Building a Simple Bat House

Building a Simple Bat House
Bats may seem a little scary to the average person, especially how they are portrayed in some movies. But bats are actually very cool creatures. They are flying mammals, eat LOTS of bugs, live in colonies, and use echolocation. They also have decent eye sight, which is a commonly misunderstood fact.
So for this project, I decided to build a bat house to hopefully give the bats in my area another location to stay.
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#diy #bathouse #bats
Proverbs 24:3

[@stretch3736]

This is the best video I've found on building a bat house. It not only shows you how to build it, but you lists the materials dimensions and you explained everything very well. Thank you🙌🏼

[@ShakespeareCafe]

I left a 1/4” slot at the top below the roof for ventilation. As heat rises it won’t get overly hot. I see people caulking their houses which is overkill as bats in nature live in all kinds if less than ideal shelters.

[@peterdebrino8290]

Bats get a real bad rap, they are fascinating creatures, They do so much good for the environment, I haven Been making these for years, I have 2 in my yard and we have very few mosquitoes. This a fun project to do with the kids,

[@SpecificLove7]

I totally agree, especially after I did some research, they are quite interesting.

[@billyc768]

Best thing is they eat lots of mosquitoes.

[@clem_3082]

Yea our neighbors got rid of their bat house and we were swarmed by mosquitoes which is why I came to this video

[@peted31bgn]

@@clem_3082 just to give you an example. We were at a outside wedding located at a Christmas tree farm. I noticed bat houses off in the distance. When it got dark. Saw plenty of bats. Not a single mosquito.

[@tracyairth8625]

I saw so many bats in our yard tonight so that prompted me to find a video on how to make these. Thanks!

[@randalllaue4042]

We should all have bat houses in our yard and neighborhood. Bats eat their weight in mosquitoes. Make great gifts, and their poop is great for gardening.

[@hopecorrigan3349]

Also, strongly recommend 1-inch holes in the middle layer to allow them to move from chamber to chamber. 4 should be sufficient. Also helps air flow.

[@johnsutton66]

@@hopecorrigan3349 I was wondering how they get into the second chamber??

[@katkameo6413]

I'm excited to try this. I'm in the country and have every kind of bird or critter you can imagine but I have no bats whatsoever that I see at dusk. I can't wait to build these houses! Thank you❤

[@MTEXX]

Thanks especially for expressing the habitat design considerations. I'll say your design aligns with my internet research in bat houses. I like the way it's made 100% from cedar pickets.

[@SpecificLove7]

Thanks for seeing that. I did a bunch of research to get it as right as possible.

[@akbychoice]

I’m in SC and it was near 80 today April 14th. We have a lot of blue birds here so I built a lot of bird houses. Never thought about a bat house till now.

[@imaginationcreated]

Thank you so much for this video. You have explained everything well and more importantly, for me at least, the information on the colour, area, height, etc. Is so important to making the house more successful in helping out our flying mammal friends!! Awesome job!

[@lightbulb1952]

I had bats living in this house attic about 2 years after I bought it! Their exit was about 12 feet up, behind an eave.

[@donnabyrnes1837]

Great job, pls show how to hang them. Smart idea turn you nice wood bats upside to look like sleeping.

[@kevtownoutdoors]

Great video, thanks for the tutorial! I just bought the wood and about to start. Your final product looked really good.

[@SpecificLove7]

Thanks

[@jd1399]

has this warped over time? any bats?

[@gregj2647]

A couple of comments and questions- I would add nails or screws especially for the top. Gluing side grain to end grain is not a good match. Is the stain you used rated for exterior applications? Finally, never mount a bat house on your house. While bats are useful for controlling bugs, you do not want to encourage them to get into your house. So did you get any bats?

[@SpecificLove7]

Thank you for your suggestions. We ended up giving the bat house to another family member so I am not sure if they got any bats.

[@GloriJ9]

Great video! I've been wanting to build a bat house for my area and this build seems very simple and effective. Can you do a followup video to show where you mounted it and if bats are using it?

[@SpecificLove7]

Maybe, if it is successful.

[@gregj2647]

@@SpecificLove7 is there a follow up?

[@lazio7495]

Thanks for the bat house video. Crazy question what do the bats hang on too when their sleeping

[@filipv2167]

Very informative, I made one, I use reclaimed wood, like old fence boards.

[@henrycems]

Cool build the bats will love it. Wounder what you would come up with for a virus distance stick LOL. Keep up the great work.

[@SpecificLove7]

That might be funny, but I'm trying to keep away from that topic. There is already enough others covering it.

[@bobd5119]

Thanks for a good video instruction!

[@TheLightHouseLady]

Very informative! Thank you for making these videos.

[@SpecificLove7]

Thank you very much

[@kencade6544]

Great video, thank you for posting- a nailer would allow you to glue and skip clamping while the glue sets up. Also, chisel was upside down.

[@boisterouscockfarmstead2217]

It was a bat chisel 🤣

[@jotacalvo]

You’ve obviously never used a chisel. Using it the way it was intended (as you’re suggesting) would’ve put the angle way too sharp and dug into the wood. Nothing wrong with the way he used it.

[@Rjp0665]

I have been debating how to mount this on a 4x4 and came to the conclusion by making the chambers 1 1/2 in shorter it would leave me a lip at the top to screw into the 4x4 and at the bottom I still have the landing pad

[@rubynava7857]

I’ve always wanted to install a bat house in my backyard and I can’t wait to try and build this myself, Especially with the 4 cedar fence posts. Great idea 💡😁👍🏼 did you get any bats 🦇 in your house? Update please 🙏🏼😊

[@SpecificLove7]

We ended up giving it to a family member.

[@jmsit78]

Loving the fence post projects, please keep them coming

[@SpecificLove7]

I will have another in about 2 weeks

[@danalaniz7314]

Nice project. Thanks!

[@SirJer]

Awesome vid! Tip, don't put it on your house, that can encourage the bats to find a secondary home inside your house. Bats are so cool. Plus they eat mosquitos and other bugs. Can't complain about that!

[@mattw9516]

We've had a bat house for three years now and never an issue with bats trying to get inside the house. They love their outside abode.

[@randalllaue4042]

Thank you!!

[@nitrousblast1]

One thing nobody mentions in their videos is how to attach bay houses to a wall or tree or post. How do you attach yours? Thanks

[@joshortiz1576]

Love the work you do and how you explain the steps. Also love the out takes at the end lol

[@SpecificLove7]

Thank you very much. I try to keep it helpful and well paced.

[@brooksrobinson3738]

Thank you! We are going to try this out! What do you think about shrinking it down a little bit? Maybe only 2 boards width?

[@SpecificLove7]

I am not an expert on bats so maybe but I'm not sure.

[@gregdagg9305]

Nice, I think you meant that you only used 4 fence BOARDS..

[@SpecificLove7]

You are correct.

[@billyc768]

So how do I get bats to show up? Should I put up the bat signal? 😄

[@verdouxkai]

Thanks for this video! Do you happen to have a recommendation on a video about mounting the bat house to a pole?

[@Thomas-ci4fl]

Excellent! Many thanks.

[@justayoutuber1906]

You should have added vent holes near the top.

[@hockeyteeth]

Where's the vent for the rear slot?

[@mvon3828]

Your forgot a couple of things in your build. A predator guard across the bottom of the and a inch opening hole from one chamber to the other so they can move around freely for warmth or cooling.

[@onceuponatube]

My first thought is why cedar besides the rough surface because it doesn’t take it off repelling sent

[@NonNone-qm4zi]

?????

[@jeremystewert4303]

I wish we had some bats in Northeast Arkansas. I think the skeeters ate them all!

[@michaelmonteforte787]

Nice job. I am researching to make one. I was under the impression I need to drill holes in divider so bats can move from one chamber to the other. Is this important? Thanks for making this video

[@ShakespeareCafe]

I drilled 5 holes 3 on top 2 on bottom between the chambers with 1 1/2” hole saw both for ventilation and movement, the outer chamber will be much hotter than the inner chamber

[@roberthernandez782]

If I have a bat house and I'm outside at night cooking on the grill and hanging out on a nice night. Would it be ok to have a few tiki torches going or will it bother the bats?

[@jeffsamford757]

I’m in the process of building one now so this was great. One question... How do you recommend attaching the house to the “post?” I’ve got and old 20’ section of 3” metal pipe that I was going to use to give it the height but didn’t want screws coming through into the house. Thanks.

[@SpecificLove7]

To be straight with you, I'm not sure how to securely attach it to a metal pipe. Seems like it would twist easily in a storm. I do know of brackets that pinch the pipe, which might work, but I have not tried them.

[@MB-wq1hm]

Just finish my first bat house, question now is how much space inside for bat families. Must be more than 3/4”? The one just finished is for bachelor. Is there a size best raising young?

[@SpecificLove7]

Other than the information in the video, I do not know much more about bat houses.

[@gcranch9913]

Have built several bat houses along similar lines but have yet to see any bats.

[@SpecificLove7]

Ok, thank you

[@MichaelMickelsen]

Nice bat house. My son and I built one over a year ago and still no bats.

[@GloriJ9]

Where did you mount your bat house. I'm planing on building one this year and mount thing it to the north side of the house so it doesn't get direct sunlight.

[@SpecificLove7]

Thanks. I've read that sometimes that happens, it could be the location.

[@MichaelMickelsen]

@@GloriJ9 We mounted it 12 feet up on the southside of a very tall pine. We made sure there were no bird or squirrel nests in the tree.

[@SpecificLove7]

Depending on where you live, it is recommended to get direct sunlight.

[@Not_TVs_Frank]

Apparently bats can be picky. Do some research on your local bat species. Some will prefer a shelter attached to a structure like a shed or house. Proximity to food will also affect their shelter choices, but that may be out of your control.

[@markbardusk9516]

Would they live in there in the Winter?

[@SpecificLove7]

They will probably hibernate somewhere else

[@paulalbright1079]

What size bat's do you have? That box is huuuugggeeeee!

[@tdelaerebowerman]

Pretty good instruction but, not once did he mention dimensions. How about the width and depth of each bat chamber? That would have been helpful.

[@ignantmike4707]

re-watch video....he did give measurement's..

[@alohaIslandersLuau]

So cute!

[@SpecificLove7]

Thanks

[@GunManOsh]

What a PERFECT COVID19 quarantine project!!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@Валерій-я5п]

Супер! Логотип розвідки!

[@jamiewedgbury1965]

Any idea how many bats this could house?

[@SpecificLove7]

From what I read, up to 100

[@clayswenson2068]

why not use pockets and brads?

[@SpecificLove7]

That can work too

[@Not_TVs_Frank]

I don't think I have weather resistant glue so I might go the pocket hole route.

[@curbshooter]

Anyone have the pattern for the bats?

[@newwavepressure6478]

How much gap do thay need for them to get in i for got to make my spacers

[@SpecificLove7]

3/4" to 1"

[@guymansford7123]

Nice design but using PVA glues that claim to be waterproof isn't great. Best to use a properly waterproof glue then you don't need any screws to hold it together. See tests on line for how un-waterproof type 3 glues are.

[@smilingbob6708]

How are you going to hang it?

[@judis957]

They are fence pickets not posts.

[@SpecificLove7]

I stand corrected

[@JG24AJ]

Nice job, to me the colors of the two stains work together very well, no pun intended, just wonder if you build a cat ( meow ) house, how many might misinterpret it, lol,🤪 To all, Be Blessed 🙏 & well my friends!

[@Tjboux]

Live in the country, I've noticed our bat population is picking up. I want to help all I can & give them more spaces to live. The price of wood is one thing, but we can't put a price on our bats. 🦇🦇🦇

[@donf3739]

Those are pickets, or boards; not posts. Posts are what hold them up, on rails.

[@christophergreen30]

#ridgidpowertools wonderful job 👏

[@spenceinman1501]

I think those are fence panels, rather than posts.

[@richardwhitehouse2810]

Correct me if I am wrong, but you seem to have used PVA glue and a wood treatment. In my experience PVA glue is not waterproof.

[@pambennett8967]

Type 3 glue?

[@SpecificLove7]

Waterproof

[@LemonExtras]

Weird timing! But cool!

[@dennisschickling5759]

#STAYSAFE

[@jcmac185]

Not a fence post, fence picket. But great video.

[@SpecificLove7]

You are right. I sometimes get those mixed up in my head.

[@billlamm4688]

"Fence posts" LOL

[@richardburnett-_]

Exactly . . . why on earth would anybody call those posts.

[@minutemark]

Here we are battling a bat virus, and you're building bat houses! lol, I'm just kidding about being offended. I know bats are very beneficial. Good job on this project.

[@notme9156]

Mark Langenkamp nice name

[@leiwa100]

As long as you do not eat them it should be safe enough? :-)

[@jeffkasal330]

Its not a bat virus. Its a purposebuilt political virus.

[@nowfixit...]

Virus didn't come from bats it came from a lab in China that Google and our government has funded, gain of function. People need to wake up about the world we live in

[@pokemongaming3989]

I thought you couldn't glue 2 pieces of board together after you stained them

[@SpecificLove7]

As long as the parts are not supporting the structure and the stain has completely dried, it has worked for me in the past. Plus it was just a stain, not a paint or poly coating.

[@DougMcHone]

@@SpecificLove7 That seems to be a case where you see what it is you are asking the glue to do. Are you asking it to hold the bathouse together or are you asking it to hold up a decorative bat cutout. I'm not sure I'd trust it in a structural application, but I think it's fine for the decorative function.

[@webadage]

Let's call those fence planks.... ?

[@TM1Alan]

Am I the only one who knows the difference between a fence post and a picket?

[@lynb2039]

Please dont use any stain, caulk, sealents or mesh on inside bat boxes. All are toxic or harmful for our bat friends

[@DickChisqo420]

@@lynb2039 why no mesh?

[@karleedu]

Nice if you have a table saw! I don't!

[@happykillmore349]

Who wants to tell him what a post is?

[@carioca602]

SIMPLE??? I'm a 70+ guy who doesn't have the money to get all that fancy equipment nor the arm power to do all that cutting! That's why I searched for SIMPLE!!!!! As far as I'm concerned this is a classic example of the new internet version of bait and switch!!!

[@creaturafauna]

Agreed

[@lynb2039]

Just buy one

[@ytbillybob]

Bats eat how many skeeters a night???

[@rogerreed6221]

A single bat can eat 1,000+ mosquitoes an hour... they are awesome!

[@ChrisSmith-bw1nt]

All the bat's you can get to make soup.

[@FunkDitch]

thats not a post

[@UsDiYoNa]

Tis planks

[@Whitebear80]

I hate to tell you, that is not a fence post that is a fence slat.

[@stoamnyfarms]

That's not a fence post

[@darinfield4720]

Not worth it with the price of wood. Think of the labor, costs, and practicality. I wanted to take on this project but ~$30ish dollars for a “bat box” isn’t worth it. So I’ll give it a shot.

[@clayswenson2068]

you call the boards 'fence posts' don't you mean fence boards?

[@SpecificLove7]

Good point

[@carioca602]

They are not boards. They're fence slats, actually.

[@smilingbob6708]

Fence pickets not posts.

[@mikeb9453]

Fence boards**

[@laydenhollowhomestead]

Sorry it not fence post it fence boards a post is square

[@iasimov5960]

Be sure to mount the bat house near a robin's nest.

[@tgoss37]

Why mount near a Robins nest?

[@papasmurf9146]

@@tgoss37 Batman and Robin ... an allusion to a comic book duo.

[@vinsanity1976]

...

[@dennisschickling5759]

I was told that the Bats started the Coronavirus. LOL.

[@kctsp6631]

@mickey7411 lol

[@Sardious]

Sort of, many animals carry disease that do not affect humans. The current pandemic did mutate to be able to affect humans. Not sure how much the wet markets may have also contributed to that. None the less bats are around most areas and are beneficial so don't eat them raw and you're probably fine

[@rodneysmart9774]

Boards not posts, you're fired.

[@MoreChannelNoise]

Is this a sick joke, bats the worst disease tranmitters around, well after humans maybe :)

[@iasimov5960]

The worst disease carriers are mosquitoes.

[@Not_TVs_Frank]

I'd take sky full of bats over a yard full of mosquitos any day (or night).

[@lynb2039]

Mosquitos killed more humans than all.wars