How to Build a Bluebird Nesting House

Bluebirds begin their nesting in March and can lay four to five eggs in a nesting session, which will incubate for 14 days. Bluebirds may be attracted to your yard because of any berry bushes or trees you may have, a readily available water source such as a stream or pond and, of course, appropriate shelter according to their needs. Bluebirds are cavity-nesters and desire a nesting box that will have only one entrance and be fairly cave-like. Make bluebirds a part of your yard friends by putting up a bluebird nesting box.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 planks of wood, 5-feet long
  • Screw gun and screws, or hammer and nails
  • Nail latch
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Instructions

    • 1
      Your bluebird entrance hole should be around 1.5 inches.

      Use clean, solid wood that is 5 to 9 inches wide. Take an electric or wood-cutting saw to the board and cut three 12-by-5.5-inch boards for the sides, one 5-by-11-inch board for the front, one 4-by-4.5-inch board for the bottom, and one 8-by-7.25-inch board for the slanted top. The 5-by-11-inch board should have a 1.5-inch diameter circle sawed out for the entrance.

    • 2

      Before assembling, take one of the 12-by-5.5-inch boards and nail it flat to an 18-by-10-inch board. This will allow you to nail the birdhouse to a tree when it is completed.

    • 3

      Nail another 12-by-5.5-inch board perpendicular to the edge of the piece you attached in Step 2. Repeat this process by nailing the third 12-by-5.5-inch board to the free side of the board that is lying flat. You should now have a box shape that is missing the front, bottom and top.

    • 4

      Nail the 4-by-4.5-inch board to the bottom of the side boards to create the floor. There will be a small gap in the floor for ventilation. Do not cover this.

    • 5
      Nail latches can be purchased at hardware stores or easily made.

      Nail the 5-by-11-inch board to the remaining (front) side. This board is slightly smaller than the rest of the sides. Make sure that your board is aligned evenly with the bottom of the house, not the top. Attach a nail latch at the bottom to secure it in place. Nail latches can be made by hammering a nail through a long piece of wood (as pictured) so that the wood is able to swivel and lock the door in place.

      It is important that you only use two nails to secure the door, one on each side of the top of the board. You should be able to place your index finger inside the bird-hole and your thumb on the wood underneath it and push the flap down and towards you. The flap should open like a swing-door. This will make it possible to clean out the nesting-house.

    • 6

      Align your 8-by-7.25-inch board on top of the birdhouse with the back of the birdhouse so that it sits evenly. Attach it to the back board.

    • 7

      Nail your bluebird nesting house to a tree at least 5 feet off the ground.