10 Easy DIY Birdhouse Plans to Enhance Your Backyard Sanctuary
Birdhouses offer a world of benefits, not just for our feathered friends but for you as well! Unfortunately, pre-made birdhouses can get expensive. DIY Birdhouse Plans make it easy for beginners to create a cozy and safe space for birds, leading to a lively and rewarding experience as you watch them blossom in their new home. Here’s the list of the 10 best DIY birdhouse plans of all time that would help you create one easily and confidently. So, let’s check them out and make a cozy heaven for these beautiful creatures.
DIY Birdhouse Plans
Our collection of DIY birdhouse plans is great for all your needs; whether you want to build a home for one bird or a large bird family. These birdhouse designs give birds a place to live, have bird feeders, and make your garden look better. They’re easy to make with clear guides and steps. We also have a unique plan with a grass roof to cool off in the summer. These DIY shelter ideas are safe, have good airflow, are water-resistant, and provide a warm, comfy home for birds.
What size hole for a birdhouse?
The best hole dimension for a birdhouse is commonly 1 1/8 inches in diameter. However, some birds may accommodate a hole as small as one inch. Avoiding overly small holes to prevent harm to the birds is critical. Hole sizes imitate birds’ natural nesting habits, ranging from one to three inches.
What is the best material to build a birdhouse?
Wood is ideal for birdhouses, providing superior insulation compared to metal or plastic. Inadequate insulation can cause eggs or hatchlings to become too cold or overheat, depending on the weather. Use materials such as rough-cut wood slabs, tree sections, or 3/4-inch plywood to construct a bird-friendly home.
Bluebird Chalet Cottage Birdhouse Plans
Bluebirds are naturally lovely and loved by everyone, including bird watchers, ordinary people, and kids. Here’s an easy and fun DIY project. It’s great for making your garden look nicer while providing a warm home for birds that nest in cavities, like bluebirds, chickadees, and wrens.
Start by making a cardboard template with an asymmetrical peaked roofline. Draw roofline on boards, cut carefully along layout lines, and sand edges. Drill an entrance hole on the front board. Begin assembly by attaching the front to one side, leaving a small gap for air circulation at the top. Connect the back section similarly. Attach the opposite side with two screws to form a pivot point for cleaning access. The test fit the floor, but it hasn’t been attached yet. Cut off corners of the floor for drainage, then secure it to the birdhouse. Secure the pivoting side, and you are done!
Materials:
- Front: 9-1/2″ long x 5-1/2″ wide
- Back: 9-1/2″ long x 5-1/2″ wide
- Long Side: 8″ long x 4″ wide
- Short Side: 3-1/4″ long x 4″ wide
- Roof A: 9″ long x 6-1/4″ wide
- Roof B: 4″ long x 6-1/4″ wide
- Floor: 4″ x 4″
Simple DIY Birdhouse Plan
Want a birdhouse that accommodates multiple feathered families at once? Make this DIY birdhouse that can pay homage to three families at a time and is aesthetically appealing with the painting and leather finish. The guide gives three different sizes for this DIY project, allowing you to choose the one that suits your preference.
Begin by creating the entrance holes for three birdhouse boxes. Assemble each box, ensuring one side pivots for cleaning access. Two boxes should be placed back-to-back, while the third (smaller) one is fixed separately. Temporarily fix floors and align the birdhouses on your base. Secure each birdhouse to the base, ensuring each is still removable. Fit the third unit (shed) between the larger two. Finally, prepare and attach roof sections for an overhang on every side.
Materials:
- Front = 15″ H x 6-1/2″ W
- Back = 15″ H x 6-1/2″ W
- Sides (2) = 11-1/4″ H x 4-1/2″ W
- Roof A = 7-1/2″ L x 6-3/4″ W
- Roof B = 7-1/2″ L x 6″ W
- Floor = 5″ L x 4-1/2″ W
Flower Pot Bird House
This DIY project transforms a standard, almond-colored flower planter into a unique bird retreat. This pot isn’t just for birds, though the top is a viable space to nurture plants, making it a standout feature in any porch or backyard.
Make this DIY project by creating a square base from scrap wood that forms the birdhouse. Adorn with moldings at the top and bottom for a customized look. Drill a hole for the bird entrance, and add a small tray for bird seed. After crafting the birdhouse, sprayed it with exterior paint for long-lasting wear. Next, paint a flower planter white to match your birdhouse. Now, attach the birdhouse to the plantar. You’ve now completed a unique and dual-purpose decoration for your home.
Materials:
- A flower planter
- Plastic moldings
- Potting soil
- White silicon
- Bird seed
- Flowers
- Scrap wood
- Exterior paint and white spray paint
Nesting Shelf DIY Birdhouse
The Nesting Shelf DIY Birdhouse is great for birds who like open areas instead of closed houses. This birdhouse uses an old bucket and turns it into a snug nesting place. A removable wire top adds a nice look and gives birds a spot to rest. So, create a safe home for birds in your backyard with this project.
Kick off the making by painting the exterior of your bucket with a desired color, leaving the interior unpainted for bird safety. Drill a hole in the bucket center to prepare for hanging. Accessorize your nesting shelf by adding a hat or flower adornments, using wire for attachment. Choose a location for birds such as Carolina wrens, cardinals, or robins. Consider their nesting habits and preferred heights while hanging the nesting shelf. Your DIY bird nesting shelf is now complete!
Materials:
- Old bucket
- Hammer and nails
- Screwdriver and wood screw
- Wire
- Needle-nose pliers
- Spray paint
How to Make A Natural Clay Birdhouse
This DIY birdhouse is influenced by nature and adds a special, simple charm to any garden. It’s made with polymer clay and uses a grapevine sphere for structure, creating an earthy look that fits nicely with its surroundings. This birdhouse isn’t just nice to look at but is also useful; it has some small holes at the bottom to prevent water from collecting inside.
Initiate by kneading the clay to soften and apply it around a grapevine sphere, preserving an opening for a birdhouse entrance. Smooth the clay, allowing small cracks for a rustic look. Poke holes at the top and bottom for hanging and drainage, respectively. Bake as per package instructions. After cooling, paint as desired and thread twine through the top holes with the help of a wire to hang it. Place the birdhouse on a tree branch, inviting feathered friends to your crafted habitat.
Materials:
- Polymer Clay – Sculpey original
- Grapevine sphere
- Outdoor paints
- Twine
- Wire
- Aluminum foil
Green Roof DIY Birdhouse
This birdhouse incorporates the green roof concept, which helps keep the birds inside cooler during hot summer months. The birdhouse can be brought indoors in colder seasons and replanted in the spring, providing a cozy and beautiful home for your feathered friends.
Making this DIY project is quite easy. Start by cutting the wood into respective panels for the birdhouse structure. Drill an entrance hole on one panel, then assemble the front, back, and side panels, all flush on the bottom. Insert the bottom panel inside and attach it securely. Place the roof panels, secure and flash to prevent leaks, then attach gables to create a soil box. Attach a brace for hanging, then add a cleat at the bottom back for balance. If required, add drainage holes in the roof overhang for in-house dryness.
Materials:
- 7/8-inch-thick wood
- Exterior wood glue
- Two 1-1/2-inch wood screws
- 38 1-1/2-inch nails
- 2 x 7-1/4-inch-long piece of flashing
- Six 1/2-inch copper flashing nails
- 3-inch metal brace with screws
- Clear silicone
- 1/8-inch drill bit
- 1-3/8-inch or 1-1/2-inch hole saw
- Saw, Hammer, Clamp, Drill, Ruler, Pencil
Clay Pot DIY Birdhouse
Bring the beautiful chirping voice to your backyard by hanging this Clay Pot DIY Birdhouse on the tree. It provides your feather friends with a safe and secure house and adds a lot of beauty with the sunflower painting. It is also perfect for hanging on the balcony or indoors.
You will make this DIY project by drilling and enlarging an entrance hole in the flowerpot. Once it’s large enough for a quarter to pass through, trace the open end of the pot onto plywood to create the house’s floor. Cut and drill the base, then set the flowerpot on top. Insert an eyebolt through the pot’s drainage hole and the plywood, then secure. Hang your DIY birdhouse from a sturdy support, 5 to 10 feet above the ground.
Materials:
- 8-inch clay flowerpot
- 10-inch x 10-inch piece of plywood at least 1/4 inch thick
- One 8-inch eyebolt and nut
- Two fender washers
- Hook or chain for hanging birdhouse
- Rat-tail file
- Power drill
- Half-round file
- Saber saw
DIY Best Birdhouse
This DIY birdhouse project is easy to make and a fantastic way to welcome your feathered friends to your yard. The unique design features a removable PVC pipe for easy cleaning, ensuring a clean and comfortable home for the birds. It is perfect for kids to build with adult supervision.
You won’t believe how easy it was to make this project. Start by cutting boards to specified sizes and drill holes in the squares as per the given pattern. Sand the edges and nail the squares flush with the edge of the larger roof piece. Then, overlap the other roof piece and nail it to the top sides of the squares. Fix the pipe under the roof by pushing the dowel through the bottom holes. Lastly, screw eye hooks into the roof on each side, then attach the chain, and your birdhouse is ready to hang.
Materials:
- 1 – 3/8 inch dowel rod 8 inches long
- 1 – 4” diameter perforated PVC pipe cut 5 inches long
- 2 – #212 eye hooks
- 1 – 1 X 6 pieces of pine cut into 2- 5 1/2 inch X 5 1/2 inch squares
- 12 inches wide or small chain for hanging
- 1 – 3/16“ Fir plywood cut into 1- 6” X 8 inch and 1 – 5 13/16” X 8-inch rectangles
- Small nails or brads 1” long for assembly
DIY Birdhouse with a Pretty Penny Roof
If you have a huge collection of pennies, here’s a fantastic way to use them. It uses them to add an attractive coppery sheen to the bird’s house by adding on the roof. You can go with the floating house if you have a pond or make one to hang on the tree.
Begin with making a simple birdhouse structure. Paint the birdhouse and let it dry. Once dry, distress the paint with sandpaper to give it a weathered look. Stain it unevenly for a natural, aged effect. Start gluing pennies from the bottom of the birdhouse’s roof, working your way up to create a cascading, shingle effect. Place each new row of pennies to slightly overlap and cover the tops of the pennies on the row below. Let it dry properly and carefully place it outdoors, sheltered from harsh weather.
Materials:
- Wooden Brid House
- Wood Glue
- Pennies
- Paint
- Sandpaper
Decorative Birdhouse Using Scrapbook Paper
This cute birdhouse changes a regular one from the store into a lovely home decoration. The key detail is the decorative flowers from old book pages, giving it an old-fashioned charm. Because it’s light and ornamental, it’s meant for indoor use. It also makes a warm gift or a nice piece for a cozy home.
Create a decorative birdhouse, carefully trace the birdhouse’s angles onto your chosen paper, and cut the shapes. Remove the bird perch and use Mod Podge to adhere the papers; don’t forget to reattach the perch before the glue dries. After drying, create your paper flowers and attach a small one to the front. Add an embellishment, such as a button, to the bird perch for extra charm. This easy-to-follow project takes around 30 minutes to complete.
Materials:
- A lightweight birdhouse
- Scrapbook paper
- Mod Podge
- Antique book
