Table of Contents
Instructions Drill the Doorway. Clean the Inside of the Gourd. Smooth Out the Gourd. Clean With Bleach. Drill Holes for Wire. Insert the Wire for Hanging. Create a Perch. Paint the Birdhouse.
What birds will nest in a gourd birdhouse?
Gourds make fine homes for several varieties of cavity nesters, including bluebirds, swallows, chickadees, wrens, woodpeckers, great crested flycatchers, titmice, screech owls, kestrels and nuthatches. Learn how to turn a gourd into a birdhouse.
Do birds like gourd birdhouses?
Gourd birdhouses, although most popularly used for Purple Martins, will also attract other species including bluebirds, woodpeckers, wrens, nuthatches, chickadees, finches and swallows. They can also serve dual purpose as feeders too when the birds are completed with nesting season.
How do you seal birdhouse gourds?
To finish your birdhouse gourd it is important to use a high-quality outdoor sealer. My favorite choice is Varathane Clear Gloss Spar Urethane Spray Paint. It leaves the gourds well protected, shiny and beautiful, and it is really easy to apply.
Where do you put a gourd birdhouse?
Hanging Your Gourd Birdhouse Attach it to a post or tree with plenty of space between houses. Position the house with the opening away from prevailing winds.
What size hole should I put in my birdhouse?
Many wild birds prefer entrance holes that range between 1 and 1 1/2 inches in diameter. The chickadee prefers 1 1/8-inch diameter openings, the titmouse, Bewick’s wren, and the downy woodpecker look for homes with 1 1/4-inch diameter openings. Nuthatches prefer 1 1/4-inch to 1 3/8-inch diameter openings.
Do Purple martins prefer gourds or houses?
We recommend it with SuperGourds, but any kind of gourds can be used. Location is crucial for purple martins. Their houses need to be in an open area so they can sail straight into the houses from at least two directions. Put their house in the middle of your biggest open area.
How do you clean a gourd birdhouse?
Use sandpaper to smooth the exterior of the gourd and the inside edges of the entrance hole. To clean and sanitize the gourd, soak it in a solution made from one part bleach and nine parts water. Completely rinse the gourd in clean water and hang up to thoroughly dry.
Can you eat birdhouse gourds?
Birdhouse gourds make an ideal gardening project for the whole family. The hard-shelled hanging fruits are not edible but are wonderful for craft projects such as creating decorative homes for the birds.
What color birds hate?
One color that the majority of birds avoid is white. A dull or bright white signals alarm and danger to birds, causing them to avoid those areas.
How do you seal a gourd?
Melt a block of paraffin wax to prepare to seal the interior surface. As soon as the wax is completely melted, remove the gourd from the oven, and, quickly but thoroughly, paint the inner surface of the gourd with wax. Apply two or three additional coats of wax, allowing the gourd to cool completely between coats.
Should I put a perch on my birdhouse?
Use natural, unpainted wood instead and stain the outside with a natural wood preservative such as linseed oil. → Stay away from any birdhouse with a perch. Birds don’t need them and they only make it easier for predators or unwanted birds to get in.
How do you waterproof a gourd?
Plasti Dip is also a tried and true method of waterproofing a gourd. It creates a rubber like coating on the inside of the gourd. Then, there are methods that don’t require sealers at all. Insert a plastic or glass container inside your gourd to serve as a holder for water or plants.
How do you make gourds shiny?
How to Make Gourds Shine. Making gourds shine for displays is easy. After washing the gourds, coat each one with a thin layer of floor wax. After they dry, they will have a subtle shine that makes them so pretty for display.
How long will a gourd birdhouse last?
Gourd birdhouses will last 5-10 years without any care (This does not include the dye or paint). The dye and paint will be long gone before the gourd wears out unless you repaint or dye it in between. Put birdhouses outside only for the nesting season.
How long does it take for a gourd to dry out?
Depending on the size of your gourds, the entire process of drying can take 1-6 months. First, you’ll notice that the outer skin will harden and the colors will begin to set. This generally happens in the first few weeks. The internal drying takes place next, which usually takes another 4 weeks.
What is the best way to dry gourds?
Dry out the inside of the gourd. Move the gourd to a dark, dry place such as a garage or a basement. Put the gourd in an area that gets plenty of airflow in all directions. You can hang the gourd or place it on a surface, such as a drying rack or pallet. If drying multiple gourds, make sure the gourds do not touch.
How do you keep gourds from rotting?
Space the prepared gourds on a few layers of newspaper in a dark, warm, dry area (such as an attic) with good ventilation. Replace the damp newspaper every few days, turning the gourds when you do. Heat accelerates drying and darkness will preserve the gourd’s color.
Do you put anything in a birdhouse?
Wood is the best material for birdhouses. Other materials (like metal or plastic) may not insulate the nest enough, so eggs or young could become chilled in cold weather or overheated in warm, sunny weather. Use rough-cut wood slabs, tree sections, or 3/4-inch plywood.
Do birdhouses need ventilation holes?
Birdhouses should have ventilation and drainage holes to prevent overheating or drowning of baby birds. If you have a house without these you can always drill a few holes in the floor for drainage and high up on the sides to provide ventilation.
How do I attract birds to my new birdhouse?
Attracting Birds to Birdhouses Food: A variety of food sources, including bird feeders as well as natural foods, will ensure that nesting birds have plenty to feed their chicks. Water: All birds need fresh water for drinking and bathing, and a clean water source can make a yard even more attractive for nesting birds.
