There are many different designs and options to build your own bird house. Here we explain the construction of a bird house from a tree trunk in more detail.
Bird houses in your own garden are not only very decorative, but also provide something to watch when the first birds settle here. Birdhouses in your own garden make it easy to feed the animals in winter, get to see them up close and always discover small residents in the garden.
But the birdhouse market doesn't necessarily have something for every taste or budget. It is often much nicer to make your own birdhouse and thereby express your creativity, but possibly also to save money. Find out what you need to build a birdhouse from a tree trunk and how to do it in this detailed guide.
Why build birdhouses out of a tree trunk?
If you would like to decorate your garden or front yard with a bird house, there is an incredibly large selection of offers from the hardware store or the Internet for already finished bird houses, which you only have to set up. These are usually very thin and anything but robust, but they also don't look right for everyone - which is why it's worth trying a DIY project. For example, you can make the bird house from a short piece of tree trunk, which is of course not too thin, but also not too big in diameter.
Making the bird house yourself from a tree trunk offers many advantages that you certainly wouldn't be able to enjoy with a ready-made model.
On the one hand, the do-it-yourself project provides a certain we alth of experience when it comes to handicrafts, from which laypeople and beginners with an interest in the subject in particular benefit. On the other hand, the project can be used to implement your own ideas and designs, whereby your own creativity is encouraged. Another advantage is the rustic charm of a tree trunk bird house, which looks very easy to blend into any garden - this is difficult to find in ready-made models.
Since the bird house can be made in one piece, experience has shown that it is not only robust, but also free of unnecessary nails and screws that could even protrude and cause injury. Glue or other wood adhesives do not have to be used either. In addition, pieces of tree trunks that, for example, come from your own garden and are not needed can be recycled in a sensible way, which is good for the environment and of course the household budget.
It could well be that the birds are more accepting of the birdhouse made out of a tree trunk. Normal bird houses are usually eyed for a while before they are actually entered - with a tree trunk bird house, the natural look and smell ensure that animals perceive it more as a natural object.
Advantages
✔ rustic, charming look
✔ very robust, even without connecting elements
✔ good opportunity to gain experience as a craftsman and do-it-yourselfer
✔ Tree trunk elements are recycled✔ own ideas can be implemented
✔ is often better accepted by animals
✔ you can save money
Cons
✘ several tools may be required
✘ The work can be very extensive, with a medium level of difficulty
✘ the bird house usually proves to be significantly heavier than conventional bird houses
Required Materials
Depending on how the bird house to be built should look and be built, different tools are of course needed for the DIY project. There are many different ways to create beautiful bird houses from a medium-thick tree trunk, which look inviting and visually appealing - but which require very different tools. In general, however, it can be an advantage to have these tools at hand or ready:
- Chainsaw/Power Saw
- Jigsaw
- Hammer and chisel
- Planer
- Sandpaper coarse and fine type
In addition, it can be useful to put on protective gloves and protective clothing - especially if you have to work with a chainsaw or jigsaw. Even safety goggles are very important in this case.
Step by step instructions
If you would like to build a bird house from a tree trunk yourself, there are a few steps to follow - these of course vary and depend on the desired construction of the bird house. Have you put on or provided all tools and protective clothing andIf you think about a certain design, you can start with the actual construction:
» Step 1: Choosing the tree trunk
If you have several pieces of log to choose from, you should choose the piece that does not appear too wide, but also not too thin and is easy to handle. Since tree trunks can be very heavy, the piece should not be too long, otherwise it will be too heavy and there will also be too much trimmings left. In the best case, the piece of tree could dry for a few years - so the inside of the trunk is already dry and can be processed better. If the inner wood is still damp, you risk warping the entire construction and then no longer being stable enough.
» Step 2: Remove bark
Once the choice has been made, the bark should now be removed from the tree trunk. Otherwise, this could ensure that insects and vermin accumulate there and permanently damage the birdhouse, making the wood rotten and unstable. Although bark provides a rustic and more natural look, which is certainly also preferred by some bird species, it can cause problems over time.
» Step 3: Transfer design to wood
By now you should have decided which design you prefer for your bird house. Because now you have to transfer this to the wood with a permanent marker. This makes it easier to visualize the whole thing and gives you better orientation when cutting.
» Tip: Parts to be removed should be specially marked - e.g. with dots or dashes
» Step 4: Sawing
Now it's time to get down to business. You can now use the chainsaw to remove the superfluous parts. Of course, maximum concentration and caution is required. The chainsaw is only necessary for the rough cuts (a scroll saw is preferable for finer work) and can then be put away again. It should be noted that the bird house should possibly be given a slightly wider base on which it can stand directly on the ground or be placed on other things. This also ensures the stability of the house.
» Step 5: Rework
Using a hammer and chisel, you can now align the shape of the house inwards, i.e. chisel openings or use a jigsaw to separate certain, smaller pieces. The final shape is now highlighted and details can also be worked in with a hammer and chisel. It is important to remember that the animals need a suitable entrance and some protection from viewand weather conditions. A feeding station can also be installed.
» Step 6: The finishing touches
Now first go over all surfaces with coarse, then fine sandpaper to smooth them out and ensure that there are no more splinters or sharp edges. You could not only injure yourself on these, animals could also get wounds here. Once that is done, you can think about painting or glazing the wood.
Birdhouses made from a tree trunk can be made in a wide variety of shapes and constructions, either based on your own imagination or inspired by designs from other manufacturers. For example, there are simple nesting houses with a small entrance opening made from a rather thin tree trunk, or houses with several departments. The Internet with photos from other users is a great way to get suitable ideas or look for inspiration, but you can also browse the hardware store for ready-made birdhouses. Once you have found inspiration, you can modify the model you like with your own ideas and make it unique.
Here are some inspirations: