How to Build a Cool Bird House
With a little creative thinking and a look at what material you have in your own home or yard, you can build a cool birdhouse. Be sure to follow directions to make a weatherproof, safe and durable home for your new bird tenants.
- Decide what material you will use. Wood is the best to use. Metals other than aluminum should be avoided because they will get too hot. Be creative and recycle things to make a cool birdhouse. How about an old cowboy boot? Add a hollow level in a window planter and create an entrance hole and ventilation holes for a birdhouse and garden in one. Search the yard for cool looking sticks and logs for a rustic birdhouse.
- Be sure to give the roof enough of a slant to allow the water to properly run off. There should also be enough overhang covering the entrance to keep it somewhat dry. Since some water will inevitably seep in, small drainage holes should be drilled into the bottom.
- Use screws to build the house. This way the house can easily be disassembled and cleaned. On the other hand, you can attach a hinged roof, similar to that on bird feeders.
- Ventilate the roof and sides of the birdhouse with small holes for airflow in summer heat.
- Cut the entrance hole near the top of the birdhouse. The interior walls should be rough leading up to the entrance so young birds can scale them.