Build species-appropriate bird houses for the garden
Table of Contents
In autumn and winter, domestic birds are constantly looking for food. So that you can look forward to singing birds in the garden next spring, hobby gardeners set up a bird feeder. If you are skilled in craftsmanship, you can build your own bird house with all-weather wood.
In addition to a house that is hung on the outer wall, there are models that can be placed on a post in the garden or in a high flower pot. Branches can also be used to build a fairytale house that fits perfectly into the garden.
In the following we present three simple building instructions for different bird feeders and explain how you can build a house from branches with a little more effort.
Building instructions build fairytale bird house from branches
Required material
Approx. 80 branches, minimum length 32 cm, thickness approx. 2 – 4 cm
moss
Centimeter measure
Foil (e.g. cut garbage bag)
Pack of screws 4 x 50 mm
Cordless two-speed drill driver
Cordless screwdriver
Cordless garden saw
Battery tacker
Wood drill 4 mm
Construction time: approx. 4-5 hours
Difficulty: medium to demanding
Step 1: shorten branches
The first step in building the bird house: shorten four branches to a length of 20, 22 and 28 cm with the cordless garden saw.
Step 2: drill holes
Drill a hole in the 20 cm long branches at both ends at a distance of 2 cm using the cordless two-speed drill and a 4 mm wood drill.
Step 3: screw it together
Screw the pre-drilled branches for the bird house to be built together with the 22 cm branches into two frames. Drill a hole on two of the 28 cm long branches at one end at a distance of 2 cm with the cordless two-speed drill and a 4 mm wood drill. For the roof, screw the other two 28 cm branches at a 45 degree angle with the cordless screwdriver through the drilled holes.
Step 4: saw remaining branches
Shorten three branches to a length of 20 cm with the cordless garden saw. Screw the two frames together with the roof in the two lower corners and the roof top with the sawn-off branches. Now the frame of the house is finished!
Step 5: cover and fasten
Cover the roof of the bird house with a film and fix it with the battery stapler. Approx. Shorten 28 branches to a length of 32 cm with the cordless garden saw.
Step 6: dress up and decorate with moss
Screw the branches onto the roof and the floor using the cordless screwdriver. Approx. Shorten 12 branches to a length of 22 cm with the cordless garden saw. Screw the branches onto the outside of the house with the cordless screwdriver. If desired, cover the back and front of the bird house with branches and screw it to an outer wall. Individual gaps in the roof can still be filled with the moss.
Birdhouse to hang from all-purpose boards
Material and tool requirements
All-weather wooden board, 120 x 21 mm:
230 mm, 1 piece (1)
210 mm, 1 piece (2)
140 mm, 1 piece (3)
320 mm, 1 piece (4)
140 mm, 1 piece (5)
Galvanized screws, 4 x 40 mm, 8 pieces
Dowels and galvanized screws for wall mounting
Screw hooks, 1 piece
Folding rule
pencil
5 mm drill bit
Cordless screwdriver
180 grit sandpaper or a rasp
Pretender
Impact drill with 6 mm stone drill
Construction time: approx. 1 hour / difficulty: easy
Step 1: cut boards
To build the bird feeder yourself, all boards are first cut to the specified size. For miters, d. H. bevel cuts, it is best to use a miter saw. For instructions, see Miter connections.
Step 2: sand and pre-drill
Then sand all edges smooth with sandpaper. To prevent the wood from bursting, use a 5 mm drill to pre-drill all holes into which screws will later be inserted. The board is fastened with two screws per connection.
Step 3: assemble birdhouses
Now the boards are screwed together – according to the sketch opposite. It is best to start with boards (1) and (2) and (5) and (4) and screw the boards (3) and (4) to the end.
Step 4: hang up bird house
In the last step, attach the bird feeder to a house wall using dowels and screws.
Bird feeder in flowerpot
Material and tool requirements
All-weather wooden board, 120 x 21 mm:
230 mm, 1 piece (1)
210 mm, 1 piece (2)
140 mm, 2 pieces (3 and 4)
approx. 1200 mm, 1 piece (5)
Galvanized screws, 4 x 40 mm, 8 pieces
Screw hooks, 1 piece
Planter plastic, 1 piece
Rapid concrete, 1 piece
Folding rule
pencil
5 mm drill bit
Cordless screwdriver
180 grit sandpaper or a rasp
Pretender
Water and a stir bar or trowel
1st step: Cut boards
In the first step, the boards are cut to the correct dimensions. Then saw the board (3) on the upper edge with a miter.
2nd step: Grind edges and pre-drill holes
Then all edges are sanded smooth with sandpaper before all holes for screw connections are pre-drilled with a 5 mm drill.
3rd step: screw the boards together
In the next step, the boards (1) and (2) and (3) and (4) are screwed together.
Then attach the roof (2) to (3) and place the house on the bars (4) and (5).
The self-made house is finished
Now place the bird feeder in a tall flower pot or on the floor. Alternatively, a flowerpot filled with rapid concrete is also suitable. To do this, support the breath while the concrete sets.
Build a free-standing bird feeder
Required material
All-weather wooden board, 120 x 21 mm:
230 mm, 1 piece (1)
210 mm, 1 piece (2)
140 mm, 1 piece (3)
300 mm, 1 piece (4)
179 mm, 1 piece (5)
340 mm, 1 piece (6)
600 mm, 1 piece (7)
All-weather post, 60 x 60 mm, 1400 mm, 1 piece (8)
Galvanized screws, 4 x 40 mm, 14 pieces
Screw hooks, 1 piece
Required tools
Folding rule
pencil
5 mm drill bit
Cordless screwdriver
180 grit sandpaper or a rasp
Pretender
spade
1st step: Cut boards
As with the previous building instructions, first cut the wooden boards to the required dimensions and saw board (3) and (6) with a miter.
Step 2: Grind components and pre-drill holes
Now all edges are sanded smooth with sandpaper. Next, pre-drill the locations on all boards with a 5mm drill bit that will later be connected with screws. Two screws are used per screw connection.
Step 3: Assemble the bird house
Finally, you assemble the bird feeder by screwing the boards together. Start with boards (1) and (6) and (2) and (3). Then attach the walls (3), (4), (5) and (6). Finally screw the base plate (7) onto the post (8) and fix the house with two screws on the base plate (7).
Build a bird house yourself
Many birds now need our support due to the lack of suitable natural food sources. Experts discuss how sensible year-round feeding is, as has been practiced in Great Britain for a long time.
The advocates are supported by recent studies. A good reason for us do-it-yourselfers to build a new bird house or to build a bird feeder. A bird house can be a great garden decoration. In this manual, the practical is more important than the decorative.
It should be easy to clean and maintain and offer different types of feed separately. In winter, the birds get more energy-rich fat in it. When rearing the young birds, please take care not to feed any peanuts or broken peanuts, the small birds cannot tolerate this.
Depending on whether cats live with you or come to your garden for visits, please attach a collar that prevents the cats from being served the birds. If the bird feeder stands on a free, manageable lawn, our feathered friends also manage very well not to become prey.
Tool and material requirements
Material requirements:
Wooden panel
Wooden post to drive in
Beechwood stick 18 mm in diameter
Roofing felt (rest in stock)
Roofing paper nails
3.5 x 40 mm screws
angle
Shish kebab skewer
Required tools:
Japanese saw
Jigsaw
Cordless screwdriver / cordless drill
Articulated screwdriver
box cutter
Step 1: marking the individual parts of the bird house
You need the following cuts for the three-story bird feeder:
35 x 35 cm
28 x 28 cm
23 x 23 cm
18 x 18 cm
4 beechwood sticks 19 cm
4 beechwood sticks 16 cm
4 beechwood sticks 13 cm
These dimensions have to be transferred to the wooden plate and the beechwood sticks. Please also mark the center of the circular surface at the top and bottom of the beechwood sticks.
In addition, the holes on the diagonals of the wooden panels for the attachment of the beech rods must be marked. With the 35 cm plate it is 7 cm from the outside on the diagonal, with the 28 cm plate it is 5 cm, with the 23 cm plate it is 4 and with the 18 cm plate it is 3.5 cm.
Step 2: sawing the panels and rods to size
The panels are sawn clean with the jigsaw as marked. A hand saw or a miter saw is more suitable for sawing off the beechwood sticks. It is important to stay straight.
Step 3: drilling for the screws from the bird feeder
All rods must be pre-drilled in the middle on both sides with a 3 mm drill. The plates are also pre-drilled and the hole is also drilled for the countersunk screws.
Step 4: cover the bird house with roofing felt
So that everything becomes even more weatherproof, you cover the floors and roofs with roofing felt. To do this, you cut them, bend them around the edges and insert nails into the pre-drilled holes. In the end, you cut off any excess.
Step 5: screw the birdhouse together
When you screw the birdhouse together, it is best to start with the smallest area and work your way up to the largest. An articulated screwdriver can be helpful. Pay attention to your hands because the sand on the roofing felt can cause unpleasant abrasions.
Step 6: mount the bird house on the post
The pile is pre-drilled for the four angles. Then the brackets are screwed to the post. The holes for the screws between the angle and the bird house are marked and drilled.
Then you hammer in the post and screw the bird feeder from below to the post and the angles. Two beech sticks on the upper floor still need two oblong holes in the diagonal for the kebab skewer.
Step 7: set up and fill the bird house
After the installation has been completed, the bird house is set up and filled with different feed. The best thing to do on the bottom floor is to use a small plate or bowl, which you can easily clean and refill. On the middle floor, we screwed a small hook screw in the top center for millet or titballs. At the top of the skewer is an apple or other fresh food. Congratulations: You built your bird house yourself!
