Paper or Plastic? Homemade Bird Houses for Bird Loving Moms
Many people enjoy watching birds in the wild. Some moms are not able to enjoy watching birds in the wilds, but children can help bring birds to your yard. The best way to accomplish this is to make your yard a haven for birds and making bird houses for moms who love bird watching.
Nearly any child can make a bird house if they have the right materials and adult supervision. Here are two bird houses children can make from recyclable milk containers:
Paper Milk Carton Bird House
Your child will need the following materials:
* Coated paper milk carton (any size.) The larger the milk carton, the more room the birds will have to build a nest and raise a family.
* Dowel rod or natural pencil for the perch
* Stapler
* Scissors
* Acrylic paints and a paintbrush
* Wire or string to hang the bird house
Begin by washing the milk carton and allowing it to dry thoroughly. Staple the top of the carton closed.
Carefully cut a small hole (1 to 1 ½ inches wide) in one side of the carton. Try to keep the edges as clean as possible so the birds’ wings do not get caught.
Next, poke a hole under the entrance hole just large enough for a pencil or dowel rod to fit through. Make another hole of the same size on the opposite side to slide the perch into.
Paint the carton using a foam paintbrush to get the best coverage. You may also want to decorate the birdhouse using different colors or foam stickers.
Staple a wire or string on the carton so it can be hung in a tree near a window.
Plastic Milk Carton Bird House
For this bird house, your child will need:
* ½ gallon plastic milk carton
* Paint (black, brown or gray)
* A large number of twigs
* Tacky glue (if the child making this bird house is older, a low-temp glue gun may be used)
* Scissors
* Ruler
* Pencil
* String or fishing line for hanging the bird house
Start out by washing the milk carton and allowing it to dry thoroughly. Using the ruler and a pencil, have your child mark around the bottom of the milk carton three inches from the bottom. Carefully cut the milk carton into two pieces on the line. Be sure to keep both halves.
Now it is time to cut the bottom part of the carton so it is only one inch high. Cut a two inch circle out of the front of the carton. Put glue on the outside of the bottom half and carefully push it into the upper section of the carton. This will reduce the height of the milk carton by approximately two inches. Poke a hole in the center of the milk carton lid. Push string or fishing line through the hole and secure it to allow you to hang the bird house. Be sure to glue the milk carton closed.
Paint the outside of the milk carton a dark color such as black, gray or brown. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly before moving to the next step.
Gather small, straight twigs in large quantity. Choose twigs that are thin as well as some that are thicker. Cut the twigs into similar lengths.
You will also want to place two holes, on opposite sides of the carton, to place a stick for a perch. Carefully glue the twigs onto the side of the bird house, being sure to leave the opening available for the birds to enter and exit the bird house.