How to Build a Decorative Bird House

Along with millions of other people across the United States, I’m an avid bird watcher. I put out bird feeders and seed in the winter months when their natural food supply is lower than normal. I love birds so much, in fact, that I decided to build a decorative bird house- with bird included- to hang on my deck. You can hang this bird house on a porch, or on a tree branch in your yard as well.

To build your own version of this attractive decoration, all you need is some wood, small nails, paint, stencils, stickers, or miniature flowers and leaves. You can also add a feathered friend to your birdhouse like I did. I wanted it to look as real as possible.

You can use a light wood such as balsa or thin pine. Both of these materials are available at your local hobby store. You’ll need eight pieces for this birdhouse. They are:

Roof
3 Pieces Total
2 Pieces that measure 3-3/4 X 5-3/4 inches
1 Piece that measures 1 inch wide X 5-3/4 inches

Back
1 Piece that measures 3 X 3 X 1-1/4 inches

Front
1 Piece that measures 3 X 3 X 1-1/4 inches

The front piece also has a hole in it that measures 1 inch in diameter. The hole should be drilled about a 1/2 inch below the roof.

Sides
2 Pieces that measure 1-3/4 X 4-1/2 inches

Bottom
1 Piece 5-3/8 X 2 inches

After you have your materials together, and your wood pieces are cut, it’s time to begin the construction.

First, use the front piece. The top of the front measures 1-1/4 inches across its bottom. (The back piece sits the same way.) Place the two largest roof pieces over the front so the roof extends about a half of an inch over the front. The balsa or pine wood roof pieces will also extend over the back the same distance. Use a tack hammer and a few of the small nails (brads work well) to secure the roof onto the front. Then, repeat the process with the back.

Then, place the thinnest roof piece (that measures 1 inch wide X 5-3/4 inches) over the middle of the two roof pieces you have already nailed on. Line the middle piece up so it’s centered. Use a couple small nails to fasten it to the roof.

Now that the roof is complete, the second step is to place the two side pieces on the front and back pieces. Leave a small gap between the top of each side and the roof. Nail each side on securely.

The third step is to use the bottom piece of balsa wood or pine. Line it up along the bottom of the structure so the end is even with the back piece. The front will stick out to form a ledge. Nail the bottom piece into place as well.

And, finally, I screwed a eye hook into the middle of the far top piece. This gave me a convenient place to attach a hanger to my bird house.

Note: You can refer to the picture if you’re not sure what piece goes where.

I chose to paint my decorative bird house a light yellow color. Before I painted it, though, I carefully used a fine sandpaper to smooth down the rough edges. You’ll have to be careful with the sandpaper so you don’t crack the wood.

Once the paint thoroughly dried, I used a glue gun to attach the flowers on the sides. I also stood a bird on the ledge and glued it into place also.
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