How to Make Gourd Birdhouses

The thick-skinned gourds used for making birdhouses are called lagenaria gourds, or more commonly, birdhouse gourds. If you grow them or buy them from the farmer's market, they will take up to a year to dry, so the easiest way to obtain a gourd is to purchase one already dried, cleaned and ready to decorate. They are sold by size, measured by the width. The gourd I used here is 7 inches wide by 11 inches high.

Draw a circle with a marker in the middle of the widest area of the gourd to indicate where the hole will be. The size of the circle depends on what type of bird you would like to attract. The one pictured is about 2 inches in diameter, which is the size of the lid of a spice jar.

Using a 1/8-inch drill bit, drill small holes around the circle you've drawn. These little holes will weaken the shell to allow you to create the larger opening. You can also use a hole drill bit, but these larger drill bits are difficult to use, as you can lose control of both the drill and the gourd. For a novice woodworker, it's much easier to use this method.

Punch the hole in with a hammer. Go ahead and give it a big whack — you will not break the gourd. Only the hole will cave in. Throw away the broken pieces as well as the dried innards of the gourd.

Because the hole you created is uneven, you'll want to smooth out the rough edge with a rasp. A rasp is a large, coarse file, like the ones they would hide in cakes in old prison movies. Go all around the hole with the rasp until it is no longer ragged.

The rasp chips away at the uneven edges, but you will still need to sand the hole to given it a smooth finish. Use coarse sandpaper or a sanding sponge.

Using a 3/16-inch bit, drill a small hole about 1 inch below the main opening. I used a 3/16-inch bit because the wood dowel I had for the perch is also 3/16 inch in diameter. If your dowel is a different size, select a corresponding drill bit.

In case of rain, you don't want the birdhouse to flood — and subsequently rot. Therefore, drill three holes using the 3/16-inch bit at the bottom of the gourd for drainage.

To hang the gourd birdhouse, insert an eye screw at the top of the gourd. Eye screws come in various sizes. The one used here is 15/16 inch. Drill a starter hole in the gourd with a small 1/16-inch bit to make it easy to turn the eye screw.

Wipe the outside of the gourd with a damp cloth to remove any remaining dirt or dust. Because the gourd I ordered online arrived already cleaned, no additional scrubbing or sanding was necessary. (If your gourd is not clean, sand the surface and wash in a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. Then rinse with clear water and allow to dry completely.)

Using a 3-inch brush, paint the gourd with exterior house paint, which will withstand the elements. Apply at least two coats for even coverage.

Use a small brush to apply outdoor paint to the wood dowel.

When the paint on both the gourd and the perch is dry, insert the perch into the small hole in front. It should fit snugly, as the hole and dowel are the same size.

Thread the eye screw with a wire and tie a knot to make a hanging loop.