How to make a birdhouse

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Building a birdhouse or nesting box is quite simple. And it’s a fun job to do together with the (grand-)children.

Attention points
Make sure you use weather-resistant wood like oak or beech, or otherwise you can use water‑resistant plywood. Place the birdhouse at least 1.5 meters above the ground to protect the birds from predators like cats. It’s best to place the birdhouse on the north side of the tree, for better shelter from rain.

Required materials
As an example, we’ll take a suitable size for small birds like finches and great tits. You can make all the walls from a single plank of 15 cm wide. The best thickness is around 20 mm. Make the roof at an angle so rain can easily run off.

1 rear wall 38 cm long
2 side walls of 22x26 cm long
1 roof of 18 cm long, or slightly longer to allow water to run off
1 front of 23 cm long with an entry hole of ø32 mm
1 base of 12 cm long
1 mounting post, if possible placed in the life of flight of the birds (with a pre-drilled hole)
wood glue
nails
screws

Decide on the right opening size

The size of the birdhouse and of the entry hole will determine the kind of birds that will visit it. The right opening size for birds like finches and great tits is 3.2 cm, while for a crow or jackdaw it should be 15 cm.
Saw the wood to size

Draw out the sizes on the plank and saw the parts to the right sizes.
Finish the pieces of plank

Sand the sawn edges smooth with sandpaper.
Drill out the entry opening

Drill out the entry opening at 18 cm from the bottom of the front plank with a 32 mm hole saw. To prevent the wood from splintering, place the plank on a piece of waste wood while you are working. Drill through the plank and at the same time drill a small distance into the piece of waste wood. This will give you a nice smooth result.
Mount the side panels of the birdhouse

Mount the side panels against the rear wall using water-resistant wood glue and nails or screws. Pre-drill the holes first to prevent the wood from splitting. Then pre-drill the mounting holes for the birdhouse.
Assemble the front panel

Fit the front panel of the birdhouse to the side panels using water-resistant wood glue and nails or screws.
Fit the roof

Saw, shave or file the rear panel of the roof at a slope of 20. This will ensure that the roof fits better onto the rear wall.
Finishing the roof of the nesting box

If you want, you can fit hinges to the rear side of the roof. You can also fit extra planks under the roof. These should be 5 mm less than the internal sizes of the walls and front, so the roof is more or less fixed. Then cover the roof of the birdhouse with a piece of roofing felt or lead sheet.
Base

To allow drainage, drill a number of 10 mm holes underneath the birdhouse. As an alternative for a round entry hole, you can also make the front side lower. The advantage of this is that it allows the birdhouse to be used by different kinds of birds.

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What tools do you need?

tape measure or yardstick
hammer
screwdriver
handsaw or circular saw
drill
hole saw or speed-drill of the right diameter
files (flat and round)

Tip

Finish the birdhouse with a few coats of paint or varnish to protect it from rain. But make sure this isn’t toxic for the birds. Don’t forget to clean the birdhouse in the autumn!

Tipy k náradiu

Akumulátorové skrutkovače