Bluebird houses?

[Realtree]

Are there any special dimensions or provisions that should be included when making a Bluebird house? My son and I want to make a couple of houses for around our place. Something for Bluebirds and Cardinals mainly. Anyone have any ideas

[Mayfly]

Here are a couple links that may help.

I do know that you are not supposed to put a perch at the hole. It will only invite predators. I also know that they LOVE mealworms. Once you get them in your yard that is a great way to really keep them and if you feed them at the same time everyday they will pattern you and be waiting for you.

Plans for a house:

http://www.bygpub.com/bluebird/

General House info:

http://birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse/

[Grute Man]

Is cedar good for bird houses?  I have some left over from remodeling my front porch and this would be a good use for all the little stubs. 

[JohnWester]

yes, it's a good wood for bird houses, or for any application for that matter when it will be exposed to the elements.  My dad has probably a hundred bluebird houses up on his land and he uses cedar wood.

[Realtree]

Here are a couple links that may help.

I do know that you are not supposed to put a perch at the hole. It will only invite predators. I also know that they LOVE mealworms. Once you get them in your yard that is a great way to really keep them and if you feed them at the same time everyday they will pattern you and be waiting for you.

Plans for a house:

http://www.bygpub.com/bluebird/

General House info:

http://birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse/

Thanks Fly!

[Grute Man]

Thanks guys. This will be a fun break from working on that porch.  Momma Grute will hear the saw buzzin and think Im just sooo busy when really havin fun.  I'll post some pics once we make one -- or a few.

Grute Man

[JohnWester]

another thing... if you want blue birds, place a lot of them and even put two on the same post.  that will allow for the 90% swallow nesters and then you'll get a few bluebirds too.

[Grute Man]

Good tip.  I got so many scraps and left overs, I might just make a little appartment complex for em.   ::cheers::

[Realtree]

Thanks for the great tips guys. My son and I will be out in the garage this weekend working on a few of these...lots of scraps and cutoffs to use around my garage also. 

[Grute Man]

OK here's my first one.  The inside demensions came out different than planned so I had to re-cut the floor and door.  I used 1X6 cedar so I don't know why that happened.  Anyway here it is:

[iceman]

nice house but i'd be paint the top white just so it does not get so hot inside..
you can also make them out of pine if you want to keep the cost down..

[Realtree]

Nice looking house GruteMan!  ::rockon::

[rchaze60]

nice gruteman ........ now lets hope someone moves in  :ROTFLMAO: :ROTFLMAO:

[JohnWester]

grute, one important thing is to make it easy access to clean it out.  My dad hinges one side  by putting screws in the to pand just drilling a hole in the bottom where he inserts a peg that can easily be pulled so the house can be cleaned from season to season.

[Mayfly]

grute, one important thing is to make it easy access to clean it out.  My dad hinges one side  by putting screws in the to pand just drilling a hole in the bottom where he inserts a peg that can easily be pulled so the house can be cleaned from season to season.

Very important.

[Grute Man]

I nailed the front/door with 2 nails at the top so it can swing up.  I was trying to think of a good way to hold the bottom in place.  Why cant a guy think of simple stuff like a peg??     ::hittingself::
Well that will be done before you guys read this.  Thanks fer the tips and complements.

Grute Man

[holdemtwice]

 i have a lot of white and red oak.  i may have to make a few myself !! 

[Grute Man]

That would look great.  The cedar is nice for the kids because its so soft and they can get a nail in it.  We're gonna make a few more for my Father-in-Law for Father's Day.  We'll rough up the edges and make em look real old.  He likes that old rustic stuff.

HT, post some pics when you and the little HTs get em put together.