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Handmade Birdhouses

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Handmade Birdhouses

If you are considering building handmade birdhouses, there are certain things you need to keep in mind. First of all you will need the right material. A natural cedar is the preferred wood to use. This will weather well and be resistant to decay. The wood should be ¾" thick. Any thicker and the internal temperature could rise and damage the young birds.

Avoid painting the handmade birdhouses, especially in dark colors. A natural wooden birdhouse is more likely to attract visitors. You will also want to drill some drainage and ventilation holes to keep the nest dry and cool.

The size of the entrance hole is one of the most important parts of handmade birdhouses. Too small and your expected species of bird may not be able to enter and if the hole is too large then aggressive species could take over the house.

Predator guards are very important as well. We have a lot of useful information on this site about the best type of predator guard. You should also never have a perch on your handmade birdhouses. Birds do not need a perch and predators can use this as a way to reach into the birdhouse.

Make sure that you have easy access to the birdhouse for cleaning. This can be simply a removable side panel or a hinged front. You will need to clean out the old nest when the birds finally leave before the next year. If you do not do this, disease could spread from the old nest to the new one.

Making handmade birdhouses can be a rewarding hobby. Try giving them as a gift. If you are not currently a birdwatcher, you are sure to be when you see a species take up residence in a birdhouse you built yourself.