Gourd Bird Houses
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The bee birdhouse was purchased ready made and on sale. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
Gourd Bird Houses
Whether you buy ready made or make one yourself, gourd bird houses are a fun way to provide your natural pest patrol with homes.
Contrary to some assumptions, gourd bird houses can last for several years. The trick is to clean them out in fall and store them in a safe place over winter.
You can grow your own gourds or buy gourds at your local farmer’s market, usually at the end of the growing season. Kids can have fun decorating the gourds. Once dry, apply a coat of clear acrylic to help preserve the art work.
Do not spray the inside of the gourd.
The biggest question I get about my bird house gourds is what size is the entrance. Different birds like different sizes. I like having Carolina wrens around my garden so my gourd entrances are 1 1/4 inch, which is their preferred entrance size.
That tends to be the size in pre-made gourd birdhouses because it also attracts titmice and chickadees.
The gourd bird house entrance is a 1 1/4 inch circle. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
If you want a simpler painting scheme, start by painting your gourds fruit colors. Apples are fun and provide a quick pop of color. I painted these home grown gourds red and added painted leaves on the top and back. They now hang from my dwarf apple trees, housing a resident, and very vocal, wren.
This homemade apple gourd has the same sized entrance. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
Also remember to add a hook at the top so that you can easily and safely hang the gourd.
I screwed in an eye hook and then glued around it to ensure it safely holds the gourd’s precious cargo.
Remember to plan for hooks to easily hang your birdhouse gourds. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
Homemade gourd bird houses also make for nice garden gifts. When painting yours, make sure to make a few more to share with family and friends. Your birds will appreciate it and they will help keep garden bug populations under control.
Charlotte
