How to Make a Birdhouse

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The homemade birdhouse is a DIY classic. And with good reason: It’s usually the first woodworking project for many; often how youngsters are introduced to working with tools. It’s a quick, simple project that’s inexpensive to build and easy to maintain, and it has the rewarding benefit of providing a home for the fine feathered friends hanging out in your backyard.

So if you’re thinking birdhouses are kid’s stuff, think again—bust out the saw, pick up some lumber (or make use of scraps you currently have) and dedicate an afternoon to whip up one. Or ten!

Step 1: MATERIALS AND TOOLS

For this build I've decided to use scrap pallet wood and a license plate as a roof.

Forstner bit or hole saw
Decking or galvanized screws
Hand saw
Drill and Driver
Pocket hole jig

Step 2: Connect Boards Together

Use pocket hole jig to connect boards together. Be aware where you going to cut the boards later

Step 3: Make the Roof

For the roof I've used an old licence plate I found on the street. Just mark the centre and bend it at 90 degrees.

Step 4: Cutting the Front and the Back Panels of the Birdhouse

I've used the roof as a template to mark the face panel shape. Than I cut it with a hand saw. The second panel should be the same as the first one. I've added some extra screws for reinforcement.

Step 5: Side Panels

I marked the angle on the side panels and cut it with the hand saw.

Step 6: Assembling.

I assembled everything with drywall screws. I recommend to pre-drill the holes firs, then to drive the screws, it will prevent the wood from splitting.

Step 7: Bird Hole

Using the hole saw I made a hole in the front panel for the bird to enter the house. For the peg I'm using a rifle cartridge, I think it looks cool, but you can use a dowel or a twig.

Step 8: Attach the Roof

The last step in our build is the roof.

Step 9: And Here It Is a Rustic Birdhouse Made Out of Pallet Wood and a License Plate

Comments

[RushFan]

Love the rifle cartridge, whether or not its really needed, it looks pisser. The jury is still out on the whole 'too cold' thing...

[Dennis43]

That's a cool and well made birdie condo, I have only one criticism, the front door step. The metal cartridge could, in a spring cold snap, be at a freezing temp and the little birdie feets could might stick to it, ouch.

[PlaidPete]

Love the Instructable, but you misspelled birdhouse in the title

[inspiretomake]

Thanks! Fixed! =)

[Alaskan Bev]

I have had my students and Boy Scouts make countless bird houses. We often paint them decoratively to look like outhouses, coffee kiosks, pizza places, etc. I give them a couple layers of Varethane myself after school. One thing I've heard is that people sometimes find dead birds inside of them if people forget to extend the perch into the interior, thinking that the birds need a place to perch when they are ready to leave. Does anyone have any further information on this?

Nice Instructable; thanks!

[cantymj]

Love it. Now I know what to do with all the license plates my father-in-law left behind.

[healeyc0]

good idea but the birds will cook with that metal roof, and there are no air vents in either the top or bottom they need 1/4 in. Vents 8 at the bottom 1/4 in.x 2in. Slots along the side roofline for circulation.

[zer0vector]

Hey, this is a cool design for a good looking decorative birdhouse.

However, just two things if you want to make a usable birdhouse for actual bird use. First, take off the perch outside the opening. The birds don't need it and squirrels and other predators can use it to enter the house. Second, the size of the hole is somewhat important and dependent on the type of bird you want to use the house (and important in keeping out pests like starlings). You can usually find the preferred hole size in a quick google search.

[Modern Rustic Workshop]

I love the rustic appeal this has! The bullet and the license plate are awesome as well!