How to Make a Removable Roof on a Birdhouse for Wrens
Wren houses offer shelter for the nests of the small songbirds. Adding a removable roof or a roof segment that can be opened makes cleaning the house easier. This helps keep the shelter sanitary and attractive to a new generation of wrens each spring. Adding a removable roof is a simple step and is a part of the general construction of the wren birdhouse. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 3/4-inch-thick by 4-inch-wide cedar wood
- Saw
- 1 1/2-inch galvanized screws
- Two 1-inch strap hinges
- 5/8-inch screws
- Screwdriver
Instructions
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1
Cut the basic components for the wren birdhouse from a 3/4-inch thick, 4-inch wide piece of cedar lumber. You need two sides and a front of the birdhouses cut to 8 inches long, one bottom 4 inches long, a roof that is 6 inches long and a back that is 10 inches long. The pieces can be cut from a single 4-foot-long board.
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Start by fastening the two sidepieces to the back piece of the wren birdhouse using 1 1/2-inch galvanized screws. The sidepieces fasten about 2 inches below the top of the back piece flush with the outside edge of the back piece.
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3
Place the floor between the sides of the wren birdhouse. Fasten the floor in place by running 1 1/2-inch galvanized screws through the sides and back into the floor.
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4
Drill a 1 1/4-inch hole in the front piece of the wren birdhouse about 6 inches from the bottom of the front. Fasten the front of the birdhouse to the sides and bottom using 1 1/2-inch galvanized wood screws.
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Place the top of the birdhouse into position resting on the sides and front and against the back component. Fasten two 1-inch strap hinges to the top edge of the roof immediately adjacent to the back component using 5/8-inch galvanized wood screws. Fasten the roof in place by fastening the other half of the hinges to the back component using two 5/8-inch galvanized wood screws through each hinge.
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Tips & Warnings
The hinged top allows for the removal of the roof, which therefore allows access for cleaning. A similar hinged roof can be added to birdhouses of other shapes.
Place the birdhouse on a tree or post at least 4 feet off the ground.
Remove the nest material in the fall of the year to prepare the nest box for the next spring nesting season. This type of nest box also provides nesting opportunities for other small song birds including titmice and chickadees.
