Be sure the gourd outside is clean and free of any dirt or residue. Depending on the type of bird you wish to attract, drill an entry hole 1-2 ½ inches:
House Wren -1 Chickadee 1 1/8 Bluebird 1 ½ Carolina Wren 1 ½
Drill 4 small holes at the bottom of the gourd for drainage.
Clean out the interior of seeds and dried skin. Dont worry about getting it all, the birds will use some of the material in their nests.
You can use the stem to attach a wire or string for hanging, or drill 2 small holes near the top of the gourd to run a wire through for hanging. I have read, but not tried, that dipping the gourd in a solution of copper sulfate at this stage will add to the life of the gourd. This is readily available at most hardware stores.
You can stop at this point and your birdhouse is ready to use. The expected life without a polyurethane finish is about two seasons.
You can continue on to decorate (see next page) and/or polyurethane your birdhouse. To seal, use at least 2 coats of a UV sensitive finish, such as: Delta Ceramcoat Exterior/Interior Varnish (soap and water cleanup) and Minwax indoor/outdoor spar urethane (mineral sprits cleanup). Coat the outside and stem only. Let dry thoroughly between coats. This will extend the life of the birdhouse dramatically.
This chart is from www.amishgourds.com:
|
Bird Species |
Diameter of Hole |
Height above Ground |
|
|
(inches) |
(feet) |
|
Bluebird |
1-1/2" |
5-10 |
|
Chickadee |
1-1/8" |
6-15 |
|
Titmouse |
1-1/4" |
6-15 |
|
Nuthatch |
1" - 1-1/4" |
6-10 |
|
Bewick's Wren |
1-1/4" |
6-10 |
|
Carolina Wren |
1-1/2" |
6-10 |
|
Swallow |
1-1/2" |
10-15 |
|
Downy Woodpecker |
1-1/4" |
6-20 |
|
Hairy Woodpecker |
1-1/2" |
12-20 |
|
Purple Martin |
special crescent |
12-20 |
|
Crested Flycatcher |
2" |
8-20 |
|
Flicker |
2-1/2" |
6-20 |
|
Red-Headed Woodpecker |
2" |
12-20 |