This was a project that I had started with my grandson but didn't get finished before he left to go back to Brooklyn. It's a hexagonal(6-sided) birdhouse that we had made from scrap boards that were left over from another project(fencing). If there's one thing that would change, it would be the height of the house..... I could have made two birdhouses from the one. Cutting the six sides for the house was simple and straight forward but finding the miter/bevel angles of the roof caused me much grief. I located a good web page (https://www.drking.org.uk/hexagons/practical/roof/index.html) that helped me with the angles but my Trig is terrible, but not my Algebra I, and I was able to cut the panels correctly. I splined and used brads for putting the roof together and, if I do this again, I'll build a jig to hold the panels together. The seams were covered with copper strips to keep out the rain/snow. I turned a finial from a piece of walnut and added some gold leaf to it, painting everything before it was installed on our fence.

Fantastic! Love the copper and gold leaf adornments.

needs a dowel at the entry hole for the birdies to perch on as they come and go.  or a large nail.

10 minutes ago, DAB said:

needs a dowel at the entry hole for the birdies to perch on as they come and go.  or a large nail.

I've read that a dowel/nail will allow "trash" birds(sparrows, starlings) to access the interior but the "good' ones(finches, wrens) will be able to cling to the side for entry.

 

https://backyardbirdingblog.com/bird-house-mistakes/

3 minutes ago, FrederickH said:

I've read that a dowel/nail will allow "trash" birds(sparrows, starlings) to access the interior but the "good' ones(finches, wrens) will be able to cling to the side for entry.

 

https://backyardbirdingblog.com/bird-house-mistakes/

Some birds don't like perches, as you pointed out.

https://www.massaudubon.org/learn/nature-wildlife/birds/birdhouses

Either way a really nice bird house !

Paul

 Your bird house looks great. I also made a couple of hex birdhouses. I did them that way to help fill idle time during isolation. I do see a potential problem. Most birdhouses need more space from the hole to the floor for nest building. Depends on the bird. The houses I build here in CO are always invaded by wasps who build nest hanging from above and they kill smaller birds. I had to resort to installing different things on the inside roof to keep the nests from sticking. I eventually used my wife's parchment paper she uses for baking. Seems to work well. 

 

57 minutes ago, Ron Altier said:

 Your bird house looks great. I also made a couple of hex birdhouses. I did them that way to help fill idle time during isolation. I do see a potential problem. Most birdhouses need more space from the hole to the floor for nest building. Depends on the bird. The houses I build here in CO are always invaded by wasps who build nest hanging from above and they kill smaller birds. I had to resort to installing different things on the inside roof to keep the nests from sticking. I eventually used my wife's parchment paper she uses for baking. Seems to work well. 

 

Beautifully turned roofs. How do they hold up in the weather? Great tip on the parchment paper!!!

"Some birds don't like perches, as you pointed out"

 

I didn't have perches to begin with. However after some of the young first came out of the house, they fell to the ground. They became food for other animals or birds, especially hawks. The perch allowed them to go in and out the house as they were feed.

 This is the first winter for the turned roofs. I used deck stain/finish hoping the sun wouldn't eat them up, like most things here at altitude.

Edited October 26, 20205 yr by Ron Altier

1 hour ago, Ron Altier said:

"Some birds don't like perches, as you pointed out"

 

I didn't have perches to begin with. However after some of the young first came out of the house, they fell to the ground. They became food for other animals or birds, especially hawks. The perch allowed them to go in and out the house as they were feed.

 This is the first winter for the turned roofs. I used deck stain/finish hoping the sun wouldn't eat them up, like most things here at altitude.

Thanks for the input. I didn't think about the young birds falling out, from the birdhouse, but it's possible. I did staple some wire screening, inside, for them hold on TO get out.

That's a beautiful birdhouse Frederick.

I have made a lot of bluebird houses.  No perches, from rough cedar material nothing more was needed inside for them.  Using planed boards you could also use a coarse rasp to rough up the inside surface prior to assembly.  No wire needed.