How to Make a DIY Birdhouse

A classic plywood birdhouse is pretty difficult to make at home without special tools. But there are many alternative solutions that you can make from an old basket, a sugar bowl, a flower pot, or even a simple tin can.

5-Minute Crafts will tell you how to make a birdhouse and a feeder out of materials and objects that you have on hand. Even a child can do it.

An old basket or a woven pot

You will need:

• an old basket or a woven pot

• skewers

• a chain with hooks or a rope (to hang the birdhouse on a tree).

What to do: Insert the skewers along the upper edge of the basket, between the rods, as shown in the photo above. The skewers need to be crisscrossed to cover the top of the basket. In a certain spot, slightly push the skewers apart to form the entrance to the house.

Wash the house under running water for 10 to 20 seconds and let it dry. It will help the skewers to keep their shape and to not break. Now, hang the basket on a tree with the help of a chain or a rope.

A plastic bottle

You will need:

• a big plastic bottle

• glue

• jute rope

• scissors or an X-Acto knife

What to do: Make a window in the plastic bottle with the scissors or the X-Acto knife. Apply glue outside the bottle and glue the rope to it. When the glue dries, remove the rope that covers the window you just made.

If you’d like, you can decorate the bottle with natural materials, burlap, sticks, etc.

An old sugar bowl

You will need:

• an old sugar bowl with 2 handles

• jute rope

What to do: Wrap the rope around the sugar bowl so that it passes through the handles. Tie a knot to secure the bowl’s hanging position. Now you can hang it on a tree.

The rope helps to position the bowl in a certain way and helps birds to climb. That is why it’s important to have a thick rope.

By the way, you can also use a teapot instead of a sugar bowl.

A tin can

You will need:

• a tin can

• jute rope

• glue

• skewers or branches for decoration

What to do: Apply glue to the can and wrap the rope around it. Wait until the glue dries. Then wrap the can with the rope in a way so that half of its opening is covered. Use more jute rope to wrap the jar, this way it will be easier for birds to hold on it with their claws. Attach the skewers on top.

If you add more skewers or branches at the entrance, you will protect the birdhouse from big birds that often hunt nestlings.

An old pot

You will need:

• an old plastic pot

• scissors or an X-Acto knife

• jute rope

• a plate

• skewers

What to do: Make a hole in the pot with the scissors or the X-Acto knife, then cover the pot’s surface with glue, and wrap it with the rope. Remove the jute rope from the opening you just made. Now wrap the pot with the rope again, this time vertically: the more layers you make, the more durable the house will be. Then place the pot on the plate and secure it with the rope as shown above. Decorate the top with the skewers.

This birdhouse can also be a feeder for future parents.

The important features of a birdhouse

• A birdhouse can have any shape, you just need to use natural materials to create it.

• Don’t worry if no bird settles in the new birdhouse right away. Usually, birds need some time to get used to a new object and start using it.

• Until they settle, put food for birds and materials inside that birds can use for nest building.

Bonus: How to make a simple feeder for birds

You will need:

• a pine cone

• butter

• thread

• grain/birdseed mixture

What to do: Tie a thread to the top of the cone. Then cover the cone with butter and dip it into the grain mixture. All done!