Would you like to create a simple and inexpensive DIY project in your garden by building a nesting box for tits yourself? Below you will find construction instructions + tips!
Smaller breeding bird species such as blue tits or great tits can easily be attracted to your own garden, yard or balcony with suitable birdhouses. However, it is not the design that plays the decisive role, but rather the diameter of the entry hole. In order to accommodate different species of tits in homemade bird nesting boxes, you should also consider certain factors such as location and choice of materials. Here is some useful information and simple steps you can follow to make such a great DIY project yourself.
What should you know before building a nesting box for tits yourself?
To get one for the appropriate oneNesting aid suitable for bird speciesto provide, you should first think about the required design features. Before building such a birdhouse, it is therefore important to choose the right materials. Luckily, there are some types of wood that are both weather-resistant and easy to find and recycle. Although you can decorate your outdoor space with beautifully painted structures of this type, it is recommended to use natural wood. However, you can treat the surfaces against pests and the elements with a natural waterproofing agent such as linseed oil.
The optimal thickness of the wooden boards is around 2 cm, although they should not be painted with toxic paints or glazes. Varnished wood usually contains preservatives such as formaldehyde, which poses a serious health risk to birds. Otherwise, you can still consider the following advice before starting construction:
- Do not use plastic materials because birds are very picky when looking for nesting places. If your birdhouse is made from natural materials such as wood, this will attract cavity nesters and be more likely to suit their habitat preferences.
- As already written, you should limit the entry hole to the size of the species of tit you want to attract. The diameter of the opening in this case varies from 28 to 30 mm.
- Also, do not add a perch in front of the entry hole unless the bird nest box is in a predator-free location. However, cave nesters don't use perches anyway, which is why you should leave them out.
- Depending on the design, it is also recommended to make the entrance hole near the upper part of the house. This way the nesting site remains deeper inside, which will make the bird family feel safer.
- Since rainwater can collect inside and chicks can drown, the birdhouse should also be tilted forward.
- It is also recommended that the nest box be oriented to the northeast, as tit species do not like direct sunlight.
Appropriate building materials and additional protective measures
Before you build a nesting box for tits yourself, it is also important to choose a suitable location for it. When it comes to balconies, yards or gardens, the nesting area should be protected from pets such as cats or other predators. Therefore, a minimum height of 2 meters above the ground is required for birds to feel safe and build their nest. Since other bird species also compete for territory, several birdhouses should not hang next to each other and should have entry holes for the corresponding bird species. Otherwise, you can take other helpful steps before construction, such as:
- It is best to choose softwood or beech wood as a sustainable and suitable building material, which can also be easily installed on house walls. Untreated oak, cedar or pine wood is also suitable for this. Water-resistant plywood panels or reclaimed pallet wood are also common options. Although metal and plastic are common materials, they overheat quickly, which can endanger the lives of baby birds.
- A natural sealant such as linseed oil would protect the wooden surfaces from insect infestation and storms.
- All sides of such a birdhouse should be closed, although you can equip one of them with a sash for cleaning.
- Also plan for tiny holes in the ground. This allows water to drain away, although you should actually make these small so that bird feet don't get stuck in them.
- It is also recommended to drill additional ventilation holes on the side walls of the nesting box, which should not be too wide.
- According to ornithologists, disease transmission often occurs in abandoned birdhouses. Adding a hinged lid or back door will help clean up the interior before a new family of birds moves in in the spring.
- The best possible time to build and hang up a nesting box for tits yourself is in early spring or autumn.
Once you have made all the arrangements, you can start implementing the project. For this purpose, you can use the following exemplary step-by-step instructions as a guide.
Deciding on the best possible design and collecting materials
As already mentioned, rectangular designs with entry holes on the top work best for tit boxes. Depending on how creative or skilled you are, you can of course choose a design based on your personal preferences. Just make sure the hole diameter matches the species of tit you want to attract and the interior is deep enough for nesting. It's best to find out which species occur in your region, the most common of which are blue tits, great tits and marsh tits. Then you can follow these steps using the materials and tools listed to create your own version:
Materials and tools required:
- Screws, nails, hammer, screwdriver
- Circular or hand saw, hole saw and drill with suitable attachments for entrance holes and ventilation holes
- Hinges for side or back doors, or for the roof (optional)
- File, sandpaper, roofing felt and wood glue
- Tape measure and pencil
You can make any walls from a board 15 cm wide, the optimal thickness is about 20 mm. Place the roof at an angle to allow rain to drain away. The following design with exemplary dimensions is suitable for most species of tits:
- Back wall with a length of 38 cm
- Side walls with a length of 22 (front) x 26 cm (rear) through diagonal cutting
- 23 cm long front with a ø 32 mm or ø 27 mm entry hole
- Approximately 18 cm or longer roof panel
- Approximately 12 cm long base plate
Follow simple steps and build your own nesting box for tits
If you have a large garden, you can place several boxes far apart from each other on tree trunks, house walls or under roofs. Below is a simple example with building instructions.
- First cut the wooden parts by sketching the dimensions on the surface in pencil.
- After you have cut the individual parts, you should smooth the cut edges with a file or sandpaper.
- First mark the location for the entry hole, ideally 18 cm from the bottom, on the front panel.
- Then drill the corresponding hole with the hole saw using a 32 or 28 mm attachment. Avoid splitting by placing the wood panel on an old piece of wood as a base. Feel free to drill through the two wooden boards to create an even hole.
- Now assemble the side panels by first gluing them to the back panel using non-toxic and waterproof wood glue.
- Then use screws or nails to attach the side panels to the back panel. Before doing this, drill guide holes to prevent wood splinters.
- Then continue with the front, also attaching it to the side walls first with wood glue and then with nails or screws.
- In order to position the roof at an angle, you must cut and file the back of the panel at a 20° angle.
- Optionally, you can equip the roof panel with hinges by attaching them to the back and screwing them on both sides.
- Additionally, floorboards can also be added under the roof panel. However, these should be 5 mm smaller than the inside dimensions of the side and front walls.
- Next, if desired, cover the roof of the nesting box with roofing felt by attaching it to it with wood glue and nails. Optionally, you can also use roofing sheet metal or lead sheet metal for this.
- Then drill tiny drainage holes on the base plate using a suitable drill attachment and attach them in the same way. Optionally, also make ventilation holes on the front wall.
