Swiss Chalet Birdhouse

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The key detail of a birdhouse is entry hole size. A 1 1/2" diameter will attract roughly a

dozen species including wrens, swallows, bluebirds, chickadees and nuthatches, depending

on locale.

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   Materials:

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Wood glue

Dowel for perch

Popsicle sticks

3/4" thick pine plank for front, back, sides and bottom

3/8" or 1/4" thick exterior plywood for roof top

finish head nails for assembly

primer and paint (gray-blue)

screws for removable bottom

hot melt glue for attaching popsicle sticks to the roof

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   Tools:

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Saw

Hand drill

Drill bits for entry hole, perch, mounting hole

Hot glue gun

Clamp

Hammer

Stiff wire wheel

Screw driver

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   Method:

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NOTE: Since this craft is labor intensive, we suggest you refer to a book on birdhouse

building for basic details. Check out these references, all available at amazon.com and

barnesandnoble.com:

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Building Birdhouses by Don Vandervort

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The Complete Book of Birdhouse Construction for Woodworkers by Scott D. Campbell

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The Complete Birdhouse Book:The Easy Guide to Attracting Nesting Birds by Donald and

Lillian Stokes

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Super Simple Birdhouses You Can Make by Charles R. Self

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Layout sides, front and back on a pine plank and cut to shape.

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Assemble sides front and back; glue, then nail together.

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Fabricate bottom and install with screws.

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Locate and drill the entry hole, hole for perch and hole in back for mounting.

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After glue has hardened, clamp to a bench and use the wire wheel in the drill brush with

the grain of wood to create a weathered look on the exterior surface of the house.

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Prime exterior and let dry.

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Make roof and attach to house.

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Paint finish coat on birdhouse.

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With hot glue gun, attach popsicle sticks to the roof starting at the eaves(lower edge of

roof) and working up.

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Install perch (dowel) with hot glue gun.