- 1). Cut out a front and back panel for the birdhouse measuring 6-by-6 inches from one-quarter-inch plywood. Cut out two more panels for the sides of the birdhouse measuring 6-by-9 inches, a base panel measuring 6-by-8.5 inches and a roof panel measuring 8-by-9 inches.
- 2). Cut a 1.5-inch-diameter circle in the middle of one of the 6-by-6 panels for the birdhouse entrance.
- 3). Form the side and front and back panels into a box. The ends of the side panels should form the corners on the inside edge of the front and back panels.
- 4). Glue the joints of the box and leave it to dry bond in a band clamp. Drying time should be between two and four hours, depending on glue brand.
- 5). Drive finishing nails every inch through the glued joints to secure the box together then remove the band clamp.
- 6). Place the base panel over one open side of the box and secure it with finishing nails around the perimeter. Drill four one-sixteenth-inch holes in each corner of the base for drainage.
- 7). Invert the box so that the remaining open side is up. Center the roof panel over the top of the box so that there is a 1-inch-lip over each side, and the ends are flush with the front and back of the box.
- 8). Secure the roof panel to the box with hinges on the end opposite the entrance hole, using screws to attach the hinges. This allows the birdhouse to be opened and easily cleaned in winter.
- 9). Drill one-sixteenth-inch ventilation holes around one-half-inch down from the roof along the side panels. Screw in a screw hook into each corner of the birdhouse for hanging.
- 10
Finish the birdhouse with a resin or natural oil-based varnish. Leave it to dry and allow the fumes to diminish for at least a week before you hang the birdhouse.
Source...