Birdhouses are a great way to give birds a safe place to lay their eggs and rear their young.You can keep an eye on the parent birds as they feed the young if you have a well-located birdhouse.To keep the birds safe, place the birdhouse at an angle you can easily see and to keep it safe from predators.Purchase a birdhouse from a local hardware store and make your own.
Step 1: The birdhouse should be mounted on a metal pole.
A predator won't be able to climb up a pole and eat the eggs from the birdhouse.To keep the birds safe, situating the birdhouse at the top of the metal pole is a good idea.The birdhouse can be mounted on a pole.You have complete control over the birdhouse's location because you can drive the pole wherever you want.If you want to keep animals out of the box, you should put small metal or plastic cones around the pole.
Step 2: If the birdhouse is near your home, place it on a brick surface.
If you have brick siding on your home or an old brick wall nearby, hang the birdhouse on the surface.It is difficult for predators to climb up the brick since it is resistant to their claws.Birds will be safe in a house mounted on brick if the wall is less than 1–1 feet.It is possible to drive nails into brick without causing structural harm.
Step 3: Hang the birdhouse on the siding.
If you prefer to keep things simple, hang the birdhouse on a section of smooth siding on your home or a shed.Birds and their eggs will be safe because predatory animals like weasels won't be able to scamper up the siding.It may be difficult to see the birds if the birdhouse is hung on a wall with no windows nearby.
Step 4: There is a small entrance hole on the fence post.
Unless they are very smooth, fence posts are easy to climb up.You can fix the problem by hanging birdhouses with an entrance hole less than 2 inches in diameter on fence posts.It will be difficult for the smallest predator to slip through this small hole.Larger birds will not build a nest in the birdhouse if the hole is large.Smaller birds like nuthatches and chickadees will fit in the hole.If you live in a rural area with many fences, this may be a good option.
Step 5: If you have no other options, sit the birdhouse on the tree.
If other options are available, hang a birdhouse on a tree instead of driving nails or screws into it.Use as few screws as possible to hang the birdhouse.If you decide to take down the birdhouse, remember to dispose of the screws if you find a tree with a diameter greater than 10 cm.While hanging a birdhouse on a tree will damage the tree, it will still provide a safer location for birds to nest.
Step 6: The birdhouse should be hung between 5–12 ft above the ground.
Many species of bird won't want to live in a birdhouse that is too high and vulnerable to predators.You can watch the birds without straining your neck by mounting the house high enough to attract a number of bird species.Smaller birds prefer a lower nest.If you want to have wrens, chickadees, or nuthatches nest in your birdhouse, hang the house at exactly 5 feet.
Step 7: Make your birdhouse face east to keep it warm.
It's best to have your birdhouse face east in almost all climates.If you don't know where to go, use a compass.South-facing birdhouses will receive more sunlight than houses that face north, so facing the birdhouse to the south is the second-best option.An east-facing birdhouse will warm the birds after a cold night.The closed back of the birdhouse will be hit by the hot sun in the afternoon.
Step 8: The birdhouse faces a food source for the birds.
When the young emerge from the nest, they will need to find food.The birdhouse should be pointed towards an open area where the young birds can find food.Potential food sources should be less than 12 m from the birdhouse.
Step 9: The birdhouse is near bird feeders and baths.
Birds make a great source of food when they congregate in bird feeders and bird baths.Do not hang a birdhouse near feeders or bird baths if you want to protect the bird eggs.birdhouses should be hung at least 10 metres away from feeders or baths.It is possible to have a birdfeeder, bath, and birdhouse if you know where to look.You can put the birdhouse on a tree in the backyard or on your front porch.
Step 10: Multiple birdhouses should be placed by at least 15 ft.
Some bird species will not use a birdhouse if it is too close to another nest.If you want to avoid this problem, hang multiple birdhouses about 15 feet away from each other.Hang the houses on different types of surfaces to achieve this.You can hang 1 on a pole in your front yard, 2 on opposite sides of your home, and a final one in the backyard.
Step 11: Mark 2 is at the center of the birdhouse.
The back wall of most birdhouses is 2–3 inches above and below the birdhouse.You can mount the house by driving screws through this and into the surface.Measure the width of the back wall using a ruler.If the back wall is 6 inches across, mark a small X on the top of the extended back.You can mark another X on the bottom of the extended back by repeating the process.
Step 12: The birdhouse should be positioned against the surface where you want to hang it.
Hold the birdhouse against the wooden siding, brick wall, or other surface you want to hang it on.To make sure there aren't metal bits or stones that could damage your screws, look behind the "X" markings.If the tree is sturdy and not rotten, you can hang the birdhouse on it using large screws.
Step 13: The tips of the screws need to be screwed into the marks.
The tip of the screw should be at the pencil markings.Use a hammer to set the point in place.Then, use a head screwdriver to bury the tip in the wood.Since it is difficult to hold the birdhouse with one hand and set the screws in place with the other, ask a friend or family member to help you.
Step 14: Use a power drill to drive the screws.
To tighten the screws, place the head of the attachment in the slot.Hold the drill level and drive the screws into the backing.The birdhouse should be firmly in place if the screw heads are flushed with the wood of the backing.The screws will hold the birdhouse in place if you want to take it down or clean it.
Step 15: Purchase a birdhouse and a pole.
It is best to buy this type of birdhouse.The threaded hole in the bottom of the house should be large enough to hold a pole.If you want to drive deep into the soil of your yard, you should purchase a pole that is at least 5 feet tall.These items can be found at a large hardware store, a home improvement store or a bird-supply shop.There is a large metal screw that comes out of the bottom of a pole.Augers are usually 18– 24 inches (46–61 cm) long.If you can't find a pole with an auger already attached, purchase the auger separately and insert the base of the pole into the top.
Step 16: To drive the pole, twist it clockwise.
You can see a location in your front or back yard from 1 or more windows.Put the point in the ground.To drive it into the ground, twist the pole clockwise.If the pole has 3 or 4 legs that are stable once it is in the ground, you can hold on to them.If you have a metal pole that's not attached to an auger, you can just drive it into the ground.It will be more wobbly than if you had used an anvil.
Step 17: The birdhouse needs to be screwed onto the pole.
Once the pole is firmly in place, it is time to put the birdhouse on top.Line the hole on the bottom of the house with the pole.Make sure the house is stable, and then turn the birdhouse clockwise until it is on top of the pole.If you want to change the direction the birdhouse is facing, you should be able to turn the pole clockwise or counterclockwise.If you want to clean the birdhouse, you need to turn it counterclockwise and loosen the threads.