Winter Roost or Shelter For Wild Birds, How to Make Your Own. Chickadee, Titmouse, Woodpeckers...

How to construct a shelter or roost box for small wild birds in winter.
This entire bird roost box is constructed with Gorilla Hot glue Sticks and no fastening hardware.
This box is designed to provide protection from the weather extremes of winter. Species most likely to occupy a box like this are:
Downy Wood Peckers
Blue Birds
Titmice
Nut hatches
Chickadees
Wrens
They will most often occupy a shelter like this at night, or during extreme cold and wind and will be out of reach of predators.
Mount your box 6 to 15 feet off the ground. Bluebirds will go into boxes as low as 4 feet off the ground.
Place your box near another wind barrier such as the spruce tree shown in this video where the Chickadees already shelter during snowfall.
Items shown in this video:
Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks indoor/outdoor: amzn.to/2rKR3z7
NOTE: Gorilla Hot Glue Did NOT hold through the years. I now use TiteBond III for a lasting all-weather bond. This was my most successful design as of December 18th of 2022.
This is an affiliate link for TiteBond III: amzn.to/3HUagGu
Chandler CT60 Hot Glue Gun: amzn.to/2El1MYi
11" 75 lb rated zip ties used: amzn.to/2EmIJgo
All of these things worked pretty good, the glue gun is a little under-powered for woodworking, I had to wait a little between joints. So maybe 60 watts isn't enough to keep working fast?
As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases.

[@FrederickDunn]

UPDATE: As of December of 2022, the glue does not hold by itself. You will need screws, and I now recommend Titebond III when assembling your boxes. Check into a KZbin Channel titled Lesley The Bird Nerd, she also has tips on wintering your wild birds.

[@UncleFjester]

I've never used a drop of glue as its not a natural, I only use 18g brad nails from a cheap brad gun. Never had a birdhouse fall apart yet

[@timsInSSI]

I spent 45 years in the industrial adhesive industry, but learned something today, thanks.

[@FrederickDunn]

That's cool! What did you learn? About the hot glue? After this video, I took a dowel castoff and just surface glued it to a piece of pressure treated 4x4, I was impressed as the dowel snapped off above the glue while the glue held firm. I'm IN!

[@timsInSSI]

@@FrederickDunn Hot melt was never considered a structural adhesive, but what surprised me most was the long open time. But then, I have been retired ten years, the technology must surely change. I do recall hot melt being used in conjunction with PVA adhesive as a clamp. Nice vedio.

[@FrederickDunn]

Yes, the 45 second working time is a huge bonus and I could see how it would be handy as a temporary tack to hold parts in place for more meaningful fastening or gluing. I'm going shopping for a "high-temp" glue gun now that I've seen how it works.

[@kenhughes4715]

Floor should be recessed about 1/2” inside the box to prevent water from seeping in and Zip ties are not a good idea. Glad you mentioned using screws.

[@FrederickDunn]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and observations :)

[@lynz45]

I love your idea! If you ever decide to sell these I would be intetested!

[@munched55]

Great project for my kids and I over the Christmas holidays. Any of their efforts will be "good enough" and still help the local bird population, heaps. Thanks.

[@FrederickDunn]

The beauty of it is, there really is no precise measuring necessary and the birds seem to use it as long as it's weather sealed at the top and has perches for their feet. Better than a breezy tree :) Remember, we're just replicating dead trees with woodpecker excavated holes :) thanks for watching as always!

[@munched55]

@@FrederickDunn I'm actually here for the bees (planning to start for the first time in the spring) but my skill stack is growing like crazy here. :) Will be trying out my new mouse tap next week at our country place.

[@hoksrud3460]

Big fan! Great video.

[@FrederickDunn]

Thank you!

[@jamestyrer6067]

THANKS FOR THIS INFORMATION

[@FrederickDunn]

You're welcome :)

[@labadjuju]

Good video and a good job! thanks for uploading this, happy holidays from sweden

[@FrederickDunn]

Thank you Marv and the same to you there!

[@SpiritBear12]

I haven't heard of these bird shelters before. Pretty neat. It will be interesting to know how long the glue lasts, esp on something porous like wood out in the elements.

[@FrederickDunn]

I glued up a bunch of scrap pieces and threw it around the yard for kicks, it didn't come apart until I whacked it against a stone bench. I'm impressed and the testing will continue.

[@johnmcneill923]

Gr8, m8!... look after the eco system and it will look after you. Merry Christmas. Working on my z6... getting ready for Japan. Cheers, Johno

[@FrederickDunn]

I LOVE that Z6 and Photoshop CC updated their RAW processing so it now handles the Z6 and Z7 RAW files.. life is good! That camera is astounding!

[@ladykenja2700]

- Nicely done ! ! ! Planning to build one soon. Thanx 4 sharing.

[@FrederickDunn]

Thank you for watching :)

[@charlesdeens8927]

Nice project. You should build a bird box and stick one of those Wyze cams in them to check and see what the birds are up to.

[@FrederickDunn]

Thank you Charles, I'm going to look up that camera! I think I'd like to put one on a roost box to see how they use it!

[@fabiano8888]

Today's windshield temperature was -42 C in my city and I was feeling so sorry for the sparrows. In the morning when I was warming up the car, five sparrows were warming themselves up with the car's exhaust fumes. So I waited 30 extra minutes to help them out a little bit. 😢

[@FrederickDunn]

It's amazing what they can take if they just have cover from the wind.

[@alanwhitsitt5196]

Why not just use good ol' fashion wood glue? Just curious if it's toxic for the birds?

[@FrederickDunn]

Wood glue is THE BEST, this was a test of the exterior rated hot glue.

[@karenbytherideau]

Great project!

[@FrederickDunn]

Thank you Karen! I'm having a load of rough cut lumber delivered today! I'm just full of new ideas now. :) Always nice to see your comments!

[@karenbytherideau]

Frederick Dunn how about a bat house?

[@FrederickDunn]

@@karenbytherideau I have bat houses up already, are you saying I should make one with this hot glue? I'll do it for you, Karen, if you're asking! :)

[@karenbytherideau]

Frederick Dunn Have you posted any videos on bat houses or bats? I’d like to know more about your bat houses. I have a house that’s been up for a few years now and no bats, though I know they are around.

[@FrederickDunn]

@@karenbytherideau I have one in progress for Bats.org but haven't had any occupants so I can't bring myself to show a video about bats without the guest of honor. People will want to see the bats. White nose syndrome really took their numbers down profoundly. Where I had hundreds, there are now just a handful and I see them flying, but they aren't using my boxes "yet". It is a great opportunity to talk about bat conservation. WNS is now under control, but I'm told that we need over half a century for them to make a recovery of numbers to what they were just five years ago.

[@brianmacker1288]

Update? FYI I used high quality cyanlacrylic for a bird feeder and it did separate after about 2 years in weather. Glass to wood went first.

[@halleluyah8241]

Hi there! New to your channel (just subbed) and really appreciate and enjoy the content, so thanks for sharing. :) I'd like to re-purpose an old mailbox for winter shelter in our backyard...what do you think? If I place the open side close to a protected spot so that wind and predators can't enter, and maybe cover the outside with bubble wrap and/or newsprint or something? I'd be grateful for your suggestions, especially how to mount roosting areas for them inside the box. Thanks again & blessings!

[@FrederickDunn]

I wouldn't think that a mail box would be thick enough to provide a space they could shelter in. IF you do try that out, try to make a bird-only sized entry hole or squirrels and other predators will also get right in - there are even rats that will raid shelter spaces. I wish you the best with your project and thanks for watching!

[@halleluyah8241]

@@FrederickDunn Thanks very much - yes, I see what you mean. Sending your video to dh to build these boxes instead!

[@halleluyah8241]

@@FrederickDunn Thanks very much - yes, I see what you mean. Sending this video to dh to build these bird boxes instead! Blessings!

[@sheezdaone]

Great vid👍🏼What type of wood is used here? Thx🤓

[@FrederickDunn]

Thanks Cherylann, it's walnut :)

[@user-ew1gf5pj1d]

안녕 하세요 South Korea

[@Sqeptick]

Anyong ha se yo!

[@lseeber01]

So, how is it holding up??

[@FrederickDunn]

Failed... do not recommend hot-glue for any outdoor project regardless of the claims on the label.

[@timsInSSI]

I'm in......

[@FrederickDunn]

Use real glue, the all-weather gorilla hot glue does not hold up.

[@bigoldgrizzly]

3 years on.... is the glue still ok ?

[@FrederickDunn]

NO... I had to reinforce it with screws. Glue alone won't hold it in the long run, at least not the hot glue. I have used Tite-bond that lasts for years.

[@bigoldgrizzly]

@@FrederickDunn thanks for the reply In the UK I used 'Cascamite' in a lot of external applications to very good effect. it comes as a powder that you mix with water. It is slow to set, but once it is dry it is bombproof both in terms of strength and waterproof. Might be worth a try canada.desertcart.com/products/91218265-cascamite-powdered-resin-structural-wood-adhesive-tub-3-kg

[@user-ky1tv2wn1r]

Перевести на русский

[@feetgoaroundfullflapsC]

Bird Winter Roost or Shelter?? But you installed it in a cold exposed to the wind area. Why?? Winter Roost Boxes are supposed to be installed in the south side of the house-away from the northern winds. They will go to those instead of yours in the cold wind place installed.

[@FrederickDunn]

That's makes sense, I put my roosts where the birds were already braving the weather in connifers. I also placed them in the woods. I don't have any birds that stay by the house when there are plenty of trees in the woods. If you have videos of birds using roosts that are enclosed, I'd love to see them. Squirrels and mice were the only animals interested in these boxes. I think they have enough natural cover where I live that they may not need them at all.

[@feetgoaroundfullflapsC]

@@FrederickDunn Squirrels and rats climb to them at night to kill them. Are my Blue Jays there?? I miss them calling each other from the tree branches, like kids playing outside.

[@feetgoaroundfullflapsC]

@@FrederickDunn Squirrels and rats climb to them at night to kill them. My are attached to the house south side, also on a place squirrels cant jump on it. Those Tree Rats can jump up to 8 feet away, I notice when i pick them up after shooting them that they are very muscular. Also it is glued very well just in case bigger birds try to knock them down. Birds sleep deeply due all the flapping wings exercise, so they want to feel safe and warmer at night. Daytime I hunt the squirrels to protect the house and the birds, but they come also at night to get the birds if they find the way to climb or jump to the roosting boxes. You have to outsmart them devils.

[@andreedubreuil7594]

Not big enough

[@FrederickDunn]

The chickadees disagree with you

[@andreedubreuil7594]

@@FrederickDunn cheers,

[@ShopperPlug]

what kinda bird wanna live inside a complete pitch dark environment lol maybe add some special type of vacuum glass window that retains heat, hence the bird can see the environment... idk...