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The Natural Bird House – The Birdhouse Gourd

There’s no question that building your own bird house can be a lot of fun but can you imagine how much more fun growing your own birdhouse could be. We are talking about the birdhouse gourd.

Of course there is no such “gourd” named as such but the bottle gourd is often fondly nicknamed as such because it makes such a great birdhouse.

They are very easy to grown on trellises or along fences and when they are dried they are the perfect home for swallows, purple martins, wrens, and chickadees.

Inviting these birds into your back yard will provide terrific insect control as well as hours of entertainment, beauty, and a lot of interesting moments.

If you are wondering why these gourds need to be grown along a fence or trellis rather than on the ground like they normally are it’s because along the ground causes a flat side. If you are going to grow them this method you’ll need to place a good deal of mulch and hay under them to keep them off the ground.

Bottle gourds can handle light frost so leave them drying on the vines as long as you can. Wait until the stem turns brown. The gourd bruises easily, so be sure to handle it carefully. With a very sharp knife cut the stems 2 inches above the fruit and dry off any excess moisture.

Once you harvest you need to a cool, dry place where they can complete the process of drying. It’s easy to tell when they are properly dried. When you shake them and they make a noise like a rattle they are completely dried. This can take 1 to 6 months depending on the size of the gourd. The larger ones take much longer.

Once it’s dry it is time to build your birdhouse. Start by drilling a 1 to 2 inch hole. The size of the hole will be determined by the type of birds you want to attract. Smaller birds will need smaller holes. You also need to draw some very tiny holes in the bottom of the gourd to ensure proper drainage. Drill two small holes on the top to insert the rope for hanging.

That’s it. Your birdhouse is ready to use. Doesn’t get simpler than that does it? If you leave untreated it will last a couple of years. To have it last longer apply a coat of varathane.

Now what could be more fun that hanging some birdhouse gourds around your deck, patio, and back yard. Heck why not hang a birdhouse gourd near a window so you can enjoy while you are in the house. It’s an affordable and unique birdhouse.

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