Bird Houses Boys Can Build

by Albert Frederick Siepert

FIG. 12. RUSTIC HOUSES.

RUSTIC HOUSES.

The first group of houses of this type are shown in Figs. [12], [35] and [36]. These are made of slabs of wood with the bark left on, and in some cases, of the bark alone if it can be secured of sufficient thickness. It is usually a good plan to drive a sufficient number of nails into the bark to keep it in place, otherwise it will drop off. Houses such as these attract birds that would avoid a freshly painted imitation of some large residence or public building. Figs. [20] and [37] show houses made of a section of a tree split or sawed in halves, the nest cavity hollowed out, and then fastened together again with screws. The top should be covered with a board or piece of tin to keep out rain. The third division of this type of house is made of sawed lumber and then trimmed with bark or twigs. In this way the same frames may be made to appear as very different bird houses when completed. Such houses are shown in Figs. [30] to [34]. Sometimes a pail is used for the frame and then covered with bark, as the center house of Fig. [28]. This house has a partition placed half-way up making it a two family apartment, and is provided with ventilating and cleaning devices.

CEMENT AND STUCCO HOUSES.

Houses may be cast of concrete as Fig. [39]. This requires a mold or form, and takes considerable planning to insure success. A form is made whose inside dimensions are those of the outside of the bird house, and of the desired shape. A second form, or core, to be placed inside of the first form, is made as large as the inside of the bird house. The two forms must be mounted so they will remain in the right relation while concrete is placed in the space between them. After this has set, the forms may be removed, cleaned and used again. The roof is generally made separately and put in position last. Or the roof can be cast as a part of the house in which case the bottom is inserted last. Birds do not take as kindly to this type of house as a rule, as to those made of wood.

FIG. 13. STUCCO HOUSE FOR MARTINS.