about clamping the square to the wood and using it as a guide for the saw! I’m a retired woman who’s just getting into this. I want to make some simple wren houses & chickadee boxes. I have everything now to make one. Thanks so much for great instruction!
I always use my speed square as a crosscut guide. It’s quick and handy, but never have I thought of using it as a guide for 45 degree cuts. I also like the extra care you’ve taken for tear out when drilling the door hole. I just assumed one might put the tear out on the inside, and then I thought of those poor birds having to look at the tear out on the inside. “My dear, I simply cannot believe the shoddy workmanship of home builders these days!” Followed by his little birdy monocle popping out in disgust. Another great article man.
You made my day! Hello from New Hampshire. I am sheltering in place on our farm and wanted a straight forward project for a novice. Our cottage is in the woods and lots of birds are enjoying the feeders. So I just ordered a mid priced jig saw, two battery packs and the Audubon bird house book. You are helpful in what materials and other tools I need. My neighbor is the manager at the lumber department at our local hardware store. He will help me with getting seconds wood. Thank you for demonstrating and explaining every step. I will follow your website with interest. Thanks again! ~ Diane
This was very helpful. My father-in-law just passed away last year and he was a master wood magician. Since then, I’ve been working on building my inventory of tools for small projects around the house in his recent absence. Doing ok so far, but his bird house and bird feeders out back are now starting to get a touch of grey to them, so, using your article, I plan on building my first bird house and hang it from my tree out back (followed by a bird feeder, if the house goes well). My wife is a little leery about me using a circular saw (as opposed to my hand saw), but it does seem to make things easier. I told her I’d be careful! Excellent article. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thanks so much for posting this article. Had lots of fun yesterday making one and hopefully will make of few more as presents for family. Read all the comment before making so did not leave the little porch at the front and also put a hinge on the roof for cleaning purposes. Very easy to follow instructions and well presented. Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. 😎🇦🇺🔨🔨
Thanks DK, I have never had the time to get into it as work was intense, but I have the tools and the house is now paid for and I retired not too long ago. I live on my own in a nice area by a river, so now I can start to do stuff. This bird house is the first thing that I’ll start with, never having built one, so thank you for posting this simple home for little birdies.
Brilliant tuition. Little extras for you to consider. 1: drill a few holes in the bottom for drainage, 2. on the inside of the front panel, fix small pieces of twigs, offcuts, to give the chicks easier purchase when getting access to the exit during fledging 3.make one side easy to open in order to clean the box out for following year. Thank you for clear instructions though, so easy to follow.
Nice intro article project! Very well explained and presented. A thought: for 90-degree crosscuts, instead of clamping the speed square to the board (which is the safest way to go, I admit), you can hold the speed square on the side opposite to the one you’re standing at. That way, you’re pushing the circular saw away from you with your right hand as you cut … and pulling the wood/square toward you with your left hand. That balances the forces out.
Nice house. For an easier build do a one piece shed style roof. Make sure it slopes down at least 1 inch from the front for rain drainage.Make sure it over hangs on all sides. You will have to cut the sides and back at a matching angle for the pitch of the roof. Also glue pieces together before nailing for a more sturdier house.
Excellent article. Perfect for first project. i love the idea of front “porch” the only problem I would worry that critters could use it to allow it to chew the hole bigger and gain entry…. it is possible I saw that with my old house when I used a stick a Squirrel sat on it and chewed a hole to get in. But this is a perfect house. I have plenty of wood and want to make several. Thanks for posting. (Subscribed)
If you dont have a square with a 45 degree angle and you want to mark the X, you can take the width of the board, in this case 6in and muliply it with 1.414. Wich is about 8.5. Each line in the X should be 8.5 inches. That should give you an accurate measurement. Thank you for the article, I just subscribed!
You inspired me to have a “Bird House Building” party with left over redwood from a fence.!! Do you have the tools needed and assembly in written form that I could pass out. I have 7 people coming with hammers and some with woodworking experience and others no experience. thanks for making it simple and fun!
Wood glue for all bird house pieces, perches (plural) for birds as they prefer it; though the shelf is nice as well, a metal or wood cover around the front hole to protect against predators from gnawing into the hole, and a piece of wood longer and taller than the house so you can screw the house into a wall or tree or bind it with twine or rope to a tree.
Thanks for the enjoyable article. As others have mentioned though, this design doesn’t allow for the birdhouse to be cleaned, perhaps you were intending to only keep it for 1 season and then make another? As a minimum, you could use screws instead of nails so you could take it apart. I chose to make a housing/dado on the inside of the 2 sides and slid the floor in.
Nice bird house, but it’s lacking vent holes and drainage holes. Always kept one side or the bottom so it can be opened and cleaned early each spring. For drainage, simple cut about a 3/16-1/4″ off each corner of the bottom plate. For air flow make each side 3/16-1/4″ shorter. Place the short end of the side so it’s under the eave of the roof so water doesn’t get blown in. These are some of the standards most bird will like. If your going to make it say mountable to a tree or post, make the back wall 2″ longer on the top and bottom and drill one hole, centered on each end.
Also, placement of the hole and the size opening is critical to the type of bird you want to attract. Chickadees and wrens will only use a box with a certain size hole and the proper distance off the floor. If you make the hole to large either larger birds will use the box like sparrows, crackles, or crows. Predators can get in a birdhouse if the hole is to low, such as snakes, raccoons, and squirrels if they are hungry enough. They will reach in and eat the eggs or the young. Also, there are “paracite” birds such as the Cowbird, and the Cookoo in Europe, that will lay their eggs in another type of birds nest to feed and raise. The problem with that is cowbirds are larger than smaller species and will take all the food from the other young, leaving them to die. There are some very good websites, books, articles that have downloadable charts or lists that will say the type of bird, the dimensions of the box, hole size, and height off the floor the hole has to be. I think a little research into the construction of a bird house should have been done BEFORE putting out an instructional article.
Awesome!! I will be attempting this. Never used power tools before till recently. Found a used one for 50 bucks just to cut fence pickets which I use to paint pictures on, but that’s it. This looks very easy. I just bought a jigsaw do you think I could use that? I will be subscribing. Thanks again for such a great tutorial!!
Cut off the “step” on the front of any small birdhouse, all it does is give crows and other predators a platform from which to attack eggs and chicks. In order to make it easy to clean out small bird houses, such as those with small circular entrances, allow the base to be removed, just by sliding it out. This removes old nest material and also ensures there is no build up of pathogens or parasites inside the birdbox. HTH
Good instructions for a simple build. However, it’s obvious that your viewers have very little knowledge of how a bird house should be constructed. Here are my three advice for a better construction: 1) The entrance hole should be placed higher up to make it harder for predators to access the eggs. 2) For the same reason, the “porch” you built is not necessary for the birds – only for predators to sit on. 3) You should make it possible to easily clean the bird house; the front or one of the sides should be able to swing open. Furthermore, a few small holes at the bottom for drainage and some higher up for ventilation is also recommended. Thanks.
Simple and easy, but 1) the front door plate is very good for cat or marten to hold there 2) then they can reach a baby bird, because door hole is so close from inner bottom/nest 3) then the doorhole is not hardened with steel/alu plate from outter side, so wood-pie can break it 4) bird-house cannot be opened anymore, so you cannot clean it after season Manual is perfect, no offense… But such house can be a trap for birds in this way…
If you are going to make a lot of birdhouses for your grand sons or whoever. Please Don’t ever trust the dimensions (Width) of the planks, they are all different (5 1/4″, 5 3/4″ and 6″) Use one plank for a bird house only. Do not try to cut one plank to make fast production of all the parts. In other word one plank for a birdhouse…Lesson learned.
Great article. But I’m gonna Criticize a bit. First my suggestion don’t put your hand near that blade you think you’re helping guid it but it’s more of a safety issue. If you’re guiding the front you must be pushing on the saw. If you’re pushing on the saw and your thumb slips it’s going right into that blade. Another tip if you were to cut going the other way your saw will pass by the clamp. Also if you put the clamp the other way so the handle is below the table you will be able to pass by it. Teaching people to copy a cut you just made is kind of controversial in wood working. Because your copy will be bigger unless you cut the line off. Still with all the clamping the square down as a guide. It’s like you’re trying for perfection with an imperfect measurement. It’s kind of how people will mark all the measurements in one go then cut everything to find everything’s shorter then what they measured. This bird house doesn’t really matter for perfection honestly but later projects Really the main thing is learn to cut with 1 hand keep the other had at least 6″ from the blade. This goes for just about any power tools. Obviously not really practical with like a drill or some times with bandsaw. But as common practice.
Unfortunately you left no means to clean the house at the end of nesting season, you should always leave the bottom of your birdhouses free to be removed for cleaning by simply securing them with two pieces of wire running across the bottom and thru small eyelets screwed into the sidewall bottoms. Leaving a small gap around the bottom also aids in ventilation which helps keep it dry.
$2? In what universe? A quick check to Home Depot’s website and they are more like $17 each. in any case I just got a load of half inch white oak boards that are about 10 inches wide for free. I intercepted a load desi tined for the landfill for some god awful reason. Free lumber is everywhere. It is more likely i would find free cedar planks than ones for $2 at any box store.
Only predators benefit from perches or ledges. Bluebirds, chickadees, wrens and other birds that build nests in manmade birdhouses do not need perches or ledges. I’ve built functional birdhouses for almost 4 decades and learned that early on. Ledges make it especially easy for squirrels, cats, and racoons to reach in and snatch eggs or babies. Please don’t put perches or ledges on your birdhouses!
Building a bird house is fun and doesn’t take a lot of skill but be careful which plan you follow. Use natural wood not plywood, provide a door or access to clean, drain holes on the floor, adequate ventilation to avoid overheating, don’t use perches, they invite predators and add a predator block over the access hole and never stain or paint. I know you want to share your skills but inexperienced DYI people can easily follow a cute design that is not good for bird habitation. Always check birding sites like
That’s irresponsible. 1. The ledge is a place for predators to stand and reach in for the chicks/eggs. 2. A squirrel can gnaw through a half inch plank in 60 seconds 3. The roof seam is going to leak, making the chicks wet and hypothermic. If you build this for decorative purposes, plug the entrance. If you want to teach carpentry, start with the design phase to teach how to analyze the problems and design to overcome them.
Please do not make this nest box. It’s a terrible design. The ledge acts as a perching point for predators. Larger birds, squirrels, rats etc can wait on the ledge thus deterring the adult birds from feeding the chicks. I do wish people would do some simple research before making articles like this. Do NOT build a perch of ledge on you nest boxes please.
These articles have been amazing! As an educator, I love Tommy’s style and you can tell he genuinely loves passing his knowledge on to a young kid like Camilla. Camilla is obviously a star as well. She is incredibly inspirational but above all I can see the passion she has found in woodworking. You can tell she loves it. I hope it gives her all the joy in the world. I’ve often told my wife I want to quit my desk job to spend more time in my shop working with my hands and I see now how much I can take for granted. Even with one hand Camilla is more talented, bright and pure than most of us will ever hope to be. This is content that I didn’t know I needed. TOH has a homerun here and I hope they consider making more.
She just taught me something I’ve always been struggling with – getting a good first slice with a hand saw. I normally use a knuckle to guide the saw blade while sawing. Dangerous but not that dangerous, however I never thought to use the back of the blade to make a notch first which is way safer. Sometimes it takes someone in a different position to enlighten others – it’s how we got Mr. Rogers 🙂. Also, I had to go through several wood working articles to learn everything she and Tommy covered in this one seven minute clip. Camilla – She could beat you in wood working contest with one arm tied behind her back … but she’d probably end up helping you out instead 😀
Hate to be that guy but I recommend reviewing the birdhouse plans recommended by the Audubon such as the xBox design. Certain additions to the house including ventilation holes and a drip edge to keep the floor dry as well as removing the perch completely. Perches allow predators to gain access and a correctly sized hole can deter undesirable birds like starlings and swallows.
Has anyone experience of using Velcro or similar in DIY ? I make a bird box now and then and it recently occurred to me that, perhaps, it could be used to attach the roof, side, back or front to the main box – which would make cleaning, fitting a camera or just keeping an eye on the birds progress much easier. I wouldn’t use It on the inside or outside, but on the thickness of the wood which is usually about a half or three quarters of an inch. I’d be obliged to hear anyone’s views on this idea.