You're welcome! I do speak from experience. And I am involved with the local Audubon and other wild bird groups. It's great you're going into this knowing that birdhouses should be cleaned regularly.Thanks for all that great feedback. I won't pretend to be an expert on bird houses, having only watched a number of videos on YouTube for the past few evenings, so I really appreciate your comments and feedback.
As to ventilation, I did not think a bird house would need any. I have not seen this mentioned in any of the videos I watched. Assuming you are correct, I think the best plan for me would be to leave a small gap under the roof on the sides. Eaiser than going back later and drilling in holes.
Again, something I had not seen mentioned in any videos I watched. I think the better option for me would be to cut off a bit off the corners of the bottom piece before assembling the bird house.
I have never seen those metal hole protector plates. I'll have to look that up. In any case, if I can make it out of wood, can I simply take a pallet wood cut-off piece, drill a hole in it the same size as the hole in the bird house, and tack it on to the front of the bird house?
That would be easy with any leftover piece of scrap wood. I found it interesting that most bird house designs did not even have an option to remove a panel to clean out the bird house - ever. That did not make any sense to me. And here you suggest adding an additional loose false bottom for easier clean out! Sounds like you are speaking from experience. Thanks.
OK, that idea of adding a perch is definitely out. Thanks.
Again, thanks for all the feedback and suggestions. It is much easier to incorporate those ideas into the design before I put everything together than having to "fix" stuff after the build.
Yes, that is the way to do it. I use 3/4" pieces. The thicker the wood the longer it will take for it to be destroyed by chewers. Also study hole size for the particular species you are trying to attract. If the hole is too big you might attract nuisance/invasive species and that is not what you want. House Sparrows and starlings kill native species to take their nests.I have never seen those metal hole protector plates. I'll have to look that up. In any case, if I can make it out of wood, can I simply take a pallet wood cut-off piece, drill a hole in it the same size as the hole in the bird house, and tack it on to the front of the bird house?
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