Projects / Birdhouse plans / Chickadee, 1⅛″ entrance
Chickadee birdhouse
A nest box for chickadees: 4″ × 5½″ floor, 9″ tall, with a 1⅛″ entrance hole. Cut from 1×6.
Beginner2 hours7 parts1× board
Have scraps? Check this project against your wood
Cutting diagram
Bright pieces are your parts; the dimmed wood is left over. Every cut allows ⅛″ for the saw blade.
Cut list
| Part | Qty | Width × length | Cut from | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Front and back | 2 | 5½″ × 9″140 × 229 mm | 1× board |
| B | Side | 2 | 4″ × 8″102 × 203 mm | 1× board |
| C | Floor | 1 | 4″ × 4″102 × 102 mm | 1× board |
| D | Roof, short | 1 | 5½″ × 5½″140 × 140 mm | 1× board |
| E | Roof, long | 1 | 5½″ × 6¼″140 × 159 mm | 1× board |
How to build it
- Use untreated cedar or pine. Cut the parts, then cut the tops of the front and back to a point: mark the centre and cut a 45° line down to each side.
- Drill a 1⅛″ entrance hole centred on the front, 7″ up from the bottom. That size suits chickadees and keeps larger birds out.
- Screw the sides between the front and back, then recess the floor ¼″ so rain drips off. Snip the floor corners for drainage.
- Attach the long roof piece first so it overlaps the short one at the peak, and screw both down.
- Leave the inside unfinished and drill two ¼″ vent holes high on each side.