Need help with wood type for birdhouses

[sixdogs]

These are my birdhouses for tree swallows that I built many years ago out of white pine. Problem is the wood is half inch thick and you can see the tops have warped and the pieces are loose and shaky. My plan is to replace the wooden top and bottom with something more durable . I'd take them all apart and nail and glue everything. Trouble is, what should I use for wood?

Years ago I made some signs out of some sort of a paper coated plywood looking stuff that nailed and painted well but I can't recall what it was or where I got it. It was left over from some road signs. It seems like a good choice since plywood would curl up like the pine already on there. Pine would work, maybe, but that in 1/2" would curl as well. I've got about 20 of these I think.

Attached are some photos and you can see the curling roof I want to prevent. Any advice appreciated.

 

[/pine]

These are my birdhouses for tree swallows that I built many years ago out of white pine. Problem is the wood is half inch thick and you can see the tops have warped and the pieces are loose and shaky. My plan is to replace the wooden top and bottom with something more durable . I'd take them all apart and nail and glue everything. Trouble is, what should I use for wood?

Years ago I made some signs out of some sort of a paper coated plywood looking stuff that nailed and painted well but I can't recall what it was or where I got it. It was left over from some road signs. It seems like a good choice since plywood would curl up like the pine already on there. Pine would work, maybe, but that in 1/2" would curl as well. I've got about 20 of these I think.

Attached are some photos and you can see the curling roof I want to prevent. Any advice appreciated.

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solid wood planed to 1/2" is vulnerable regardless...if you can find something that is suitable "quartersawn" boards are more stable...

I like to use cypress for bird boxes and feeders (weathers well without any finish) I usually use bronze ring shank nails (except for the clean out panels)...

 

[Egon]

If it has to last consider some tile or slate

 

[smstonypoint]

Years ago I made some signs out of some sort of a paper coated plywood looking stuff that nailed and painted well but I can't recall what it was or where I got it. It was left over from some road signs.

I believe you are thinking of Medium Density Overlay (MDO). Lumber yards may not stock it, but they should be able to order it.

Steve

 

[Baby Grand]

Cedar seems pretty bug and rot resistant and you can buy it at Lowe's.
Not sure if the birds would object to it's aroma, though.
Your pine houses look pretty good, considering they've be out in the elements for a while.

 

[The kid]

There's nothing wrong with your bird houses. but... just like your own home. It requires some upkeep. My suggestion to make your bird houses more maintenance free is to take some thin sheet metal and cover the roof, paint it and it will last a long long time. Pine is by far IMHO the best material to build them out of.

Sent from my iPad iOS 6.1 - TBN v1.6

 

[murphy1244]

use some roofers tin for the roof.

 

[Jaeger]

You could always make them out of some Azek trim-boards. and be truly maintenance free. I save all the extra pieces from the house and find them handy for small weather proof projects.

 

[Travelover]

I would avoid treated lumber, but pine or cedar is fine. I maintain 100 nest boxes for bluebirds at a local state park.

 

[zzvyb6]

I use the rough sawn untreated cedar dog-eared fence boards available from Lowes or Home Depot or Menards. You can make a decent number of complete blue bird or swallow homes out of just a few boards.

I have a hundred or so houses on my property mounted on every other fence post. They all get occupied. The blue-bird scouts will be arriving soon so you need to be prepared asap.

If you want to keep the sparrows away, drill a 1" hole in the roof. Sparrows dislike a skylight. You may get some chickadees if you place them near your home or barn, too. They are very playful and can become very tame. They always come back every year and will land on your backhand to feed or pull on some hairs (for nesting material I'm guessing).

Bluebirds also benefit from putting a chicken wire false floor in the house. This keeps blowfly larvae from attacking the babies. I've been known to open a house and clean it out when its occupied. Put the babies on the ground, make up a new nest of soft grass and put them back in. The parents will be concerned but will not abandon the kids. I shoot English sparrows when possible. .38 buckshot in a revolver. Funny how they learn to fly off after an encounter or two. I even had some bluebird customers build a nest on a 30' windmill tower platform. No mosquitoes up that high but they liked the view I guess. I put the houses facing the open fields. Swallows tend to congregate near a body of water. When I cut or rake the hay, swallows will dive bomb the equipment in a feeding frenzy. When I bale, the red tailed hawks arrive to get the rabbit or mouse parts. With cardinals nesting in the pine trees along the driveway, this place has become a bird paradise.