Schoolhouse Birdhouse

A Wren Birdhouse Plan

These schoolhouse birdhouse plans are great nest boxes for wrens. This birdhouse's design mimics the old-time small single-room country school buildings. If you are home-schooling students interested in learning more about birds and their habitats, this easy craft project is a great way to get them started. A birdhouse is also a perfect homemade gift idea. Be sure to check out the other birdhouse plans available on mycarpentry.com.

wren birdhouse plans
Wren Birdhouse Plans

Building the Schoolhouse Birdhouse

This birdhouse can be built from one or two 1x6 fence boards (depending on how you cut the various pieces). All the birdhouses on mycarpentry.com use western red cedar, but other species of wood that are naturally resistant to decay are acceptable. This schoolhouse birdhouse features a Cupola on top of the main roof, with a small bell (purchased from a craft store) mounted inside. It also has a clean-out door that hinges on two screws at the top-right of the front and back panels (see diagrams). There's a facade attached to the front panel, with a 1 1/4" entry hole.

Note: I used a combination of 16 gauge x 2" and 1" air nails to build my birdhouses, which requires a compressor and nail gun, but if you don't have that equipment, you can use small galvanized screws or nails to attach the pieces of your birdhouse.

Note: The dimensions in these plans assume all of the wood is 3/4" thick. If the thickness of your wood is less or more, you might need to make some adjustments here and there.

wren birdhouse plans
Wren Birdhouse - Exploded View

Material List


Description Size Quantity
Front and Back Walls 3/4" x 5 1/2" x 8" 2
Left Side and Rt. Door 3/4" x 5 1/2" x 6" 2
Base (not shown) 3/4" x 5 1/2" x 4" 1
Main Roof 3/4" x 5" x 9" 2
Facade 3/4" x 3" x 5" 1
Porch 3/4" x 5 1/2" x 2" 1
Facade Roof 3/4" x 1 1/2" x 2 3/4" 2
Cupola Walls 3/4" x 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" 2
Cupola Roof 3/4" x 2 1/4" x 2 3/4" 2



Schoolhouse Birdhouse - Assembly

wren birdhouse plans
Wren Birdhouse - Elevations

Schoolhouse Birdhouse - Painting

If you chose western red cedar or redwood - or some other wood naturally resistant to decay - you can leave the birdhouse unfinished. If you plan to paint your birdhouse, don't paint the interior surfaces or the inside of the entry hole where the bird will nest.

I painted my schoolhouse birdhouse with a water-based antique red paint. For the roof pieces, I used a water-based charcoal color. If you plan to paint your birdhouse in more than one color, as shown in the images, I suggest painting the roof sections before attaching them to the birdhouse.

Schoolhouse Birdhouse

Success!


 See Also (on mycarpentry.com)

Birdhouse Plans - Check out more birdhouse plans on mycarpentry.com.

Woodworking Projects - See more woodworking projects on mycarpentry.com.

DIY Projects - Check out the DIY projects on mycarpentry.com.


What next?

Leave Schoolhouse Birdhouse and visit our home page.


 

Facebook Link
Pinterest Link