Bird Feeders and Bird HousesOutdoor ProjectsProjects

Chickadee House

How to Build a Chickadee House

Chickadee HouseI’ve built many birdhouses and feeders over the years, and they’re always enjoyable projects. This Chickadee birdhouse, which is also popular with Nuthatches, was particularly fun and easy to make. Using just one board, I crafted a simple yet effective design inspired by a plan from the book Easy to Build Birdhouses, a fantastic resource for straightforward projects.

Chickadees and Nuthatches are charming backyard visitors. Chickadees are known for their distinctive “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call and are highly social birds, often seen flitting between feeders and trees. Nuthatches, on the other hand, are agile climbers that can often be spotted moving headfirst down tree trunks. Both birds enjoy sunflower seeds and peanuts, making them likely to visit a well-placed feeder.

While I made a few modifications to my design, the cuts and assembly remain simple, making this an excellent beginner woodworking project for anyone looking to attract Chickadees and Nuthatches to their backyard. Setting up this birdhouse not only provides a cozy home for these delightful birds but also creates an opportunity for hours of enjoyable birdwatching.

If you make one of these be sure to post a picture of it over on the WoodLogger Facebook Page.  I’d love to see how yours turns out.

 

Material List

(1) 1″ x 7″ x 8′ – cedar

Cut List

(1) .75″ x 7″ x 16″ – back
(2) .75″ x 7″ x 11.5″ – sides
(1) .75″ x 4″ x 7″ – lower front/door
(1) .75″ x 7″ x 10.5″ – roof
(1) .75″ x 3″ x 7″ – top

Milling & Assembly

Chickadee House Rough Cut Chickadee House Sides The rough cuts for most of the parts are fairly straightforward. For the sides, there’s a simple trick: tape the two pieces together and run them through your table saw. This ensures a perfect match between the two pieces.
Chickadee House Drill On one side, you’ll need to drill a 1-1/8″ hole, which is the perfect size for Chickadees and Nuthatches. I used a spade bit on my drill press to make the hole.
Chickadee House GlueUp Chickadee House Assembly Next, it’s time for the assembly. I used exterior-rated wood glue for the joints, along with brad nails for extra reinforcement. To ensure proper alignment, I used the bottom piece as a spacer to position the two sides of the house. The top was placed approximately 1-1/2 inches from the upper edge. I also marked the locations of the boards on both sides of the back piece with a pencil. These markings will be helpful when flipping the back over to secure the sides and top with brad nails.
Chickadee House Hinges Chickadee House Hinges After attaching the sides and top of the house, I installed the bottom piece using finish nails on both sides. This holds the bottom securely in place while still allowing it to swing open like a hinge. Additionally, I drilled a hole near the bottom of one side, extending into the bottom, to insert a screw. This screw keeps the bottom locked but also makes it easy to open for cleaning when needed.
Chickadee House Assembled Here’s the finished house with the bottom open. This project is both fun and perfect for beginners, and I’m sure the chickadees and nuthatches will enjoy it as well!
Enter your email if you want a free subscription to this site(we’ll never share your email):

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Back to top button

WoodLogger Subscription

Subscribe today to keep up to date with the latest news and posts.

  • Receive Latest Posts
  • Updates on Reviews and Give Aways
  • Unsubscribe at any time
  • Email is kept private (We will never share it)
Send this to a friend