How to Build Natural Wood Birdhouses

Cut three pieces of wood at 12 by 5 1/2 inches with a circular saw or hand saw from the 1 by 6-inch lumber to create the back and sides. Cut one piece at 11 1/2 by 4 inches from the 1 by 6 inch lumber to create the front. Cut one piece at 4 1/2 by 4 inches from the 1 by 6 inch lumber to create the floor. Cut one piece at 8 by 7 1/4 inches from the 1 by 9 inch lumber to create the roof.

Use a ruler and a china marker to mark a spot on the door piece, 2 inches from the sides and 2 inches from the top of the wood.

Attach a 1 1/2 inch hole saw to an electric drill. Cut a hole into the door piece.

Replace the hole saw with a 1/16 inch drill bit. Mark six holes on the back piece that are 3/8 of an inch from the edge, 3 inches from the top and bottom and 2 inches apart from each other. Drill where you marked the holes.

Drill five holes into the roof piece. On the 8 inch side, mark a spot that 1 1/4 inch from the side and 3 inches from the top. In a straight line from that spot, mark a spot near the front of the roof that is 2 inches in from the front. Repeat for the other side. Mark a spot on the back section of the roof that in 3/8 of an inch from the back and halfway between the 7 1/4 total measurement. Drill holes where you made your marks.

Mark three holes in each side piece 3/8 of an inch from the edge. Place one of the marks on one side 1 inch from the narrow top end. Place marks on the bottom edge of the side pieces that are 2 inches in from the edge, Drill holes where you made your marks.

Attach the back piece to the side pieces using a hammer and 1 3/4 inch nails.

Attach the floor piece to the side pieces with 1 3/4 inch nails. Attach the door piece to the side pieces -- flush with the bottom, which should leave a gap at the top of about 1/2 inch -- in the same manner.

Cut 4 inches of 16 to 18 gauge single strand wire and create a loop that is 2 inches in diameter. Twist the end pieces together. Attach the roof piece the same way as the other pieces; however, loop the wire between the top of the back wall and the roof where you drilled the hole in the center of the back line of the roof. Loop the wire around the nail when attaching the roof to the back. Attach the roof with nails onto the top of the side walls as well.

Attach a 3/32 inch drill bit to your electric drill. Mark a latch hole that is 3/8 inch from the edges on one side, 1 inch up from the bottom. Drill a hole where you made your mark that is big enough for the nail to be finger tight, but not big enough that the nail falls out if the birdhouse house is tipped, such as by wind. Insert the nail into the latch hole.

Paint the birdhouse with a light-colored latex paint using a paintbrush, if desired. A light-colored paint will not draw heat as much as dark paint would. Allow the paint to dry overnight.

Hang the birdhouse about 5 to 6 feet in the air in a tree, either on a branch or on a nail hammered into the trunk.