DIY birdhouse: interesting ideas and workshops
Owners of suburban areas know that it is difficult to cope with insects on their own. Much better and faster this problem can be solved with the help of starlings. But in order for them to live in the right territory, you need to take care in advance and make several birdhouses. By the way, not everyone knows that not only starlings, but also other birds can live in such structures. Therefore, how to create a simple birdhouse with your own hands, you will learn right now.
DIY birdhouse: step by step instructions
Making a birdhouse with your own hands is actually not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. In addition, there are many different variations, so even a beginner can handle such work.
In this case, we need:
- good, high-quality boards;
- hacksaw or jigsaw;
- thin nails;
- hammer;
- roulette;
- odorless paint;
- pliers;
- brush;
- pencil.
First of all, we recommend paying special attention to the choice of wood. It is best to use hardwood boards. For example, alder, birch or aspen. The rest have some disadvantages. Conifers emit tar, which is why the inside of the birdhouse becomes sticky over time. In turn, sheets of chipboard or fiberboard emit toxic substances, which is unsafe for birds. In addition, these sheets have poor wear resistance and can deteriorate literally after the first rain. Such a popular plywood has low sound and heat insulation. Therefore, such products are definitely not suitable for the cold season.
The next step is drawing up a drawing. To begin with, we recommend that you make a small sketch to understand which birdhouse you want to get as a result. After that, we make a drawing with notes of parts and all sizes. This is especially important if you plan to make several products.
We transfer the schemes to wooden blanks. As a result, there should be two side walls, one back and one front, as well as the bottom and cover.
It is also very important to make a perch of optimal length. If desired, you can use a wooden stick instead. We proceed to cutting each blank in accordance with the marking.
In the front wall we make a hole no more than 5 cm. To do this, it is better to use an electric drill or a jigsaw.
Carefully connect the front wall with the two side walls using nails. Depending on the size of the birdhouse, there will be a different number of them. But in this case, we fix the details on the sides and in the center. At this stage, we check the design for strength and, if necessary, make additional fasteners.
In the same way, we attach the back wall and the bottom to the main structure. We also check the finished product for strength and additionally fix it with a few more nails.
The next step is to work with the roof. Remember that it must be removable. This is necessary in order to be able to periodically clean the inside. It is also very important that the edges extend beyond the entire structure. Thus, the birdhouse will be protected from water.
In this case, the roof consists of two parts. The main part has a protective function, and the inside allows you to hold it in place. For a more reliable fixation, they are connected using several nails.
And of course, it’s very important to install a perch for birds. A beautiful and practical birdhouse is ready!
Birdhouse from improvised materials
Of course, there are situations when a birdhouse needs to be done as soon as possible. In this case, even improvised materials are suitable. But you need to understand that such a product will not be durable and reliable. Therefore, it is better to replace it with a stronger structure in the shortest possible time.
Nevertheless, we suggest figuring out how to make a birdhouse out of cardboard and what is needed for this. Among the necessary materials:
- dense corrugated cardboard;
- plain paper;
- scissors;
- twine;
- pencil;
- self-adhesive paper;
- starch;
- compass;
- knife;
- ruler.
On plain paper, we mark up the future design. We transfer the scheme to the corrugated cardboard and cut out all the details in a double copy.
Cook the paste using regular starch. In this case, you should not use simple glue, as it scares away the birds with its pungent odor. Then we glue the parts in pairs so that they are more durable. In the front part we make a hole for the birds. In the back wall we make several small holes for twine. This is necessary so that the birdhouse can be tied to a tree.
We continue to glue all the parts together and leave the structure to dry completely.
We prepare the roof from two parts of the corrugated cardboard.
We glue the birdhouse with laminated paper for greater reliability and decorate it if desired.
Also, if necessary, you can make a birdhouse using simple plastic bottles. Of course, such a product is not suitable for the life of birds, but it will be an excellent feeding trough.
Using a knife or scissors, just cut out the small holes. It is better to glue the edges with adhesive tape or adhesive tape so that the birds do not get hurt. If you want to insulate the structure a little, then you can wrap it with felt and fix it with tape. Pour straw and feed into the bottom. It is better to fix it with a wire.
Birdhouse: do it yourself original ideas
Of course, there are many different options for such products. Most often they are made of wood, plastic and metal. It is believed that such birdhouses are the most reliable and durable. However, there are other, more unusual options. For example, from cardboard, plastic bottles, and even from a milk bag. But still we do not recommend making too simple and shaky designs. After all, first of all, you should think about the birds, their safety and comfort.
As you can see, making a birdhouse with your own hands is quite simple. This is especially true for constructions from improvised materials. But still, we recommend making more reliable products that are perfect for bird life.