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Most birdhouse plans are one nesting box. This one is three functions under a single barn-shaped roof: a nesting box facing front, a second nesting box on one side, and an open feeder tray on the opposite side.
Every piece here comes off cheap cedar fence boards, so the bevel angles do the shaping work that would otherwise need a more expensive material — 22.5° and 45° bevels on ten small parts is what turns flat fence-board stock into a barn-roof silhouette.
The two roof/door panels are hinged rather than nailed shut, on purpose — a birdhouse nobody can open for an annual cleanout turns into a health hazard for the birds using it.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Cedar fence board, 5/8" x 5-1/2" x 6 ft | 2 each |
| Exterior wood glue | 2 oz |
| Deck screws, 1-1/4" | 12 each |
| Finish nails, 16 gauge, 1-1/4" | 20 each |
| Small hinges (for access door) | 1 pair |
| 3/8" dowel (perch) | 1 each |
Overall cost: $. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| A — base panelCedar fence board | 1 | 5/8" × 5 1/2" × 15 1/4" |
| B — back panelCedar fence board22.5° bevel. | 1 | 5/8" × 5 1/2" × 4 5/8" |
| C — corner piecesCedar fence board22.5° angle. | 4 | 5/8" × 4" × 6" |
| D — roof-slope side panelsCedar fence board45° angle. One gets a 1-1/2" entrance hole and a 3/8" dowel hole for the perch. | 2 | 5/8" × 5 1/2" × 11 1/2" |
| E — wall panelsCedar fence board45° bevel. | 2 | 5/8" × 5 1/2" × 8 3/4" |
| F — small wall panelCedar fence board22.5° bevel. | 1 | 5/8" × 5 1/2" × 3" |
| G — small end panelsCedar fence boardDrilled with a 3/8" hole. | 2 | 5/8" × 4" × 1 1/2" |
| H — small wall panelCedar fence board | 1 | 5/8" × 5 1/2" × 1 1/2" |
| I — wall panelsCedar fence board45° bevel. | 2 | 5/8" × 5 1/2" × 8 3/4" |
| J — hinged roof/door panelsCedar fence board22.5° bevel. These hinge open for cleanout access. | 2 | 5/8" × 5 1/2" × 6 3/4" |
Buy 3 boards at 8 ft.
2 boards
Cut parts A through J to the sizes and bevel angles in the cut list. Set up a stop block on the miter saw for any pieces sharing a length — there are several — so they come out identical without re-measuring each one.
Glue and nail the base panel (A) to the angled back panel (B) to form the core of the structure.
Attach the four angled corner pieces (C) at the front and side sections with glue and finish nails, following the angles cut in step one.
Drill the entrance hole and the dowel-perch hole in one of the two roof-slope side panels (D) before attaching either — it's much easier to drill flat than after the panel is fastened in at an angle.
Glue and nail the remaining wall panels (E, F, G, H, I) around the nesting compartments per the cut list, building out both the front nesting box and the side feeder opening.
Attach the two roof/door panels (J) with small hinges so the interior stays accessible for an annual cleanout, then glue the dowel perch into its hole.
Finish the exterior or leave it natural, and mount with hardware rated for outdoor exposure.
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1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →