If you enjoy watching House Wrens or have a problem with wrens nesting in your bluebird boxes, this birdhouse might appear attractive to them.
You’ll want a piece of cedar wood ½” thick. For the roof, you want a piece of wood 6¾” by 4” and a piece 6¾” by 4½”. For the bottom, you need a piece of wood 3¾” by 4¼” and another one 3¾” by 3¾”. For the ends, you need 2 pieces of wood 4” by 4”.
After you have your wood cut, drill a ⅞” hole in one of the ends. House Sparrows can’t get in a ⅞” hole. Drill your hole close to the top of the board (see photo).
Put one nail into each end of your 3¾” by 4¼” piece of wood to be the hinges. I use a ¾” wire nail so the wood won’t split as easily as with a larger nail. Now nail or staple the other bottom piece to the ends.
Next drill a 3/32” hole in the middle of the piece that hinges, and about ¼” into the next piece. Drilling this hole helps keep the wood from splitting. Then turn a ¾” screw into the hole. You will be able to turn out this screw to open the house and clean out old nests.
Now to put on the roof, first nail or staple on your 6¾” by 4” piece of wood. Attach it so it has a 1” overhang over the ends. Then nail or staple on your last piece of wood. Nail or staple the 2 roof pieces together in the top to make sure it doesn’t leak. There will be a ¼” gap between the bottom and roof for a vent.
Next turn in a screw eye in the middle of the roof and pound in a nail for the perch. Your birdhouse is finished! Hang it up and enjoy watching the wrens.
Editor’s note: These photos show a house made out of ½” plywood. I say in the instructions to use cedar. The reason is that plywood in the weather needs to be painted or treated. Both approaches to preserving the wood can have a negative impact on the birds. Cedar wood is naturally preserved for longevity without paint or poisons.
