How To Build A Cardinal Birdhouse

So, you want to give those backyard birds cardinals shelter and food or lure them to your yard using a birdhouse. Unfortunately, you fail to attract those birds using traditional birdhouses, and you start thinking about building your own.

But the problem arises when contemplating how to build a birdhouse for cardinals. What is the easiest way to make the best one from scratch?

No worries, we have revealed a tried-and-true cardinal-friendly birdhouse design in this content. Plus, we have described how you can make your ideal birdhouse in a cinch following the plan. Hence, let’s read.

How To Build A Birdhouse To Attract Cardinals: Follow The Easiest Steps

Below, we have revealed a step-by-step guide to help you accomplish this job of building a cardinal birdhouse successfully. So, let’s dive deep into it.

Equipment You Will Need:

• 1 pc. 1 x 8 6ft. Fence Board
• 1.05 Fishing Nails
• Wood Glue

Cut The Fence Board According To The Required Size

First, you need to cut one flooring piece in 5-¾-inch and 6-¾-inch sizes. Then, you must make 45-degree bevel cuts on the edge of two 6” x 6” sides.

Later, cut one back to the size of 13-½” and 7-¼”, and cut one roof according to the size of 6” x 7” and follow the 6” x 6-¼” size ratio to cut the other roof piece.

Finally, cut one front piece by following the size of 1-¾” x 5-¾”. There you have all the required pieces ready to assemble. So, now let’s get started with the assembly.

Assemble The Parts

Once you cut all the essential pieces, it’s time to attach them using wood glue and fishing nails. Sticking every part is an effortless chore. First, you need to place the flooring piece on a flat surface to accomplish this job.

Then, you need to put glue on one side and attach the one side part of your birdhouse. You should follow the same method for the other side.

Now, put glue on the edges of the two sides you have already attached to the floor. Afterward, stick the back with those sides. Put wood glue on top of the sides and stick the roof.

Lastly, attach the front piece to the base. There you go; you have assembled your birdhouse to lure cardinals. You can modify the birdhouse according to your needs.

For example, you can attach another small suet cage to one side of the birdhouse or stick a small pot to the side of the birdhouse to help cardinals drink water. It’s entirely up to you.

Position Your Hand-Made Cardinal Birdhouse

Before placing the birdhouse anywhere, you need to remember that cardinals prefer open areas covered with foliage, and they choose to build their nests five to fifteen feet above the ground.

Hence, you must do your best to find a location that meets the above-mentioned criteria. You can select a thriving vine, dense shrub, or any other tree that falls into the cardinals’ safe-to-stay category.

After finding one suitable tree, you can attach your birdhouse five to fifteen feet above the ground. If you fail to mount the birdhouse with trees, you can use poles to hang the birdhouse.

Decorating & Maintaining Your Cardinal Birdhouse:

After setting up the birdhouse, you need to make it cardinal-friendly, and to do that, you must place some twigs, fabrics, feathers, and wool inside the birdhouse. These additional pieces of equipment will give cardinals a homey environment.

Once you are done with the decoration, it’s time to place some black oil sunflower seeds in the front section of the birdhouse. After that, what you need to do is just wait for the cardinal to visit.

Now, let’s talk a bit about birdhouse maintenance. You should clean your birdhouse at least once weekly using a non-toxic all-purpose cleaner. You also need to rinse the birdhouse and let it dry thoroughly after cleaning it with a cleanser.

However, you need to follow this cleaning routine only in summer. As you know, during the winter, you can barely clean your birdhouse except for removing those hard ice build-ups. So, that’s how you should take care of your birdhouse.

Miscellaneous

Cardinals will never nest in birdhouses with enclosed walls, so you need to keep your birdhouse as open as possible. The design we shared in this article will do the job, though.

Ensure you attach the birdhouse tightly with trees or poles because a slight slippage can cause severe damage to baby cardinals. Lastly, you should never forget to install the birdhouse in areas covered with dense leaves.

These leaves protect baby birdies from harmful sunlight and provide cardinals with the shelter they require to feel safe and thrive.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Color Should I Put On My Cardinal Birdhouse?

You can use either red or pink to colorize your birdhouse. These colors will increase the probability of luring cardinals to your backyard. However, if you don’t colorize your birdhouse, you can still attract those birdies.

What Trees Are Suitable To Mount A Cardinal Birdhouse?

Usually, you can choose any tree to mount your birdhouse but make sure the tree has enough foliage coverage. As for the recommendation, you should select dogwood, mulberry, crabapple, or spruce trees to mount your birdhouse.

Wrapping UP:

Newbie birders believe they can attract cardinals with typical birdhouses, but the reality is quite the opposite. Those beginner bird watchers can never lure cardinals using traditional birdhouses, which is why we have shared a building plan of a cardinal-friendly birdhouse in this content.

The best fact regarding this birdhouse is that anyone can effortlessly make it with little or virtually no effort. Even a beginner in DIY can easily build this birdhouse in no time. That’s all for this content; we hope you found it amazing and informative and will share it with your friends on Twitter and Pinterest. Happy Birding!