Building your own birdhouse is an ideal activity which the whole family can take part in. The right birdhouse can attract a wide variety of birds and can make your garden come alive.

You may be surprised but there is more than meets the eye when it comes to birdhouses. There are several issues to deal with and various additions you can implement to increase the functionality of the birdhouse.

Read the following tips to help you build your perfect birdhouse.

Placement

If you don’t provide the right habitat for birds, it will be very hard to attract any remarkable birds to your birdhouse. Before building your birdhouse, a little research on your part can’t hurt. Observe the types of birds which regularly visit your yard and then you can make a more informed decision in whether or not you need to do some additional work to attract birds. If you would like to attract more species of birds to your yard, it’s easy to do so. Birds are naturally attracted to water so it’s a fantastic idea to add a birdbath to your yard. Adding more trees and fruit shrubs will also make a huge difference to the birds you attract. When you’re happy with the yard, it’s time to find a location for your birdhouse. Place it near a tree or bush, as it will be a good landing place for birds before they enter the house.

Which Wood

Pine, redwood, cedar and spruce are all suitable types of wood for building a birdhouse. Make sure the wood you are using has not been pressure treated nor has not been painted with a paint containing lead – otherwise the toxic chemicals found can harm the birds that visit your birdhouse. Also it’s best to use wood that’s at least inch thick. Not only will your birdhouse be strong but the thicker wood will act as insulation.

Ventilation

It’s important to allow sufficient ventilation for birds in the birdhouse. Either drill small holes inch large just below the roof, or an easier way is too simply leave a gap between the roof and walls.

Drainage

To ensure that water doesn’t build up inside the birdhouse, drill small holes in the bottom of the birdhouse and also make the roof sloped.

Protection

There’re a few natural dangers, which could harm the birds using your birdhouse. Firstly place the house no lower than 5 feet above the ground, so cats, dogs and raccoons will not be able to harm the birds. If using posts for the birdhouse, it’s recommended that you use metal posting. If you decide to use wood, you should wrap metal sheeting around the posts this will also protect the house from animals.

Also if possible, place the house away from swift winds and direct sunlight.

Cleaning and Monitoring

Some birdhouses make it really difficult for anyone but birds to get inside. When building your birdhouse, make sure there is a large enough space for easy access. The best method is to make the top or side of the birdhouse hinged so you can easily gain access to the birdhouse for cleaning and monitoring.

By keeping the above points in mind, you are well on your way to building a great birdhouse that’s going to attract a variety of marvelous birds. If you have children, get them involved too; no doubt they too will enjoy making a house for the birds!