Q&A for How to Build a Bluebird House

It's not necessary, but it's recommended.

You should do 2-3, spaced out. You don't want to overpopulate your yard, especially when they reproduce.

Add a metal ring to the hole on the outside. You can get metal rings in most building supply stores from the plumbing or hardware dept. Glue and/or screw it into the wood so sparrows can't chew through and make the hole larger.

No. No birdhouses should have perches. It gives a place for predators to sit on or get inside the nest.

Yes. It is recommend that a bluebird house have the entrance hole 2/3 of the way up.

Yes. Use a non-toxic and pet-friendly paint.

Generally, it's best to mount a bluebird house on a smooth metal post in the ground (versus hanging it from a tree or nailing to a fence), as this can help prevent predator access into the bluebird house.

Look at the instructions, if there are any. If not, try going to a woodworker or figuring it out yourself.

You can rent or buy drills from places like Home Depot, or other hardware stores around you. If you're not sure where to go, try googling "hardware store near me."

It should be 2 1/4" from the top to the hole (not 2 1/4" from the center of the hole to the top).

Place your birdhouse near a few trees, but don't make it too crowded. When in open spaces the birds can feel more vulnerable.

Wire can wrap easily around branches and it makes a sturdy surface for the bluebird to walk on.

You could create a separate squirrel feeder or set up some kind of squirrel repellent, like with a spray. However, squirrels are notoriously nosy and unlikely to leave the birdhouse alone forever, so expect this to be an ongoing effort.

Bluebirds like to eat snails, grubs, caterpillars, and other insect larvae. Grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, ants, spiders, and other insects are also tasty to them.

I'm no expert, but I think you are right, 4 decimal places on a hole for a bird house is ridiculous. I bet it was a cut and paste and he/she intended to type over the 5. Plus, I don't think I've ever seen a drill bit that went to 4 decimal places.

Bluebirds are actually attracted to the color blue, so maybe leave the natural wood and put a few accent blue flowers or anything else you want to put on your box. Hummingbirds are attracted to red, pink, yellow or orange. Orange attracts orioles and yellow attracts warblers, and woodpeckers. Research shows that green or blue houses actually attract more birds than yellow or red ones.

Face it away from the direction of the wind most of the year. If placing on a pole instead of a tree to keep away from other birds and predators, you may want to place in a flowerbed in front of a window where you can watch with the hole facing the window.

Usually you don't need any colour. It can be any colour, though bright colours may attract predators.