Birdhouses are great as an easy woodwork project, plus they look nice in your garden and the local wildlife will be grateful too!

This project uses minimal tools so is simple to make. The trick with birdhouses is ensuring it’s built to the right size and dimensions for the birds you’re looking to attract, and yet built safe from predators. This can be done by ensuring it’s strong and secure, with a hole small enough for birds only. 

Tools

Hardware

Cutting List

Pencil

Measuring Tape

Handsaw

Hammer

Clamp

Sandpaper

Wood glue

Wood treatment

Annual ring nails

Countersunk woodscrew

Picture hanger

25mm Holesaw

2 pieces of 220x120mm plywood

2 pieces of 110x110mm plywood

120x110mm plywood

2 pieces of 160x120mm plywood

 

Additional wood off cuts for any decorative pieces

 

  1. The 220x120mm pieces are for the front and back of the house, and should have a pitch in the centre. Start by marking a central line through the 120mm side, then mark up 110mm along the 220mm length. Draw a line from the 110mm marking to the centre point. This gives the angle of the pitch. Cut with a handsaw.

  2. On one piece, mark a good location for a small hole for the birds to enter. Using a holesaw drill a circle, approx. 25mm diameter will fit small tits and 28-30mm for bigger birds.

  3. The roof pieces are 160x120mm each. They need to sit flush together at an angle, so you’ll need a sanding plane to create the angle on each 120mm edge. Place in a workmate or use the g-clamp to hold secure and plane until the side has an angle. Repeat with the other piece until they sit together neatly.

  4. At this point you can add any decoration to the piece, such as fake windows, a chimney etc. Use the additional wood off cuts for this.

  5. Begin placing the pieces together using wood glue, then secure using the nails

  6. Sand edges down to make it neat with no rough or sharp bits

  7. Finish with a stain or treatment to make it weatherproof or a garden paint that is safe for wildlife

  8. The hardware needed to hang the birdhouse depends on it’s final location. A simple solution could be a picture hanger secured into the back of the house, then hung on a zinc-plated countersunk screw that is corrosion resistant.