Make a gourd birdhouse that attracts your favorite bird. Explore which tools work best and learn tips for solving common problems.
Do you you live in a wide-open area that attracts birds? Think about creating your own with a gourd. Especially if you are a beginner, the process uses essential tools you will use later as your gourd art skills improve. But this project is more than a hole for the door and twine for a hanger.
To make birds feel welcome, safe, and comfortable in a birdhouse, you must fit the house to the needs of the birds’ families who want to live there. Let’s review some of the details you need to know and look at solutions other gourd artists have found to solve the problems.
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Make a Gourd Birdhouse
Finding the Right Gourd
Native Americans began the tradition thousands of years ago when they found that a hollow gourd placed in a tree was attractive to breeding bird pairs.
Today, gourd artists usually choose Lagenaria or Bird House gourds. Or you will hear it called the “bottle gourd.” If you want to grow your own, plan on using lots of space and water, and you will need about 150 to 180 growing days to fully mature the fruit to 9″ or 10″ gourds.
Remember that the vine can grow up to 30 feet and will grow over just about anything. A trellis is your best answer here. Once grown, dry it inside or outside until you hear the seeds rattle around. Soak the gourd for 15 minutes in hot, soapy water, then scrape with a dull knife to remove the outer skin and mold. Once you cut the hole, clean out the outside and soak the gourd in a mild bleach solution to sanitize the inside. Gourds float, so let the inside fill with the bleach solution. Let it soak for a few minutes, and place it in a sunny, well-ventilated place so it dries completely. If you want to learn more, check out these two articles.
Here’s how to grow birdhouse gourds
Make a Gourd Birdhouse
Some Birds Care about their neighbors and the size of their house!
When you make a gourd birdhouse you have to know which bird you want to give a home to. Different bird species also require varied birdhouses—for example, purple martins like to live in communities with many birds of their species. Housewrens live in single, tiny houses and prefer not to have other wrens nearby. They are also happy with an 8-inch-tall house with a 4-by-6-inch base.
Bluebirds also require single-room dwellings, typically 50 to 75 yards apart. Bluebird’s boxes you buy are usually 5-1/2 by 5-1/2 inches and 10 inches tall.
Bluebirds also like tree sparrows as neighbors.
The chickadee birdhouse should be 8 inches tall with a 5- by 5-inch base. Wood ducks and screech owls need big houses, ten by 10 inches and 24 inches high—Cardinals like to nest in low shrubs and bushes. I have attached this handout below to help you determine your gourd choice.
Prepare your Gourd
It is crucial to begin with a very dry gourd, or you may have a rotting birdhouse at the end of the year! TeriLu Adler explained,
“If your gourd is getting soft, I think it was not completely mature, and you did not wait until it was completely dry. A good dry gourd won’t rot if it gets wet and won’t get soft. I think you sealed it up too soon, and there was nowhere for the moisture to escape.”
Anita Dee Lancaster says,
“I think you should give the gourd at least three months to dry and cure before decorating and sealing…”
She also suggests you wash off the peeling skin and scrub it well to remove all the white waxy skin under the peeling skin. Then cut the hole size needed for the bird species. Sand the edge, and don’t put in a stick for a perch. The bad birds will sit on it and try to eat the new baby birds!
Make a Gourd Birdhouse
How big Should your Entrance hole Be?
When you make a gourd birhouse, the most important hole you will make is for the entrance. It must fit the bird you are attracting. Some like big homes,other want something small and cozy. Use the handout below to help you determine the hole sizes and the gourd you want for each bird you want to watch.
Make a Gourd Birdhouse
Drilling holes into the gourd
Your first birdhouse does not need to be fancy, so find a gourd, gather the tools suggested, and begin the process. Once the exterior is clean and you have decided on the hole size, you have different tool options. Most artists like using a twisted bit and a hole saw bit.
First, draw your entrance hole. Hold the gourd by its stem between your index finger and thumb to locate the entrance hole and let it hang. Mark a center point along the outermost part of the curve so the hole faces straight out—not towards the sky or the ground. You can also use a keyhole saw to cut the entrance by hand. If you do, cutting the hole immediately after washing the gourd while it’s still wet is best.
If you have no hole saw. Then, mark the circle with a compass or a washer that is the correct size.Then cut the hole with Dremel or Proxima.
Make sure to hold the drill tightly to the gourd as you drill, as the drill bit will occasionally catch some of the gourd’s insides and pull. A tight grip makes this very unlikely to be a problem.
Make a Gourd Birdhouse
Dill smaller holes for drainage and holes for the hanger.
Make seven drainage holes in the bottom of the gourd about 2 inches apart using a 5/16-inch drill bit.
With the same bit, drill two sets of holes about 2 inches from the top of the gourd’s neck for hanging and ventilation.
Drill one set perpendicular to the entrance hole and the other in line with it. (You’ll only use one set of holes for hanging. Choose the pair to allow the entrance hole to face the most open direction.)
Cleaning the Inside
Remove seeds and membrane through the entrance hole with a long-handled metal spoon, screwdriver, or a wire coat hanger (wear a face mask). If this is difficult, soak the gourd in water for several hours. The inside does not have to be completely clean.
Sharron St. Croix-Deering says, Please don’t leave the seeds inside because the birds don’t eat them. They are not suitable for them.
The simplist hanger is the twine inserted with a stick or masking tape.
Make a Gourd Birdhouse
Ways of Hanging Your Gourd Bird House
To get through the gourd has challenged many. Some wrap the end of the twine with masking tape. Others wrap it around a twig, and some prefer a wire.
Others prefer to use a 24″ of galvanized wire (I used #14 gauge)
One artist doubles the string on each side of the wire to allow him to spread the twine to stabilize the birdhouse so it doesn’t swing in the wind.
He starts with a 24″ of Galvanized wire (#14 gauge)
Insert the wire through the holes you drilled directly across from each other on the top of the gourd. Bend a 1/2″ piece of the wire at 90 degrees to keep it from pulling back through the hole. Then, bend the rest of the wire straight up. Loop the end back through the holes to form a handle above the gourd. Bend another 1/2″ piece of the wire to keep it from pulling back out. Then, form the wire above the gourd into a nice-looking handle to hang in the trees or on a hook.
Some Artists Suggest a Dip in a Wood Preserver
When you look at the gourds at the end of this post, notice the hanger method. Now, at this point, you can dip the gourd in a wood preservative for 15 minutes and weigh it down with a brick. Then, remove the gourd and hang it up to dry for several days. Need more instruction? Build a Gourd Birdhouse picture tutorial.
You can watch this video for extra tips.
How to Attract Certain Birds to Your Gourd Birdhouse?
What colors attracts birds to birdhouses the best?
When you make a gourd birdhouse the location and size are more important than color, but you might consider it if you seek a particular bird. Naturally neutral colors can help protect birds from attention predators. Lighter colors like white and sky blue reflect heat and sun instead of absorbing it, which helps keep birds cool during sweltering summer months.
Some scientists say birds prefer colors in the high energy wavelengths—blue, purple, and green. They believed red and yellow, low energy wavelength colors, are less popular because they are natural warning colors.
Most birds tend to look for homes that blend into their surroundings. That way, predators will be less likely to attack their nests. In these cases, consider where you are going locate your birdhouse and then paint it a color that fits its surroundings. If you want to make a gourd house that is very colorful, try putting it in a flower garden with the same colors!
Make a Gourd Birdhouse
What kind of paint works best?
You’ll want to choose a durable paint. However, don’t choose super-reflective paint, as it may scare away the birds. Going for a semi-gloss paint intended for outdoor use will help you achieve a durable paint job.
Sand the gourd smooth and paint with an oil-based primer. Allow it to dry. (Do not use water-based latex paint because it will peel.) Apply two coats. Be careful not to clog drainage holes.
Once primed, you can paint your gourd using any color and design. If you are using only one color, use at least two coats. By the way, do not paint the interior! Young chicks use the textured, natural walls to scurry up and down.
How To Seal a Gourd Birdhouse
When you make a gourd birdhouse that will hang outside then you must seal it. It is essential to use a high-quality outdoor sealer. My favorite choice is Varathane Clear Gloss Spar Urethane Spray Paint. It leaves the gourds well-protected, shiny, and beautiful, and it is r easy to apply. My general rule is Karmar for gourds staying indoors and the other for outdoor gourds. Some artists say they like the Dura Clear.
More Tip on Sealing a gourd Birdhouse
Rita Swope: Never burn through a sealer or coating of any kind! That is toxic. Spay after you have decorated it.
Sally Spencer Neckvatal:
Use several very light coats, sprayed at least a day apart, This provides better protection than trying to spray all coats within a few hours. The space allows each coat to harden/dry/outgas more thoroughly. (I once worked in the chemical coating industry and have seen this outgassing event under the microscope and in practical application.
So finally, many chemicals and paints have an odor while outgassing that you should not expose to people or animals.
Make a Gourd Birdhouse
Where Should You Hang It?
Hang your gourd birdhouse outdoors before the birds arrive. Hang the gourd 10 to 15 feet high, with the entrance hole facing an open area. You’ll also want to place your birdhouse at least 5 feet above ground level. If you can, ensure the birdhouse’s opening faces east to help keep strong winds away from the birdhouse.
Install plain or painted birdhouses at least 6 or 7 yards away from bird feeders and baths. Distance from water and feeders is vital because many birds will not nest in high-traffic areas. Spread them around your property so every little feathered family has room to rest, relax and recharge.
After Care for Gourd Birdhouses
How long do gourd birdhouses last? Some have lasted over 15 years, while others replace them every few years. It is best to clean them every year. Dispose of the neglected nest to make room for a new one. Scrub and wash the inside of the painted birdhouse or unpainted birdhouse to keep it clean and safe, then let it dry completely before putting it right back up where it was before. You might also give it a few more coats of clear polyurethane sealer.
Another good tip: When Spring comes, place items like moss, soft grass, old hair, little pieces of fabric, feathers, and pine needles near your birdhouse every year. Your birds will find them, don’t worry!
How Do I attract more Birds to my gourd houses?
Bird lover Audrey Anderson says the secret to attracting many nesting birds is offering avariety of plants. Grow different flowers,berry bushes and trees, and keep your bird bath sparkling clean.
Also, consider these points:
- Offer multiple sizes of birdhouses.
- Choose birdhouse sizes and designs that appeal to birds in the area.
- Place a birdbath and feeder in the yard.
- Leave out materials that birds can use for nesting.
- Include landscaping and plants that are appealing to birds in your yard.
- Reduce your use of pesticides and insecticides.
Make a Gourd birdhouse
Purple Martins are particular about the design of their home.
Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman, official birding experts for Birds & Blooms, say, “Purple martins are choosy, and attracting them to a new house can take time. Ensure the house is open, not hemmed in by trees. Keep the entrance holes sealed during winter so house sparrows and starlings won’t move in. Open them only when the martins return in Spring. Keep the house up through late summer, even if it hasn’t attracted tenants yet. Young martins look to find sites for the purple martin landlord in late summer, which takes time and commitment.
It is best to paint the purple Martin gourd birdhouses white because it reflects the sun’s rays and keeps the houses cooler. If you are making several, place the entrance holes in different locations in each gourd so the purple martins can determine which house was theirs. Be aware that house sparrows and European starlings are invasive species that will outcompete purple martins for nests and take over a colony.
In summer, keep the gourd free of non-native house sparrows. In late fall, clean the gourd and close it up.
To attract Purple Martins, hang at least five gourd birdhouses together – Martins are highly sociable birds.
Do you want to learn more about this unique gourd birdhouse? Then check out these sourses,
DIY purple martin gourd project
Learn how to make a Purple Martin house out of a gourd, step-by-step.
The Gourd Birdhouse as an art form
Now that you know the basics follow other gourd artists and get creative! See the gourd as a hanging sculpture with a hole in the center. Look at some examples from Pinterest and imagine how you might turn a gourd birdhouse into a work of art.
I hope this information has inspired you to try and make a gourd birdhouse. They can become addictive because there are so many possibilities, and they can be great gifts. This project is also excellent to do with a group of gourd artists just beginning. And it is a project kids can do, and everyone succeeds!
Please, share your thoughts here in the comment box or share them with all the gourd artists on our Facebook Group Page.
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