Do-it-yourself bird house: a great idea

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A self-made bird house ? What a good DIY idea! If you, too, love birds and their song, offer them a small house or a manger to stay and feed is very nice.

In the following lines, we will show you some ideas on how to make a bird feeder or a bird house yourself, where to install it and how to maintain it.

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In trade, there are many models of bird houses for different species. Building them yourself, involving children, is also a very good gesture for the environment and for its small inhabitants – the birds.

Why is it important to have birdhouses and feeders?

You probably already know this – natural cavities are becoming more and more rare. New building models offer fewer and fewer bird friendly sites. By setting up a birdhouse or bird feeder in your garden, balcony, town or elsewhere, you help the birds survive and offer them a warm and inviting home. Birds play an important role in our environment. Did you know that bird watching, an activity practiced by many people today, contributes to our physical and mental health?

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What wood to make my birdhouse?

There is nothing more classic than a bird house made of wood. What materials to build one? Usually, the material prescribed for the manufacture of nest boxes is plywood or chipboard. Some also use red cedar, larch and other kinds of rotproof wood. Avoid treated wood and impregnated wood.

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Which model to choose?

The most common bird house model is the “mailbox” birdhouse that you can see in the photo below. It is often chosen because it integrates with all types of garden.

How do we select the nest box model for our garden or balcony? We choose it according to the hosts we would like to welcome. Finally, the diameter of the entrance hole is essential for this. Tits (blue, black, nonnettes) need a hole about 25 mm in diameter. For great tits, flycatchers and sparrows, we will make a hole 30 mm in diameter. For species such as house sparrows, nuthatches and starlings, the entrance hole will be significantly larger and 45 mm in diameter. Some species (chickadees, nuthatches, sparrows) prefer classic nest box designs. While the flycatcher prefers a shallow house to monitor the entrance hole.
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Fixation of the nest box is also of great importance. It must be well attached with a strong and stable support. If you want to install it to a live tree in your garden, be careful not to hurt it and do not use nails to fix it. We choose a place sheltered from the weather, calm, if possible – far from the road.

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Is it a good idea to install two nesting boxes next to each other? If these two nest boxes are for birds of the same species, it is not recommended. If you have nest boxes with hosts of different species, granivores and frugivores, these do not compete and there is no need to have your two nesting boxes nearby. The general rule is that nest boxes should be placed as far as possible from bird feeders and baths.

Usually, nest boxes are set up in the fall and early winter because in this way it will be spotted by the birds before the beginning of winter. Some bird species are likely to settle very early in the winter, while others will return from their migration in late May. You have to be patient because the birds will not settle right away. However, if your bird house is not occupied two years after settling in your garden, it is because the place chosen is not suitable. It must then find a better location.View in galleryDo-it-yourself bird house: a great idea | 7/42

It is important to limit your visits so as not to disturb the birds. Watch them from afar with binoculars and if needed – step in. If you find fledglings on the ground, help them and put them back in their nest box.

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What maintenance for my nest box?

The nest box is cleaned at the end of the nesting season – September and October. It must be easily accessible for easy cleaning. This depends on the model you choose. A bird house with the removable top will undoubtedly facilitate cleaning. It is eventually cleaned with water and an anti-parasite product is applied which is safe for birds. It is possible to use the essence of thyme. Birds use some plants themselves to protect their homes from pests. The final step in cleaning is to make sure everything is secure, solid and there is no need for repairs.

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We chose the tutorial from Show me how * to make our birdhouse. They showcase the making of a simple, robust and workable home bird model with basic equipment and tools. For any bird nest box model, you will need: plywood plate, wood saw, drill-driver, wood screws, screw hooks, meter, pencil, sanding paper and paint (optional) . The recommended thickness of planks is 15 mm or less. It is not advisable to opt for thicker because it will stimulate the early reproduction of birds! To see all the detailed steps of making a birdhouse, we recommend you to watch the video below*.

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Having birds and squirrels in his garden is nice. There are several ways to attract them such as installing a birdhouse or bird feeder, for example. View in galleryDo-it-yourself bird house: a great idea | 12/42

Feeders are easier to manufacture than bird houses. They are also easily accessible to other animals such as squirrels. You can make a bird feeder of any kind of material: cardboard, wood, metal and many more. A bird feeder can be made from materials and accessories that are easily found in the kitchen and in a very simple way: jars of yoghurt, canned food, tin, empty cardboard roll, glass bottle, plastic bottle and even fruits: orange, grapefruit, squash. It will be a gift very appreciated by the small residents of your garden! Which one to choose depends on you and the season. In winter, it is better to opt for a resistant material: metal, glass or plastic. In spring and summer, we can afford the use of more fragile materials: cardboard, orange, squash.

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Here’s a very simple and original bird feeder idea: making a bird feeder with a cardboard egg box – it’s easy! You just have to make holes on both sides of the box so you can hang the feeder in your garden, as has been done and photographed below:

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A magazine rack transformed into a bird house – what a good idea! The magazine rack that was used to create the bird feeder pictured below and from IKEA. It is quite possible to use another magazine rack of similar form. To know all the stages of its realization, we invite you to consult the blog of Curbly *!

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Creating bird feeders with empty tin cans is also very easy. You will not even need to tinker, because the shape of can allows to use them as they are there. Just hang them with a ribbon or string and fill them with seeds! If you wish, it is possible to paint them in blue, green, red or in another color of your choice. Our advice is to opt for a natural hue, avoid very dark tones and flashy.

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Making a bird feeder with cardboard? It’s entirely possible ! You have the choice to use a simple cardboard and cut various shapes: stars, hearts, circles. You find cartons in the supermarkets and the stores that use them to transport goods. It is also possible to make a bird house yourself with a can of milk or an empty roll of paper.

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So that the seeds can attach to your star or cardboard roll, it will be necessary to use peanut butter as has been done below.

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And if we realized a bird feeder with wooden sticks? Very easy to handle, they allow the realization of many interesting DIY projects. To make a bird feeder with wooden sticks, you will need a pack of 50 sticks. To fix them, use special wood glue. Hang the feeder to a tree in your garden with a solid string. Pour seeds and let the birds enjoy your artwork!

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Do you like wine and you do not know what to do with cork after? Do not throw them away! Stoppers can also serve you in many ways to achieve a large number of brico projects. If you really have a lot, you can even make a little table with it! And yes … If you only have a few, then use them to create an original bird house, like the one pictured below. Share your love for wine with the birds of your garden!View in galleryDo-it-yourself bird house: a great idea | 22/42

Same for glass bottles, we do not throw them away, we use them to preserve or tinker. Below is a very original bird house project proposed and realized by Rebecca with an empty glass bottle and wood.

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It is even easier to make a bird feeder with a plastic bottle. The advantage of the latter is that it is significantly lighter than the glass bottle. Plastic is also easier to handle – you will not need special technique to make holes. Just have scissors.

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In winter, birds need our help to find food. Making a manger and installing it in your garden can save the lives of birds that do not immigrate south. Making bird feeders with simple oranges – it’s a breeze! To make it, you will need an orange, rope, small spade, a small branch, scissors, and of course, bird seeds.

To begin, cut the orange in half and empty it with a spoon. The small spade will serve you to punch the upper part of the orange. The idea is to punch it four times so that you can then insert the rope and hang it. The small branch will serve you to create a perch for birds.

Usually, the seeds are mixed with a little fat and balls are made and put inside the orange.

It remains to find a good location for your beautiful manger, suspend and look out the window how birds enjoy!

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Making a small wooden house is also a feasible and long-term project. For this, you will still need a little more patience and DIY time.View in galleryDo-it-yourself bird house: a great idea | 27/42Birdhouse type birdhouse model

And if one transforms one of his cups into bird feeder aesthetic and original? Absolutely possible! Look how beautiful it is: View in galleryDo-it-yourself bird house: a great idea | 28/42Cup turned into bird feeder, source: See Vanessa Craft

How to make a bird feeder with a tea cup? To make it, you will need the following equipment: a teacup with some saucer, extra strong glue, jute and bird seeds.

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A bird feeder appreciated by several inhabitants of the garden:

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Do you want your birdhouse to truly be in harmony with the surrounding natural environment? Here’s a fun idea of ​​a self-made bird house that was made of wood and decorated with stones. For her to make a set with the garden, succulents were placed on the “roof” of the house. View in galleryDo-it-yourself bird house: a great idea | 31/42

One of the do-it-yourself bird house models is the one called “mailbox”. If you attach your bird house to a live tree, be careful not to hurt it.

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Idea of ​​bird house to make oneself of original form

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Show me how to make a birdhouse