Ideas

There are some decorative bird houses that are made to be grouped together, which is great for birds that tend to nest in a flock. In this style, the bird houses can look like any object that comes in a cluster naturally. There are acorn bird houses, grape bird houses, and banana bird houses to name a few examples of this style of decorative bird house plans.

There are other decorative bird house plans that make the bird house look like a mini-version of a real house. Some are so detailed as to include a front porch or and archway for entry into the house. Others are a mini-replica of the home that the individual lives in personally. Each of these decorative bird house plans requires that the person have carpentry and design skills so that he can complete the intricate detail and painting work that is required to make this style of bird house.

There are other decorative bird house plans that utilize certain materials in the creation of the bird house. For instance, there are some bird houses that use a copper roofing material in the bird house. The copper makes the bird house unique and adds a decorative touch to it. There are others that are made to sit high upon a pole so that they are out of reach of predators but are still attractive to the birds. Sometimes these decorative bird house plans will have the bird house look like a castle that is perched on top of the pole, just like a real castle that is perched on the edge of a cliff. Some are made to look like an old style school house and others like a little church in the country. Whatever the style, these decorative bird houses add style and attract birds to the lawns in which they are hosted.

Other Planning

Once the yard has been prepared to be a great feeding area for the birds, then the individual will need to decide on the right bird house building plans for the types of birds that he wants to attract to his yard. There are different plans that are specialized for certain types of birds, such as bluebirds. Often, the same type of birdhouse will be used by many different species of birds, so the individual will usually want to build more than one bird house at a time so that there are more homes available to the different birds and other creatures in the area.

Once the bird house building plans have been chosen, the materials need to be bought. Often, the best wood to use in the bird house building plans is cedar, since it is a sturdy wood and also is a natural insect repellant. Sometimes, in addition to the building materials for the house itself, the individual will also have to buy a post or pole for the bird house to hang from or be attached to so that predators are not as easily able to get into the bird house and disturb the birds. Once the bird house building plan has been completed and the birds or other creatures have nested for a season, the bird house should be thoroughly cleaned out and readied for the next season. This means cleaning out all of the former nesting materials and cleaning the bird house with a ten percent bleach solution.

Taking Care of the House

Wooden bird houses can be created out of any type of wood; however, there are certain types that are better than others since they repel insects. Cedar is a good choice in wood for bird houses since it is a natural insect repellant, which is attractive to the birds. When choosing bird house building plans, it is important to choose a plan that will suit the particular type of bird the individual wants to attract to their yard. There are some wooden bird house plans that are suited to smaller birds and others for larger birds. There are also some plans that include placing the bird house on a pole or post so that other creatures cannot as easily get into the bird house and disturb the nesting mother and eggs.

Some birds are more particular about where the bird houses are placed, needing a nesting area that is large enough that they are not in competition with other birds of their species. In addition, when obtaining wooden bird house plans, individuals should plan on making more than one bird house at a time, since there are other creatures who like to use the bird houses as a home. In this way, one bird house might become a home to a squirrel or other creature while the other becomes the bird’s home. Another aspect of building a bird house is choosing the correct place to put it in the yard so that the nesting birds are near to the food they need and the materials for the nest. When a bird house is placed properly it is protected from the elements, such as the wind and rain, as well as being in an area that the birds enjoy in terms of food and environment.

Specialized Houses

There are some individuals that want to attract a particular type of bird to their yards and will look for specialized bird house plans, such as for the bluebird. These free bird house plans are specifically designed for the needs of this species of bird which needs the help on individuals to continue to survive. Since the bluebird uses the nests of other birds such as the woodpecker, with the development of urban and suburban communities, these birds are having a more difficult time in finding homes. As such, their population is declining. Individuals who want to help with this problem have been finding free bird house plans or have been buying premade bird houses so that these birds can come and nest in their yards.

The free bird house plans for bluebirds require that the house be mounted on a pole or post so that predators are less likely to be able to get the eggs or nesting mother. There are cats, snakes and raccoons that will climb trees to get into the nests, so having the bird house on a pole instead can help to deter these animals. The house should also be placed at least four feet above the ground to also deter larger predators from getting into the nest. Free bird house plans will also tell individuals how to make the front of the house hinged so that they can open it up without disturbing the nest to see the progress inside. They will also specify how large to make the opening to the bird house and how to make the drainage in the floor of the house to prevent molding or water buildup.

Features

Bluebird house plans usually specify that the home be placed on a post rather than in a tree to help to deter predators. If the bird house is in a tree, squirrels, cats, raccoons and snakes can easily access the bird house and scare away or eat the nesting birds and eggs. These bluebird house plans will also usually state where to place the bird house in order to attract the bluebirds to it. For instance, bluebirds feed on insects that they spot from a perch high up in a tree. Placing the bird house near a wooded area is a good nesting place since it gives the birds plenty of areas to hunt these insects. There should also be some lower vegetation nearby since that is also where these insects will hide, rather than in cut fields or lawns.

If the individual uses the bluebird house plans to build several different bird houses for the bluebirds, then he needs to be sure to space out the houses so that the birds do not have to fight over territory. Bluebirds are territorial birds and need about two to three acres to live in. Normally the bluebirds will not nest within about one hundred yards of another bluebird, so the bird houses need to be spaced at least this far apart. Sparrows are also a problem since they also like to nest in premade homes and will take over from a bluebird. In order to help with this, the bluebird house plans should include pairing the boxes about five to fifteen feet apart so that the sparrows can make their home in one box while the bluebird nests in the other.

Materials and Placement

The bird house plans will usually be designed for a particular species of bird since there are different requirements for every type. There is some overlap; however, so one type of bird house plans might work for several different species of small birds while another type of plan might work for several species of larger birds. The wood for the bird houses should be something that will naturally deter insects from getting into it, such as cedar. In this way, the birds will not be deterred from nesting there because of the insect pests.

The bird house plans will also often have instructions about placing the bird house on top of a pole or other mounted area so that predators are not as easily able to get into the bird house. Cats, raccoons and squirrels will often climb trees to be able to get into the bird house and grab some eggs for a treat. If the bird house is placed on a pole, it is less easy for these creatures to access the home and get the eggs or baby birds. In addition, the bird house plans will also say how high to mount the bird house so that other predators cannot get into it but it can still be accessed by the person to see the development in the nest.

There are some bird house plans that will allow individuals to open the front of the box to see the nestlings within and watch the entire process of nesting from beginning to end. Some of these have a front that opens on hinges and has a plastic clear interior so that the nest is not disturbed but allows individuals to see within.

Building a Home

There are some species of birds that require a bird house to be mounted on a pole so that pests and predators are less likely to be able to disturb the nest. The main predators that can disturb nesting birds are those that can climb into trees to get into the nest, such as cats, snakes, squirrels and raccoons. These creatures enjoy a tasty snack of the bird’s eggs or even the little nestlings, so it is important to plan the bird house in such a way so as to provide the best protection possible for the nesting mother and eggs.

The bird house should also be built to fit the size of the bird that will be nesting in it. For smaller birds, the entrance hole should be smaller, which helps the bird to stay safer from predators since it is more difficult for them to reach into the bird house for the eggs. In addition, there should be a drainage hole in the bottom of the bird house so that any water that happens to get into the house or any waste material can filter out through the bottom of the box rather than sitting and getting moldy.

It is also helpful to build the bird houses out of a wood that naturally deters insects from the house, such as cedar. In this way the home does not get overrun with these pests, thus deterring the birds from nesting in it. For those who like to be able to see the progress in the nest, there are houses that can be built with a front that opens on hinges so that the nest can be viewed without disturbing it.