DIY birdhouse made of wood for school. How to make a birdhouse with your own hands - sizes, shapes, drawings and photo ideas

Building birdhouses with children in the spring is a long-standing and very useful tradition. Firstly, birds need homes, and secondly, this is a great opportunity to keep a child occupied manual labor, in the age of gadgets and electronics, introduce him to the basics of carpentry. Pavel Zakharov from the family carpentry workshop “Workshop No. 13” tells in detail how to make a birdhouse with your own hands, gives a drawing of a birdhouse and step-by-step photos.

We will need:

• pine boards 18-20 mm thick and 120, 160 and 200 mm wide
• round stick with a diameter of 15 mm
• jigsaw with a wide blade for long straight cuts and a narrow blade for curved sawing
• electric drill (or drill-driver) with a 4 mm drill (we will also need an 8-10 mm drill, but you can do without it)
• Phillips screwdriver PH2 format or corresponding bit attachment for a screwdriver
• medium grit sandpaper (80-100 grit)
• ruler
• pencil
• self-tapping screws (PH2) 3.5×41 mm - 19 pieces
• nails 1.6×30 - 8 pieces (for attaching the fence)
• hammer
• acrylic paints
• clear nail polish
• synthetic brushes

How to make a birdhouse: step by step photos

For work, we will need pine boards with a thickness of 18-20 mm (for ease of calculations, a thickness of 20 mm will appear in the master class) and a width of 120, 160 and 200 mm. Natural wood is an excellent material for a birdhouse; a wooden house will have optimal thermal insulation properties. I don't recommend using plywood or chipboard.

In addition to the boards, you need a round stick with a diameter of 15 mm for the pole. From a scientific point of view, a pole is a useless thing, but without it the birdhouse looks somehow unusual.

We begin the work by marking the parts. On a board 160 mm wide we mark the contours of the front (A1) and back (A2) walls of the birdhouse. To begin, we measure two rectangular segments 300 mm long. And then, in accordance with the diagram, we draw two lines crosswise so that the angle between them is exactly 90 degrees.

We will make two side walls (B) and the bottom of the birdhouse (C) from a 120 mm wide board.

A 200 mm wide board is intended for roof parts. Our roof consists of two halves - K1 and K2, and part K2 is 20 mm longer (exactly by the thickness of the board), so that when assembled we get a roof with equal slopes.

We cut out all the marked parts using a jigsaw. For curved cuts, a narrow file is more suitable, while straight sawing is best done with a wide one.

If possible, we make decorative elements of the birdhouse design from scraps of boards. We save materials!

We carefully process the edges of all parts with sandpaper.

The next step is marking the mounting holes. Make sure that the centers of the holes are always located at a distance of exactly 10 mm from the edge of the workpiece (half the thickness of the board), so that when assembling the screws hit exactly in the middle of the end of the adjacent part.

The holes in parts A1 and A2 are located identically. Additionally, on the front wall we mark the outline of the future entrance (a round window that will serve as the entrance to the birdhouse). The diameter of the tap hole should be 45-50 mm. Just below you need to make a hole for the pole stick. The entrance should be located at a height of about 200 mm from the bottom of the birdhouse so that the birds have a sufficient safety zone inside (otherwise they will be too accessible to enemies).

In the side walls we mark one hole for attaching the bottom.

We mark the roof parts very carefully, since the holes in the roof must clearly correspond to the dimensions of the birdhouse body. We drill all marked holes using a drill and a drill bit with a diameter of 4 mm.

All that remains is to make a small window in the front wall of A1. To do this, we first drill a hole inside the outline of the tap hole with a thick drill (8-10 mm) so that a jigsaw file can be inserted into it. Then we cut along the contour, after which we process the edges with sandpaper.

Now let's start assembling. We attach a pole stick to the front wall of the birdhouse. To prevent the thin stick from cracking during assembly, you can first drill a hole in it for the self-tapping screw using a thin 2-3 mm drill.

According to the rules for building birdhouses, the inner side of the front wall must be rough. If you use rough, unplaned boards, then this will be the case. And in our case, roughness is applied manually using any sharp tool (knife, self-tapping screw, etc.). These transverse grooves will help the chicks get out of the birdhouse when the time comes.

We assemble the body of the birdhouse by connecting parts A1, A2 and B in any order. For this we will need self-tapping screws and a screwdriver. We orient the side walls so that the hole is at the bottom.

We put the bottom in place and secure it with screws on four sides.

Then we assemble the roof from the two halves, placing the longer part on top of the shorter one and fixing it with two self-tapping screws.

We attach the pipe by inserting a self-tapping screw into the hole from the inside of the roof.

We screw two hinges into the ends of the back wall (if there are no hinges, replace them with ordinary self-tapping screws). Using these rings, the birdhouse will be attached to a tree trunk or the wall of the house.

We put the roof in place so that it slightly overhangs the facade of the birdhouse and is flush with the back wall. We secure the roof to the house with four self-tapping screws.

We nail the decorative fence with nails. For reliability, you can additionally use wood glue.

The birdhouse is almost ready. If you want the birdhouse to not only serve the birds, but also become a stylish decoration for your area (park, square), you can paint it.

Birds respond well to painted birdhouses and happily settle in them. It is only important to remember that you should use acrylic or water-dispersed paints that are odorless. It is with these paints and varnish that we complete all our kits for assembling birdhouses, and from the experience of several years of work we can say that they have proven themselves to be excellent in harsh outdoor conditions.

Birdhouses painted on the outside last much longer than simple wooden ones, and this is an additional plus in their favor.

So, for work we will need acrylic paints, a jar of clear varnish and several brushes of different sizes.

Painting will take place in two stages, and it is better to work with a partially disassembled birdhouse. Thus, it is easier to paint the body itself separately from the roof, and it is also more convenient to paint all decorative elements separately.

After the background color has been applied, draw an outline of the drawing with a pencil and color it. When the paint dries well, cover all surfaces with two layers of clear varnish. We assemble all the parts of the birdhouse into a single whole.

The birdhouse is ready - you can hang it on a tree and wait for the birds.

How to hang a birdhouse correctly

The best time to start hanging birdhouses is late March - early April. But you can do this in advance, then you definitely won’t miss the arrival of the first birds.

We hang birdhouses at a height of 3-4 meters. If it’s noisy around (as happens in cities), then it’s possible to go higher. We orient the entrance hole (hole) to the side opposite to the prevailing winds. If western and northwestern winds prevail in Moscow and its environs, then we try to hang birdhouses with the entrance facing east or southeast, so that the birdhouse does not fry in direct rays in the midday sun. This is not very comfortable for birds.

It is necessary to limit the access of predators to the birdhouse. If it hangs on a tree and there are branches nearby, it is a gift for the cat and other villains. Don't forget about safety!

We orient the birdhouse vertically or with a slight tilt forward (but not back). This way the entrance will be better protected from precipitation, and it will be more convenient for the chicks to climb along the inner wall to the exit.

Once a year, the birdhouse needs preventative cleaning. It will need to be removed, the roof removed and the inside cleaned.

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;
• tap hole diameter – 5 cm.

2. Titmouse. This is a small birdhouse. It will become a wonderful home for birds that are not the size of more tit. This building is suitable for different types 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 tap hole. 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 should 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. For this you will need plastic bottle volume of five or three liters. 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; you should 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? Answer to this question pretty simple. It doesn't require either extra costs, no extra 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.

After reading 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!

Before you start making a house, you need to first of all think about the functionality of the structure, and only then about the decor. Birds don’t care how you decorate their home; they care about the size of the entrance hole and the internal volume of the birdhouse.

The location and size of the structure must be selected in accordance with different features birds.

Let's consider standard sizes birdhouses and examples of drawings for different types of birds.

Housing parameters for starlings

Width x depth of bottom (roof) - 90 – 110 x 90 – 110

• height 300 – 400 mm.
• The diameter of the hole in the birdhouse for the starling is 45 – 55 mm
• The hole in the tap hole is made round, the inner edges are carefully processed, and burrs are removed.

Parameters of the house for tits

Width x Depth - 100 – 120 x 100 – 120

Minimum – maximum value in mm.

• Height 240 – 310 mm.
• The diameter of the tap hole is 30 – 40 mm.
• The shape of the tap hole is round.

Wagtail housing dimensions

Width x Depth - 300 – 350x 400 – 450

Minimum – maximum value in mm.

• Height 110 – 150 mm.
• Taphole width 35 – 40 mm.
• The shape of the taphole is rectangular.
• Threshold (special platform) width from 80 to 120 mm

In general, the design of a birdhouse may differ from standard models. So, you can make bird houses with several rooms so that several bird families can live in them at once.

The roof can consist of two tiers. Reinforcement must be done reliably and correctly. You can’t tilt it back; it’s better to tilt it slightly forward, so it will be easier for the birds to get out of the hollow.

Manufacturing methods

Let's look at some of the most common ways to make a bird house with your own hands.

Making a birdhouse from wood

Making a birdhouse out of wood is perhaps the most classic, traditional way. The algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. Select a material, preferably boards from hardwood.
2. Make a drawing, then transfer the diagram to the blanks for the house.
3. Prepare necessary tools and available materials: screws, nails; waterproof paints; hammer, screwdriver or screwdriver, hacksaw, wood glue, ruler, brushes, pencil.
4. Cut out the blanks according to the drawings. It is advisable to leave a rough surface on the inside of the board.
5. Drill a hole in the front wall. Attach the bar that will secure the birdhouse to the back wall.
6. Now you need to assemble the structure. Fasten the facade and side walls with wood glue, and while it dries, secure the parts with nails or self-tapping screws.
7. Try to do so that there are no gaps left. Next, connect the bottom to the side and front walls in the same way. The back wall is glued and fixed in last resort. Secure the perch.
8. Make a protruding roof to protect from rain and wind. It is better to make it removable to make it easier to clean the birdhouse. Connect the smaller roof part with the larger one using self-tapping screws.
9. The house can be painted and then securely fixed in the chosen location.

Making a birdhouse from a plastic bottle

There is also a very simple way to make a birdhouse from a plastic bottle. For this you need plastic bottle, it is convenient to use a two-liter container; waterproof acrylic paints, preferably brown, green or beige; brush; stationery knife; scissors; glue for plastic things; drill and drill bits 1/4 and 1/16; pliers; wire; scotch. So, the algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. First you need to make a round hole in a two-liter bottle. To do this you need a stationery knife. The hole should be made at a distance of 3 cm from the bottom.
2. Next we install the perch. To do this, drill a hole with a drill, just below the finished hole and insert a long dowel there.
3. Then we paint the bottle house with harmless paints that are resistant to moisture. It is advisable to choose dark colors (green, blue, brown). Feathered friends prefer the house to be dark. To add brightness to the birdhouse, you can decorate it with beautiful bright ribbons.
4. The next step is to build a loop with which we can attach the house to a tree or pole. To do this, we drill two small holes in the bottle cap, through which we thread a wire and carefully twist the ends.
5. Natural bedding material should be placed at the bottom of the bottle. This can be sand or twigs; hay or scraps of fabric will also work.
6. The roof is made in the form of tiles. It can be made either from plastic blanks or from unnecessary disks. To do this, you need to cut out the desired shape of the workpiece and glue it one by one and paint it with paints.
7. The bottle should be hung high on a thick tree trunk, where the birds will not be disturbed.

This is a very interesting way to invent a bird house. It can be done quickly within an hour; children really love to take part in making such a simple home for their feathered friends.

At the same time, a birdhouse made from a plastic bottle perfectly protects birds from wind, rain, and withstands external temperature changes.

Exclusive models of birdhouses

Of course, a bird house is an excellent decoration for every garden and personal plot. DIY birdhouse ideas can be very diverse and daring in their execution. When choosing an aesthetic design, remember to consider the birds' immediate needs. So a straw hat will look very nice as a house. Due to the fact that it is made of natural straw, the birds will feel very cozy and comfortable there.

Can be done original birdhouse with your own hands from stones. Many birds will like such a home; it will reliably protect our friends from external environmental influences.

There is a wide variety of carved wooden birdhouses. These can have complex, tall, intricate designs. Here the imagination of creative people has no limits. There are also no restrictions when choosing a color palette or accessories. The roof of this wooden house can be dismantled with metal sheets. This will give it additional protection. If you wish, you can make a concrete composition using cinder blocks.

A birdhouse made from an old aluminum teapot or samovar looks unusual and exclusive. Such a bird house can become a highlight in any interior of your garden or plot.

All constructed structures can be decorated with unusual drawings, paintings, and ribbons. It is very interesting to decorate in the form of windows, doors, chimneys, fences and other details that imitate a real house. To decorate a birdhouse, you can use any available materials and, of course, your imagination. Do not forget the main rule that all decorative elements must be reliable and safe for birds.

Drawings and diagrams for birdhouses

When spring approaches, it becomes necessary to erect such a decorative element for the garden as birdhouses. Although there is still time until spring, you can make a few in advance various options such homestead elements as a decorative bird house. Any gardener knows that birds in the garden can only bring joy to the members of that family. But how will you meet them? Do you know for sure that the birds will settle in your dacha?

If you are not sure, then we get to work. Today we will look at how to make a birdhouse with your own hands correctly, what materials should be taken in order to make a birdhouse like the one in the photo. In addition, we will next consider a drawing of a birdhouse, with which you can build a birdhouse with your own hands in your dacha.

First, it’s worth focusing on the choice of materials for the manufacture of such a building. The best choice– this is a natural material. It can be made from a natural material such as stone, in which case you will get an original birdhouse, or from dry boards - this is a classic. But the use of materials like cardboard is also in demand.

What type of wood is best to choose for making a birdhouse? It is advisable to opt for birch or oak. The board should be about 18 mm thick so that a homemade birdhouse retains heat perfectly. You can also make it from scrap materials, for example, a plastic container. Using scrap materials like plastic containers is convenient and economical. Making such a house is always a joy. To do this, a cut is made in a plastic container through which the birds can enter their home.

An important point: it is very undesirable to use compressed or glued types of trees like chipboard and others to make a birdhouse, since these materials are short-lived. There is no need to decorate the birdhouse with any shiny objects, since such a house will be uncomfortable, and it will resemble a scarecrow on appearance.

Stages of making a birdhouse

Please take into account the fact that there is no need to build a birdhouse for birds, which is quite large in size. If you decide to build such a large project, then there will be about 5 chicks, but the parents will not be able to feed them. This means that you will have few offspring. If the size of the building is small, then only a few chicks will breed in it, however, they will be healthy.

Let's look at the tools that will be useful to build a cardboard feeder project:

• Ruler and pencil;
• nails;
• hammer;
• hacksaw;
• drill.

Wooden birdhouse

In the photo you can see a drawing of a birdhouse - this is a classic project. It is clear that this is the simplest project, but not the only option for a cardboard feeder. There are many manufacturing technologies. Next, you can look at another project.

Let's look at how to make a birdhouse with your own hands:

1. Frame making

When building using this technology, you need to take into account that this project does not have a removable cover. This means that such a design is not comfortable if you want to clean the birdhouse every year before the birds arrive. To change the design and make the frame removable, we nail a sleeve to the bottom area of ​​the feeder, which has the same dimensions as the base, thanks to which the frame will hold perfectly.

When making a removable roof, you need to take care of the technology and nuances, for example, so that the roof is not blown away by the wind or so that another bird does not knock it down. Among the simplest technologies is screwing the lid to the house with wire. Technologies such as a flat roof with a slight slope are also popular. Gable construction technology is not recommended, since the house will leak faster than with conventional birdhouse manufacturing technology.

1. Fastening the base and walls

Using screws we secure the base and walls of the house. To the back area of ​​the wall we stuff a strip attached to the pole. The dimensions of the structure are small, so its manufacture should not pose any difficulties.

If you are wondering how to make a birdhouse, then you should remember the following important points:

• the entire height of the structure should be about 32 centimeters;
• The dimensions of the base of the birdhouse are usually made 9 by 9 centimeters;
• the hole for the door should be approximately 35 mm in diameter.

Beautiful house for birds

An important point: the required door diameter varies depending on the type of bird. For tits it reaches about 23 mm, for sparrows about 28 mm, for nuthatches about 29 mm.

1. House assembly

We cut the boards and begin assembling the house. The front wall of the birdhouse is attached to the side screws. We fasten the back area and base. At the end we attach the removable roof. We install any type of perch in front of the door at our discretion.

We attach the sleeve to the frame of our birdhouse; in this version, we decided to make a removable roof for the further possibility of cleaning it. Despite this, it must be wrapped with wire or screwed with screws for strength.

A small house for birds must be knocked down very tightly. It is better to coat all holes with clay or caulk with tow. Nails and rather sharp edges that are split should not be left sticking out in the birdhouse so that the birds do not get hurt. It is better not to tint the birdhouse; you just need to treat it with drying oil. If you do decide to paint, it is better to use oil paint of any shade.

If you still didn’t know how to make a birdhouse with your own hands, now it’s clear to you. At the same time, the process of making such a house is very exciting and quite useful.

Attracting birds to the site is both useful and pleasant. It is useful because they destroy insect pests, it is pleasant to listen to their singing and observe the behavior of birds. That’s why many people come up with the idea of ​​building a birdhouse with their own hands. People over 40 years old can still remember school years: during labor lessons, the boys made houses for birds. But it’s not just property owners who make birdhouses. Often residents apartment buildings They hang them on trees near the house, on balconies and loggias.

What to make from

The answer is clear - from wood, and from deciduous trees: conifers are too resinous. The resin can stain the plumage, resulting in the death of the bird. You should not use plywood or... Rarely does anyone live in such birdhouses: glue and binders scare away birds. For the same reason, we assemble and fasten the workpieces only with nails or screws, we do not use glue.

Most often, birdhouses are made from boards. The thickness of the boards is at least 20 mm. This thickness is enough to maintain a stable temperature inside, which is important when hatching chicks. Moreover, the boards need to be unplaned; in any case, the inner surface should be rough. The front part under the entrance is also specially scratched: along these notches, chicks and birds rise to the entrance.

To prevent the boards from cracking during assembly, we pre-drill holes for the screws. The diameter is slightly smaller than the diameter of the screw.

Sizes of birdhouses for different types of birds

To attract different types of birds, the size of the house should vary. It is mainly the proportions of the “body” itself and the entrance that change. The goal is to create nesting conditions that are more familiar to this species.

Bird species	Bottom dimensions	Birdhouse height	Taphole dimensions	Note
Starlings	10*10 cm	30-40 cm	about 5 cm	a taphole is preferable to a round shape
Titmouse - tits, flycatchers, redstarts, sparrows, pygmy owls	10-12 cm	25-30 cm	30-35 mm	round entrance
Lesser titmouse or flycatcher (flycatchers, redstarts)	10*8 cm	25-30 cm	30 mm
Poluduplyanka	10*8 cm	20 cm	height 33-50 mm across the entire width of the wall	taphole - a longitudinal slot across the entire width of the front wall

As you can see from the table, basically only the height changes. The width remains more or less stable. There is no point in making birdhouses anymore. They will encourage saving large quantity eggs, but fully feed a large number of The birds will not be able to hatch chicks, as a result the offspring will be weak and, most likely, die.

If you want to attract wagtails, make a birdhouse laid on its side: its height will be 10-12 cm and width - 35-40 cm, with the same small entrance located approximately in the middle. Wagtails have weak legs, and they cannot climb a high wall to the entrance. That is why there is such a choice of nesting sites. in the shaker it is also advisable to make a ladder about 10 cm wide in front of the entrance - so that they can enter on foot.

The semi-duplyanka requires some explanation. Some birds are accustomed to nesting not in hollows, but in recesses between branches. They rarely settle in completely closed artificial nesting areas. If you want to attract, for example, a gray flycatcher, make it a small box in which the entrance runs the entire width of the front wall.

Just keep in mind that some types of squirrels also like to live in such houses.

There is another nesting site that birds often like better - a nesting box. This is a birdhouse made from a piece of log. Often dried wood is cut into logs of suitable size, turning it into apartments for birds. The height and diameter are selected based on the dimensions indicated for a regular birdhouse. The bottom and roof of the nest are made from a piece of board.

Duplyanka - birdhouse made of logs

Safety

It's a shame and a pity when birds' nests are destroyed. This is mainly done by cats, and also by woodpeckers. Therefore, when you make a birdhouse with your own hands, increase the roof overhang. In almost all drawings it is drawn 5 cm long. In order to protect the birdhouse from the cat, it is necessary to make sure that he cannot reach the entrance. To do this, the roof must protrude by at least 7 cm, and it is better to add a couple more - for large specimens. This ledge will also protect from slanting rain: the likelihood that the chicks will get wet becomes even less.

Another option is to put nails on the lid. The cat is unlikely to get hurt, but he won’t be able to sit comfortably - the nails won’t let him.

There are several ways to protect chicks from woodpeckers:

• beat the taphole with tin:
• drive several nails around the tap hole;
• nail a piece of wood on the taphole area, the fibers of which run horizontally.

All this will prevent the woodpecker from expanding the entrance and getting to the eggs or chicks. The last trick - the cover - will also complicate the cat’s task: it is more difficult to reach the chick through a long entrance.

Measures against enemies: 1 - against woodpeckers, 2.3 - against cats

They still escape from cats and possible invaders with the help of protective belts. They are made either from tin strips or from “brooms”. You will understand everything by looking at the picture. Please note that the distances must be maintained within 3-4 cm. Then the animals will not be able to jump over the protective belts. There should be no twigs, feeders or other possible supports between them and the birdhouse.

Where to hang

Where to hang a birdhouse is also a science. If you are going to set it up on a tree, then at a height of at least 2.5-3 meters. There should be no paths or busy places near the selected tree - a well, a bench, etc.

When choosing a place on a tree, keep in mind that there should be no large branches in front of the entrance: the approach must be free. At the same time, you need to unfold it so that the “window” faces south. All this increases the chances that residents will move into your birdhouse.

Another point: you need to tie or nail it so that the “house” is tilted slightly forward. This will make it easier for the chicks to get out, and less rain will clog them.

How to make a birdhouse with your own hands: photo report

We will do the easiest option - with a flat roof. As already mentioned, we take unplaned hardwood boards with a thickness of 20 mm or more. To avoid splinters, it is better to work with gloves. According to the drawing, we cut the blanks. Try to keep the cuts straight and at right angles: there should be no gaps. Immediately after hatching, the chicks are without feathers, and the slightest draft can kill them. Therefore, all edges must be smooth.

We take long thin nails - diameter 1.5-2 mm, length 4-5 cm and a hammer. Let's start assembly. We nail the sides to the front part at right angles. For each - three to four nails.

Turning the workpiece upside down, take the bottom, insert it, and level it. We nail it to the sides. Cover the top with the back wall and nail it down too. Don't forget about connecting the back wall with the sides.

Turning the tap hole upside down, we nail the bottom on this side as well. All that remains is to assemble the roof. We take the remaining square - the double of the bottom, nail it so that the visor sticking out in front is at least 5 cm (preferably 7-10 cm, as they said before). If the nails stick out, bend them.

The roof just needs to fit tightly. If something gets in the way, we use a chisel. That's all, the birdhouse with your own hands is ready.

Often a perch is installed under the entrance. Is it needed or not? If there are enough branches around, it’s better not to do it. If there are no branches, you need to either make a perch or a small shelf, although you can do without them. Why? Because cats also lean on them and it is easier for them to reach the chicks with support.
How to make a titmouse, watch the video

Making a nest - a birdhouse from a log

If the feathered people have a choice - to live in a nest box or a birdhouse made of boards - they will choose a nest box. It is more similar to the usual “housing” - a hollow, there are no cracks on the sides and, therefore, it is warmer. They are less noticeable on the tree, which means there is a greater chance of raising offspring. These are advantages from the birds' point of view. Now about the advantages from the point of view of the “manufacturers”: a fallen tree is used for work, and it is free. If you find a suitable one, it will be enough for a large number of birdhouses. About the disadvantages - making nest boxes takes longer and is more difficult: you have to manually pick out the core, leaving the walls intact.

Now about how to find a suitable tree. Aspen is best suited: it usually rots from the inside, but remains hard along the outer edge. Therefore, we go in search of an aspen forest, and there, among the fallen trees, we look for something suitable: we cut several trunks. It is important to find one with a whole edge and a rotten middle - the work will go faster.

It is advisable to find such aspen - with a rotten core, but strong edges

Often such trees have rotten bark, which makes them look unsightly. We peel off the bark and drag the log to the dacha or house. There we cut it into logs of suitable size. Dimensions are determined by diameter. For a birdhouse, the inner diameter of the nest should be 22-30 cm, respectively, the outer diameter - 27-36 cm. For the titmouse, the sections closer to the top are suitable - the inner diameter is 15-22 cm, the outer diameter is 19-26 cm.

The height of the log also depends on the type of house - a titmouse is 20-40 cm high (but they are more willing to settle in low ones), a birdhouse - from 30 to 45 cm. When sawing, try to make the bevel that appears at the bottom level, and at the top - at a slight slope - so that sediment flowed from the roof. To make roofs and bottoms, you will need cutting boards; you can use unedged boards and slabs.

We take the cut log and begin to pick out the core with a chisel. The task is to dig a through hole. After this, even hard wood is easier to chop. To make the process go faster, you can drill holes with a drill, then break out the jumpers with a chisel.

The task is to dig a through hole

As a rule, the rotten core runs out quickly, then you have to chop off pieces of wood using a chisel and a hammer or mallet. But with a hole in the center it is much easier - the longitudinal pieces are chipped off, the work proceeds at normal speed.

The walls should remain about 1.5-3 cm. We try to work on the middle more or less smoothly, without large chips. When the walls are selected, we make a taphole. If there is a knot, you can hollow it out. Or take a crust and a drill, drill in a suitable place. If there is no crown, take a regular drill, drill holes in a circle, then, using the same chisel, cut through the remaining jumpers.

A piece of board 2-2.5 cm thick goes to the bottom. It is nailed or screwed onto self-tapping screws. The protruding parts are cut off as close to the walls as possible.

All that remains is to nail the roof. The same board or slab will do. Before screwing in the screw, drill holes, otherwise the board may split.

Actually, you have already made a birdhouse with your own hands, all that remains is to secure it from attacks by woodpeckers. If there are knots on the walls, it is advisable to coat them with plasticine (regular, children's). They can also be used to seal the gaps that remain between the bottom and the roof and walls: it is rarely possible to fit everything neatly. If you don’t want to cover it with plasticine, you can caulk it with hemp rope. It is applied to the crack and driven into it with a flat screwdriver (actually there are special blades for caulking, but they are large - this is the time, and for “one-time use” you should buy them...). If it doesn't go well, you can hit the handle with a hammer.

Caulking the “seams” with hemp rope

How to decorate a birdhouse

While the birdhouse is new, it looks relatively good, but after a couple of months it will darken. This is good for the birds - it will become less noticeable and they will only benefit from this. But not all homeowners like to look at such an unsightly “decoration”. To improve the appearance, the birdhouse can be painted, but you need to choose “natural” colors - brown, gray, shades of green. You want your birds to survive, right? This means their nest must be camouflaged, and not painted in all the colors of the rainbow, attracting all possible predators.

And this one is just ideal - no cracks in the floor))

Titmouse is inhabited

Beautiful decoration and disguise

We hope that now you can not only make a birdhouse with your own hands, but also decorate it competently (from the point of view of the birds).

Drawings with dimensions

Some drawings of birdhouses are in the text, we are posting a few more in this section. Adjusting the dimensions to fit the planned “tenants” is probably not a problem. Also note that the layout is given for a 2 cm thick board. If you increase or decrease the thickness, adjustments are necessary.

Birdhouse with a triangular roof: drawing, dimensions

Birdhouse with a sloping roof (front wall higher)