Roosting boxes are places of rest and shelter for birds. They serve chickens and other domestics within chicken houses and without, and they can serve some wild birds, too. Roosting boxes come in various designs, many with simple construction. Building a roosting box requires basic carpentry skills and tools. Well-built boxes house multiple birds but leave no room for nesting.
Step 1
Cut three 12-by-24-inch pieces of pine board with a jigsaw. The three pieces with compose the floor, back wall and roof of the house.
Step 2
Align edges of the floor and back wall to form an "L" shape. Hammer finish nails spaced 2 inches to connect the floor and back wall. A simple way to do this is to stabilize the horizontal base piece by placing it flat on the floor and butting one end against a wall, placing the back piece vertically against the base piece's free end, and hammering through the vertical piece where it's touching the base piece.
Step 3
Cut two 12-by-8-inch pieces of pine board. Make a mark 6 inches high along one side to measure the angled roof cut. Saw diagonally between the 8-inch-high top and the 6-inch mark to create the roof pitch on each board. These are the side walls. Align each side wall with the floor edge and back wall. Use finish nails spaced at 2 inches to connect the walls. The 6-inch side is the front of each side wall.
Step 4
Cut a 24-by-6-inch piece of pine for the front wall. Make a mark at 12 inches long. The mark is at the halfway point of the board. Use a jigsaw to cut a 2-inch-by-2-inch entrance hole here.
Step 5
Align the front wall with the floor and the side walls. Hammer finish nails with 2-inch spacing to secure the wall.
Step 6
Make two marks on each side wall. Place the marks at 3 inches high and 4 inches deep of the front and back side of the side walls. Drill a 1/4-inch hole at each mark.
Step 7
Cut two 24-inch-long pieces of wooden dowel. Apply a liberal layer of wood glue to each hole on the side walls. Slide the dowels through the holes to set the roosting perches in place.
Step 8
Place the roof board that you cut earlier on top of the box. Align the board with the front, back and side walls. Hammer nails at 2-inch intervals to secure the roof.
References
Tips
- You can cut the roof piece slightly larger to create a protective overhang at the entrance.
Warnings
- Always saw on a stable surface and keep your free hand clear of the saw blade.
Photo Credits
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David De Lossy/Photodisc/Getty Images
Writer Bio
Zach Lazzari is a Montana based freelance outdoor writer and photographer. You can follow his work at bustedoarlock.com.
