Homemade bird box

How to make a bird box

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To do

Watch Kate Bradbury demonstrate how to make a bird box, below.

After you've made your bird box, you'll need to find the perfect spot to site it. Here, Monty Don offers some tips on the best spots for erecting a bird box:

Follow our step-by-step guides to building a bird box, below.

Our bird box shopping list

You might already have what you need to get started on making your bird box. If you don't, we've done the hard work for you with our handy shopping list.

You Will Need

Untreated, sawn timber (1.5m x 15cm x 1.25cm)
2.5cm nails (20)
2.5cm self-tapping screws (3)
Drill
25mm wood drill bit
28mm wood drill bit
32mm wood drill bit
Wood saw
Sandpaper
Hammer screw driver
Tape measure
Pencil
Roofing felt, small patch

Step 1

Measuring the wood

Cut the timber for the bird box into six sections using the following measurements: back panel 45cm x 15cm; base 11cm x 15cm (with a few drilled holes for drainage); front 20cm x 15cm; roof 21cm x 15cm; and two side panels cut for a sloping roof, 25cm high on the back x 20cm high at the front.

Step 2

Sawing the wood

Cut the wood along the pencil lines using a wood saw. Sand down all rough edges to protect the birds.

Step 3

Hammering a nail into the wood

Nail one of the sides to the base of the bird box, then nail them both to the back section. Hammer gently to avoid splitting the wood.

Step 4

Fixing the bird box pieces together

Turn the nesting box on to the fixed side and nail the other side into position. Three nails for each join should be enough.

Step 5

Drilling an entrance hole into the bird box

Before fixing the front panel to the sides, make an entrance hole for the birds using a wide drill bit. Sand the edges smooth. A 25mm hole will attract blue, coal and marsh tits and a 28mm hole attracts great tits. House sparrows need a minimum hole diameter of 32mm to fit inside.

Step 6

Fixing the front panel to the bird box

Place the bird box on its back and nail the front to the sides. The pieces should all fit together without gaps.

Step 7

Screwing the lid on to the bird box

Use the self-tapping screws to fix the top to the sides and the front. This will allow you to remove the top to clean the bird box out.

Step 8

Drilling a hole into the back panel

Drill a hole in the top of the bird box and attach it to a tree using a screw. Position in a sheltered north-east facing spot.

Kate Bradbury

If your box doesn't attract residents within two years, move it to another part of the garden. Ideally the spot should face north-east, 2-4m above ground and with a clear flight path to the entrance. Tilt the box slightly to deflect rain away from any babies inside.

Kate Bradbury