How To Build A Bird House

How To Build A Bird House - If you enjoy spending time around birds then you may want to build a birdhouse. Building a birdhouse is a great way to become a companion of birds. Birdhouses add attractiveness to any landscape. Crafting, designing and building birdhouses is a in-expensive hobby.

You need to construct a birdhouse that is easy to clean. It should be sturdy, cool, and rainproof as well. Remember, this is your birdhouse, so use your imagination; you will have something unique and all your own when your project is completed..

It is important not to use metal to build your birdhouse, not even nails; use non-toxic outdoor wood glue. Metal can become very hot when the sun is beating down on it, plus it can have very sharp edges. Wood is the best material to build a birdhouse. To keep water out of the entrance of the birdhouse you need the roof to pitch enough to shed water.

Add a couple small holes near the top of the birdhouse for ventilation on hot days. The bottom of the birdhouse should be constructed with screws, so it will be easy to take apart when you clean it.

When your bird house is built it is time to mount it. When mounting your birdhouse it is important to keep in mind predators, such as squirrels, cats and snakes. Place your bird house mount out of the range of jumping and climbing animals. The best mount for a birdhouse is PVC pipe which can be purchased inexpensively at your local home hardware supply store. Get an 8' long piece of PVC that is 3 or 4" in diameter. Also be sure and buy a "flange" that will fit into the PVC. When looking at a 'flange' from the side it has the shape of a man's dress hat, as one would also look at the dress hat from from it's side view. The round part of the 'hat' - or 'flange' slips down, about 2" into one end of the PVC pipe. The flat part of the 'hat' - or 'flange' should have a small hole pre-drilled in each corner. A large, approx. 12" x 12" piece of plywood is attached, to the flat part of the 'hat' or 'flange' with screws via the pre-drilled holes. Be sure this is placed in the middle of the 12" x 12 plywood. This will serve as your birdhouse base. Now turn this over and simply slide the round part of the 'hat' - or 'flange' into the end of your PVC pipe. On top of this securely mount your bird house. When you have moved your PVC to an upright mounting position, you would be looking upward, and see the screws that attached flange to your 12" x 12" base.

Now it's time to mount your bird house. Dig about an 18" hole and drop it in! Be sure and pack the dirt solidly back around the base to secure it. For added security you could pick up an inexpensive bag of ready mix cement. Just mix it with water, set the PVC in the middle of the hole and pour the cement evenly around it. It is a good idea if you could put your hands on a level to make sure your PVC stays vertically straight while working. That's all there is to it!

When you are ready to clean your bird house simple unscrew the 12" x 12" base mounting screws, slide off the base with it's attached birdhouse and clean it! When cleaned, replace the 12" x 12" base and reinsert your screws. Now wasn't that easy!

For more great information be sure and visit:
http://www.bird-city.com

If you lightly coat the PVC pipe mount with in-expensive vegetable oil ants and other crawling insects will not be able to climb disturb the bird nest.

Don't forget to treat your feathered friend with feeders, bird baths or bird pond sprinkle the area with some wild flower seeds. When your wild flower are in bloom your feathered friend will provide you with constant delight. ~ Anthony Benjamin ~ http://www.mysecretsites.info

Other articles by this author »
About Anthony Benjamin

Anthony Benjamin is an avid world traveler, lover of nature and animals. He loves to write and share his wealth of information and adventures in his writings. His favorite place to retreat and write is his summer home, secluded high on a mountaintop in the Great Smoky Mountains. A visit to his website is a true delight: http://www.appalachian-treasures.com


And here is another random article you might be interested in...

What To Do If Your Business Loan is NOT Approved

What To Do If Your Business Loan is Not Approved

Words that all business owners dislike hearing from a lender are, "Sorry, we just can't approve your loan." It's frustrating when your business loan is not approved, and it may feel like your business ideas are now a hopeless venture. Rather than letting those feelings of despair overcome you because your business loan was not approved, though, step back and examine things carefully.

- Don't take it personally.

While some lenders can approve or decline a loan based on the business owner's character, there are other factors involved when your business loan is not approved, such as credit scores, income, debt ratio, and the risk of the business. When a business loan is not approved, it is most commonly due to one of these four reasons.

- Be gracious.

If your business loan is not approved, be sure to thank the lender for reviewing your loan application and proposal. Don't leave on bad terms. You never know what the future holds, and it could mean that you'll cross paths again, especially if your loan approval was considered "borderline." Just because the lender said "no" today, it doesn't mean that your business loan won't be approved in few years, or even a few months.

- Ask the lender to review the details as to why the business loan was not approved.

Without getting defensive, seek information from the lender stating why the business loan was not approved. This information will be one of your most valuable tools when applying for your next loan. The more details you can get from the lender, the more prepared you can be for the future. There may be instances where you can correct the loan proposal or application when your business loan is not approved, and eventually get approved for your business loan with that same lender.

In the instance that your business loan is not approved, it's time to not give up, but rather, to become resourceful. There's more than one way to get the money you need for your business.

- Review your loan proposal in detail.

When your business loan is not approved, it's time to go back to square one and look at your presentation pieces. After reading through the details, put yourself in the lender's shoes. Would you approve a loan to someone like yourself with the loan proposal you're reading? If there is inadequate or incomplete information in your proposal, such as a business plan that lacks direction and goals, rewrite that information for your next application. A business loan is not approved often because the lender is not clear as to how the business will operate and succeed. Additionally, examine your credit reports carefully. Request copies of your reports from Experian.com, Equifax.com, and Transunion.com.

Marks and errors on your credit report should be resolved accordingly before applying for a loan again. If the marks against your credit rating cannot be removed from your credit reports, be prepared to tell the second lender that you approach not that you are aware of these marks, and give they reason why they are there. Offering these explanations to the lender show that you are a responsible enough person to live up to these errors, and a trustworthy enough person to tell the lender about these marks before they find out for themselves.

- Examine the lender that you approached for the loan.

Is this lender one that specializes in business loans? Do they cater to small businesses and start-up businesses? Do they offer personalized service? If you approached a larger lender for a loan and your business loan was not approved, that could be the reason why it happened. Smaller banks and credit unions allow you the opportunity to work face-to-face with the decision maker who will approve or decline your business loan. Larger banks and financial institutions do not offer you the opportunity to state your case directly to the decision maker, which can increase your chances of not being approved. In the event that you approached a large bank, focus your second attempt on a smaller bank or credit union if your business loan is not approved. If you currently have accounts or a reference from someone else regarding a smaller bank, try that one first. Just because your business loan is not approved with one lender, it doesn't mean that another lender won't approve your appli!

cation.

- Consider another type of loan if your business loan is not approved.

Small business loans can sometimes be difficult to obtain no matter where you turn or to what type of financial lender you turn to, and in these instances, consider other sources if your business loan is not approved. For example, if the loan amount needed is $10,000 or less, consider applying for a signature loan. If the loan is for a sizeable amount, or more than $10,000, and your business loan was not approved, consider refinancing your home in order to receive cash out for business purposes, or offer other collateral for a personal loan. Home equity loans can offer the lowest interest rates, but don't forget to consider all other types of loans initially. Take your time, and weigh all factors carefully.

- Contact the Small Business Administration.

The Small Business Administration offers guaranteed loans to businesses meeting their criteria, and specifically, the SBA has loan programs especially for women-owned businesses. Contact your local SBA offices for information, or visit www.sba.gov.

The key to overcoming this financial obstacle if your business loan is not approved is to become creative in these areas. There is more than one way to obtain a loan, and if you truly have a viable business idea, you should be able to find funding as long as you've done your homework and developed an effective and detailed business plan and loan proposal.

Other articles by this author »
About Rebecca Game

Rebecca Game is the founder of Digital Women ®, an online community for women in business. A 30 year entrepreneur and dedicated to helping other women find small business loans. Visit her site: Loans for Women http://www.digital-women.com