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Free Birdhouse Plan:
How to Build a Simple Bird House



by Jane Lake

Use our free birdhouse plan to make a simple bird house from scraps of 1/2" and 1/4" wood; our example uses inexpensive plywood.

This is a nice gift for nature lovers, gardeners, or for someone special on Father's Day!

As you can from the picture at right, you can decorate the assembled bird house in many ways, from simple paint or stain to folk painting techniques finished with a non-toxic outdoor sealer.

Bird House Craft Supplies

  • hammer and 1/2" finishing nails
  • waterproof glue
  • sandpaper

  • drill with 1-3/8" hole saw and 1/4" drill bit
  • 1/2" plywood in sizes shown in Figure 1, for two bottom sides and two inside supports
  • 1/4" plywood for two roof sections, each 7" x 5"
  • 1/4" plywood for the front and back sections, each 5-7/8" square<
  • 5" length of dowel to finish the top, and 3" length of dowel for bird perch
  • optional: paint or stain

  • Bird House
    Instructions:


    How to Build a Bird House


    Assembly Instructions:

    birdhouseplan (24K)1. Before proceeding with each joint, start the nails, tapping into position, then apply waterproof glue along the joint edge.

    2. Butt and glue the two bottom sides together as shown in Fig.1

    3. Next, glue and nail the back section to the bottom sides.

    4. Glue and nail the inside supports; see Fig. 1 for positioning on the back.

    5. Using the 1 3/8 hole saw, drill a hole in the front section so that the top of the hole is 2" down from a corner; see finished photo for detail. Use a 1/4" bit to drill a hole for the dowel perch, 5'8" below the bottom of the larger entrance hole. Sand the edges smooth, and sand all other inner parts of the bird house before nailing down the front.

    6. Glue and nail the front to the bottom sides and the inside supports.

    7. Position roof sections so that they meet, but do not butt at the top. Glue and nail the roof sections into place. The roof overhangs the sides, as shown.

    8. Glue the 5" dowel in the channel between the roof sections to complete this joint.

    9. Sand all surfaces.

    10. Lastly, glue the 3" dowel into position as a perch.

    Your bird house is now ready to stain or paint as desired.

    Note: The size of hole that you make in your bird house and its height above ground will determine, in part, what kind of bird your bird house attracts. For help in choosing these important dimensions, see our article on Building the Right Bird House.

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    1-10 of 50 Comments
    Dave edwards – Cambridge, England, UK
    Jul 27, 2010 - 06:36

    Great project for kids, Thank you

    WOB – PHILA
    Jul 17, 2010 - 16:13

    Never put a perch on a birdhouse. It will only allow other birds who are not as agile to go into nest box and kill babies, eat eggs, kill parents, or build a nest on top of babies.

    jim k – lusk wyo
    Jul 15, 2010 - 20:22

    thank you 4-h project

    Fennel Makepeace – Naples NY
    May 14, 2010 - 19:32

    what does a bluebird house look like?

    kim howl – Arizona
    May 11, 2010 - 13:33

    this is fricken amazing!!!!!!! I love it with all my heart! this is an amazing work of art! I wish i had the skills to do this! too bad :(

    kid – larned
    May 04, 2010 - 15:27

    love em

    T.J – fuquay
    May 04, 2010 - 04:14

    Thank-you for this design. I needed a small project to work on before i have to go back to school. I need to be constructive with my time. Really thank-you!

    Brenda – Woodhull,Illinois
    Apr 20, 2010 - 15:42

    A kinder world this would be, the birds don't fight, why should we?(And yes, I know birds do sometimes fight, but we, as humans are petty, mean, cruel, unforgiving....not conducive to a peaceful living condition, is it?) Forgive IF you want to be forgiven. Be kind.

    Reply to Brenda
    Steve – Mesa, Az
    May 25, 2010 - 11:55

    Alas Brenda, birds do fight. Sic vita est, C'EST La Vie

    Reply to
    kid – larned
    May 04, 2010 - 15:25

    hey be nice....it doesnt have to be cool to be a good house. birds will love the simplier ones, and would you like to spend months on one bridhouse?

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    All our crafts are free for visitors of All Free Crafts only. Copyright 2002-2010 © Jane Lake All Rights Reserved. Do not copy, re-work or publish our crafts to your blog, group, or web site, by email, or in print, without written permission. Teachers and youth group leaders have special allowances. Please see TOS for details.