Seagrave Church Kids Fun Stuff

Hi Kids and adults alike welcome.

This project is to build a Basic Birdhouse. You will enjoy watching the birds grow up and leave the nest.

Do not ever use power tools, hammers or other dangerous items without an adults or your Mom / Dad helping and supervision.

We at Seagrave United Church believe in sharing all you do with a adult so you both can learn and have fun together so get your grandparents to help also.

Bird House Facts;

There's a lot to consider when building a birdhouse the size of the bird house has to match the size of bird and the nest to be inside. These are basic birdhouse its hole size and position of the hole will depend upon what size of bird you would like have nesting in it. For example you will need a deeper birdhouse from the opening to the floor bottom for a Robin then a chickadee. This is the stop predators from reaching the babies and not to deep that so the mother would be able to bend over and reach the babies for feeding. Most birds do not like to have a perch, it allows predators to stand on it and look in the nest. The following layout is for a Blue Jay bird but if you wanted to use it for a different type of bird all you have to do is change your hole size and location according to where the floor is. Here's how, a Blue Jay stands to his back about 2 inches high so make the floor 4 inches to 5 inches below the opening, a chickadee stands about 1 inch high so make the floor 2 inches below the opening. Different types of birds like their nest a certain distance from the ground too! Always leave a way to open the birdhouse to clean it out ever winter when the birds have left. I use screws on the top so I can open it for easy cleaning.

To see opening size and height off ground go to website for sizes and height off the ground.

Layout

1) Note the corners of the bottom section have the 4 corners cut out, at 1/4 inch openings, this is for drainage and ventilation.

2) The height of a front layout example 10 1/4 inches, is designed so it misses the roof by half an inch. That will leave ventilation at the top on hot days.

3) The measurement of 7 inches will vary depending upon thickness of your wood you are using. Plywood 1/2 inch, for pine 1 inch thick. The base is setup for 5 inches but if you want bigger birds you might have to make the bottom 6 inches or more.

4) This configuration shows the birdhouse being mounted on a post, it can be placed on a fence or on a tree. You can also add hanging hooks and hang it off a tree branch.

First you need gloves and safety glasses. You will need to get 2 inch finishing nails and some water proof glue, small chain or wire to hang the bird house, 2 eye hooks and sand paper. Glue all sides before you nail them. When you are finished making your bird house you can colour it with flowers (not front panel). After all the colours have dried, paint it with a clear water repellent paint. Important to follow safety instruction on paint cans and have fun.

With the leftover wood I had, I made flower gardens on each side of the birdhouse. If you do this do not forget to drill drainage holes in the bottom of the flower box (see below).

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