Real Birdhouse from One Fence Picket!

Whether you want to create a bird-friendly setting in your yardscape or want a simple, fun, and inexpensive craft project, this one-board birdhouse is for you! It’s a great craft project for kids and camps too!
#birdhouses #birdhouseplan #bestbirdhouse #campcrafts
This birdhouse is constructed from a single 6’ cedar fence slat. The actual dimensions of the birdhouse are directly proportional to the width and thickness of the fence picket. We use a Forstner bit to drill the entrance hole. The bottom of the house is removable and vented at the corners to reduce condensation in cooler weather and to facilitate cleaning.
You will find that small to medium-sized birds will be attracted to this house. It is welcoming of personalization through a wide range of finishes and paints. You can leave it “rustic” or spruce it up a bit. You can even put a metal roof on it. If you do, overlay metal on the wood roof substrate, or you risk overheating the little ones in the house when the roof is exposed to sunlight for an extended period of time. An old license plate or some roof flashing overlaid on the wood roof is a good choice and will extend the life of the piece while adding a bit of interest.
Over time, we’ve built over 100 of these birdhouses for events, gifts, craft projects, and around our home. We wish we could take credit for the idea or the plan, but honesty and courtesy demand that credit be given where credit is due. We found this plan on Pinterest®. We can’t locate an author’s or publisher’s name, but you can download it yourself by following this link:
/ 573927546270983968
You will see that in our version, we didn’t install a perch or a chimney, but that is up to you. Be aware that if you do install a perch or ledge outside the entrance hole, this can lead to the raiding of the nest by bigger or more aggressive birds.
As for the size of the entrance hole to your birdhouse, it depends on what bird species you want to attract and give a home to. Here’s an article that lists several hole sizes and the bird species that will be accommodated:
www.thespruce.com/bird-house-...
To build the basic version of this birdhouse, you’ll need one fence picket, 4 long and 20 short screws, exterior wood glue, and if you are going to hang your birdhouse, some stiff galvanized wire or a metal coat hanger. You’ll also need whatever paints or finish you are going to decorate your house.
The image from Pinterest may be difficult to read the instructions for laying out the pieces, so here they are:
LAYOUT DIRECTIONS
Using a pencil, start at the bottom of the board and mark 5 squares - the width of the board equals height.
Divide the middle square with an “X” - making the 45­°angles for the roof.
Mark the roof pieces: the length of these should be the width of the board, plus 6 thicknesses of the picket.
Mark the last piece as a square for the bottom. It will be cut to width after the main house is assembled.
If you want to add a perch (not recommended if this is being used as a “real” birdhouse - as larger birds will use the perch to attack other birds or hatchlings in the nest), chimney, or other decorative pieces, lay these out and cut them out from waste pieces.
Then cut out and assemble the pieces as shown in the video, making sure to cut 45° angles on the long edge of the roof pieces as well as affixing a wire hanger securely.
If you need some more inspiration for ideas for birdhouse and birdhouse-themed yardscape decor, visit:
/ birdhouses
Sure, you can go to the craft store and buy a birdhouse, but why? With DFJ’s help and this great plan, you can JUST DO IT YOURSELF!
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[@erscheirer]

Thanks for this DFJ! I just cut out 24 of these for a summer camp project. The kids will assemble and paint them. This was a perfect way for me to contribute to the camp and the kids so THANKS AGAIN!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Just saw this for some reason! Great to hear that worked out so well for you. Best, DFJ

[@RodThibault-qe4hu]

thanks for taking time for making this video

[@DirtFarmerJay]

My pleasure!

[@John-uz3ho]

Super instructional video! I like that no tape measure or rule is used. The width of the picket is perfect. I have tried this and I have made six of these and they took me about an hour each. Again, good stuff!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad it was helpful!

[@joseesquivel6185]

Thank you for explaining every single detail. And measurements. Now I can do my own birth house. Thanks to you. Show Us. Also. Different birdhouses. In measurements. Thank you for your time. Everyday we learn something new. From. Cleveland Texas.😊

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Most welcome 😊

[@MAMAlbertaGirl]

This was the best birdhouse build video I have ever watched! Thank you so much! You are a very good teacher.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Wow, thank you! We have an event coming up where our gardening club is going to be building several of these. It's a great project and it's a blast to see the birds move into them. Thanks for watching and writing. Best, DFJ

[@TheWingnut58]

If you install two floor screws, one on each side about an inch in from the back, they will act as hinge pins and you can "latch" the floor in place with a third screw from the front. Building this way allows a "one screw cleanout"...

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Brilliant! I'll do this when I build future birdhouses. Thanks for writing! Best, DFJ

[@margan59]

I love the way you measure! To cool!

[@henryarroyo9305]

This is by far the best bird house video I have ever watched. Thanks for this awesome video.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@lancekoller5284]

You should watch more birdhouse videos.

[@AnUndisclosedLocation]

It's rubbish...there's no way in to clean it.

[@markcarey5673]

Very nice, elegant design. The only suggestion I have would be to cut the side walls short enough to leave a quarter inch gap along the top under the roof to allow for ventilation. I love the design that allows you to get all the pieces out of a single ticket. Nicely done.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Mark, this is a great tip and there are other people that have mentioned the same thing. We're going to make another version of the birdhouse showing all the tips that have been sent in for this. Thanks for watching and writing! Best, DFJ

[@Salty_Knuckles]

DFJ, Just wanted to comment and give you a proper thank you. I purchased a picket for this very project and was drawing up a very similar design the night before and then KZbin slid your video infront of me this morning over coffee. 🤨 To all the watchers, this birshouse took me less than 1 hour to build even with out a few of the tools that DFJ used. One word of caution is that, becasue the dimensions are so small (5-6 "), you need to pay particular attention to your measurments and account for saw blade thickness. I planned on mounting mine to a wooden post that is on my deck across from my kitchen window where I eat breakfast. I made to roof flush with the back wall of the house and made the bottom so that it would hang over about 2 inches. I may dress that area up. From the scrap pieces I put a french cleat at the top of the house to mount it to the wooden post and added a piece of scrap at the bottom so that it would not wobble when hung on the cleat. It looks great. Thanks again for the drawing and video tutorial.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Lonnie - good to hear from you. Glad to be of help! Best, DFJ

[@gregmaxfield4405]

A great project for my 11 year old Grandson and me ! Thanks DFJ ! 🙂🚜🐻 Bear Queensland Australia

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Our pleasure! Great to hear from you. Best, DFJ

[@jasonlewis3234]

This was a great video, thank you. I will be building a few of these today.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Have fun!

[@scotsmanofnewengland7713]

As someone who has built over 50 + birdhouses. One big mistake bird house builders make is not making vents at the peaks of the front and rear. The reason for this is to vent the heat out from inside the birdhouse. The summer heat will kill the young birds. You can either drill holes along the peaks or make the side walls a little shorter. Thanks for the video

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Great insight. We are actually having a community event tomorrow building these birdhouses, and we've designed into them the feature you've described - the sides are left a bit short to create a gap along the wall but under the edge of the roof. Thanks for watching and writing! Best, DFJ

[@JS-ss8tk]

DFJ this is a great video to do with the daughter. Thanks!!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@williamwelch7]

Thanks Jay

[@DirtFarmerJay]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching and writing. best, DFJ

[@grntchstrmdws]

It would be helpful to the fledglings to have a "ladder" inside to access the hole. Some shallow cuts an eighth of an inch apart that their claws can grip.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Good stuff. Thanks for writing!

[@AllenOxendine]

Thanks for sharing..

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks for watching!

[@PamelaSmullen-du7mx]

Thanks Jay, some good tips there. 😂 🇮🇪

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad you think so.

[@johnlewis9745]

Why bother to saw 45 deg. angles at the roof apex ? Jut overlap one over the other ensuring that the length of overlap is added to one piece to ensure the roof on either side appear the same.

[@lambertj.2892]

So true.

[@chile4thekids]

Chill out man

[@crossgrainwoodproductsltd9230]

You need an air gap. You don't make it without some place for the air inside can circulate.

[@wynastefanik4045]

That's the lazy way!

[@eileenbrooks-laitinen9778]

Yes, this is the way I do it. Works fine.

[@slimwantedman6694]

Good morning from Southeast South Dakota

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Morning!

[@jjpol-ih1uu]

Spring 2024.great birdhouse plan and instruction on how to make it .the only addition I did was to drill a half inch hole at the top of the peek 0n the front and back to allow for hot damp stale air to stove pipe out, good video .Our club puts many birdhouses out every year and maintain many more here in northern BC Canada . I will send a link to this video to my fellow club members- we will right your youtube name on each house we put up along with ours ,In recognition of you doing your part and that it is your design. Cheers

[@louislandi938]

Another tip is to add either a piece of cloth or mesh from the inside floor up to the entrance/exit hole. That will greatly help the young birds leave the house.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Great tip!

[@jimzearfoss777]

No frills!!! Just build a birdhouse😃 .

[@mervynclaxton4367]

Great video, makes following very easy. Thanks. I will be using this for our next woodland venture.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MrOldclunker]

The sidewalls need to be 1/4 to 3/8" shorter to allow ventilation.

[@mundlkalli4396]

GREAT Video thank you. !!!!!! JUst had one question ......since all pieces are marked in sequence ,where do you start the cut ? Inside the line - or outside the line- or right in the middle...........?? Thank you again......

[@lesterolson5526]

If someone is bothered by squirrels, you will need to reinforce the front wall with a piece of metal to keep them from chewing their way in.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Good insight.

[@danthompson1467]

👍🇺🇸

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks!

[@SEEKERONE1]

I just made one today from old deck boards I had. It was a test run for the real thing out of cedar. Worked just fine I made my roof simple by just cutting off the length x thickness of one board then butted the pieces together. I love the simplicity of it all. Thanks. My only problem is that my bird house weighs a lot. Lolol

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Great to hear of your project and approach. Thanks for writing! Best, DFJ

[@robertallen3133]

Fantastic video and thank you. Have you ever thought about selling any ?

[@DrDennis]

Been making these for couple years.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Right on. Any variations you've done over that time that you'd recommend? Best, DFJ

[@stevemac8436]

Your the first to add ventilation in the bottom. Shouldn't there be places for air to rise out the top of the walls so it's not hot stagnant air inside the box? Thanks for what you do.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Steve, good insight. The side walls could be cut a bit shorter than the end wall angles so that there is a very slight gap along the two walls. The birds can regulate the air flow as needed with nest material. I'll incorporate that into our next round of bird houses. Thanks for writing! Best, DFJ

[@stevemac8436]

Yes just a 1/4 inch gap on both sides of the wall would help them. Were you the one that cut the corners of the bottom floor? I watched a 1000 videos on bird house's and wind chimes yesterday Thanks Mac

[@DirtFarmerJay]

@@stevemac8436 - yes indeed, the cut corners give a bit of ventilation, and the gaps we'll now specify at the tops of the walls will even be better. Best, DFJ

[@jeffouimet]

Nice project. I normally use a 1-1/8" diameter bit for the hole. This allows birds like Chickadees and Wrens to get in and keeps out invasive House Sparrows.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Great tip!

[@thedyslexic9936]

Do you measure out each piece and then cut or do you measure, cut, measure cut? it seems to me that measuring them all first will make each successive piece shorter by the blades width. how do you account for that? do you try and "split" the line with your blade? do you make your marks wide as the blade? i have some spruce fence boards. will those work?

[@notasleanstillasmean3593]

Looks like he drew lines with a sharpie, line width is roughly the same size as blade kerf. So, cut on the line and everything comes out fine.

[@FrantasticFacials]

Very cool and looks very easy to build. Love the idea of painting it for the garden. Would you ever consider doing a hinge for the bottom with a latch to make it easier to clean?

[@DirtFarmerJay]

That's a great idea!

[@richardmccann4815]

You can also use 16 penny nails (spikes cut short) as pins that stick thru the sides into holes drill into the bottom. Cut them slightly over length so you can pull them easily, and set them with a light tap for the season. 3 or 4 should hold nicely!

[@richardmccann4815]

Are you using a 7 " blade on a ten inch saw? Looked funny!

[@preachzwrd]

Great Job Dirt Farmer!!!

[@johnlewis9745]

Rather than screw the bottom in, why not drill holes on all four sides into which slighty narrower rust proof nails could be inserted by hand. Then when the box needs to be cleaned they could easily removed with a pliers or pincers and replaced at a later date.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Good idea!

[@dreamwrldstudios2790]

This might seem like a silly question but I do roofing so I noticed that alot of people don't make thier roofs water proof. In this video I noticed that water will get in where you installed your wire hook. Does the rain not bother the birds?

[@DirtFarmerJay]

The small amount of water that does get in under the right conditions has not deterred the birds from using them around our place.

[@litahsr.8226]

I like that need some more please 😊easy from you but i can only do it on hand saw ( a little pain in the ass) any tips on 45­°angles on a hand saw? lol

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Although more difficult, it's not impossible, although to get perfect results is difficult. You'll need to clamp the roof pieces vertically somehow and use a 45 degree square to draw a starter line that is extended down both faces. Start cutting carefully from the top and work your way down, keeping the cut on both side in line with your guide lines. Let me know how it turns out!

[@allrotary]

Great video maybe make the video using non powered tools for the kids

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Good idea!

[@lawrence.porter]

I don’t see this particular plan in the link you supplied.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Hmmmm. The home page of this link provides a graphic of it: www.pinterest.com/pin/573927546270983968/

[@lawrence.porter]

Ahh, thank you.

[@louislandi938]

Jay, I expect to see you expanding your project and being featured on Tv’s ‘Tiny Homes’.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Principles of geometry - which is a form of math, technically speaking.

[@grannieh547]

cant find the plan specs you say was listed below

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Here's an excerpt from the video description: We found this plan on Pinterest®. We can’t locate an author’s or publisher’s name, but you can download it yourself by following this link: www.pinterest.com/pin/573927546270983968/

[@johnlewis9745]

I haven’t done so yet, but I’m thinking of experimenting with strips of velcro attached to the inside outer edges of the roof from the apex downwards. There would also be velcro strips attached to the upper edges of the front and back from the apex downwards. Then fit the roof onto the other piece. I think it works in theory.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Let me know how it turns out, John. Best, DFJ

[@mokedokie]

Unfortunately there are a couple serious problems. The biggest issue is lack of ventilation. Eggs and chicks will quickly succumb to high temperatures. It's easy to add ventilation by drilling several 1" holes on the back and sides. Another issue is there is no access door to checks on eggs and chicks and to clean out old nesting material. There should be a predator block over the access hole to prevent predators from reaching in and grabbing eggs and chicks. There sholud also be 3-4 kerf cuts made with a chop saw below the access hole and also on the inside. These allow easy access in and out of the box. Without this some chick may not be able to get out when it's time to fledge. I apologize if this seems critical but it's not how good or cute a bird box looks but rather does it includes all the elements of safety.

[@tlnelson7598]

Do you have any bat house plans?

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Not at this point, but we are looking into it. Best, DFJ

[@lambertj.2892]

Where do I get the plans for this bird house?

[@DirtFarmerJay]

You can use the link in the description - here it is for your convenience: www.pinterest.com/pin/573927546270983968/

[@lambertj.2892]

@@DirtFarmerJay thanks. I saw that Pinterest link but didn't connect the dots that it was birdhouse plans. I'm very sorry.

[@user-jm5gk5wc5q]

Chicken wire for the floor works too

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Indeed. Thanks for weighing in. best, DFJ

[@grannieh547]

Where is the description for the typed instruction

[@DirtFarmerJay]

There is a link in the description that will take you to the Pinterest page. Best. DFJ

[@grannieh547]

Stupidity can’t be blessed

[@tobedetermined4180]

What happened to pallet wood? It is cheaper to build stuff with it. I guess picket fence planks are trending now.😅

[@dapor4920]

cool project my be easier to put the floor in b4 the roof and have the roof on a ninge but nice simple build otherwise

[@TheOneTexan]

you had me until you used sheetrock screws. (face palm) good stuff.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

You can use deck screws or stainless ones if you prefer. Best, DFJ

[@davetuscano5939]

No perch stick to land on?? A twig looks nice.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

We don't use a perch as we've found that it gives bigger birds a place to land and use to launch an attack on the baby birds. Best, DFJ

[@earthlingi72]

Nice guide on how to build that plan neatly. How ever, if you are concerned about actual functionality and the well being of the birds thats going to occupy, I would strongly suggest to watch more videos done by bird watchers who have been doing bird boxes for a long time and for different specific birds. There are clearly some points not considered like the draining, venting, more easier hinge method of opening for cleaning and suggestion to hang is a bad idea I felt. It felt more as a Dewalt equipment commercial project at the end.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks for the feedback! We plan to do another version of this that takes into account lots of good advice we've gotten from our viewers. Best, DFJ

[@jerryweigl4730]

It would be better if you added ventilation by drilling some holes say under the roof overhang; and you must have easy access to clean out the bird's nest for the next year. Otherwise it will be single usage only. The bird's that use a birdhouse must build their own nest and will not use an old one.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks for the info - it's appreciated.

[@herbsu4330]

I don't mean to be too harsh but there are books and department of ag plans out for actual birdhouses for actual species. This "generic" is basically yard decor.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks for writing. There are indeed lots of plans and approaches out there. However, for a "generic" yard decoration, the birds sure do use them around here year after year. Best, DFJ

[@AnUndisclosedLocation]

Useless...no door to clean the inside.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

I don't think you watched the entire video. The floor is installed with screws that allow you to pivot or remove the floor for clean out or sanitization in the sun. Best, DFJ

[@farmallhfan]

Why didn’t you just put two screws opposite each other towards the rear and only one in the front . Then you don;t have to remove 4 screws to do a clean out. Only one then the bottom tilts to clean out.and leave your little handle screw up towards the front.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Good one. That would work fine. Thanks for watching and writing. Best, DFJ

[@wrenholly]

💸yoo ere. Funee

[@user-lm2fo6co9v]

This was a great video, thank you. I will be building a few of these today.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Have fun!