Country Bird Houses-Rustic Birdhouse, Feeders Style for the Yard

Country Birdhouses have a special way of adding a lot of interest to your yard. Not only will you find that they blend well with the natural look but they provide you with a natural rustic birdhouse charm. They are a great way to provide you with hours of entertainment once you have birds move into their new home.

Some of these birdhouses will blend in so well that they will not be obvious at all by someone who's just a casual visitor, but with all the activities of the birds that you have attracted into your yard it will be hard not to enjoy all the activity even if you do not see the home that you have provided.

Decide which bird species you want to attract to the backyard

The first and foremost thing that you have to take into consideration when you're choosing your birdhouse is what species of bird that you typically want to attract into your yard. You'll find that some birds are more particular in what kind housing that they want compared to other types of bird species. Some birds tend to like to nest in colonies (purple Martins preferred this choice) because they love to be in groups of their own kind.

For single-family homes for bird species the bluebirds, wrens, sparrows and chickadees typically prefer to nest in birdhouses. With this in mind we have to check for the proper sizing of the holes and placement of the birdhouses for each particular species. Robbins and swallows prefer a platform style birdhouse, which you should be able to find in a rustic birdhouse sign.

---

You want to choose a country birdhouse that will blend in and fit well with your overall landscape design and style. If you have areas in your yard that are overgrown, flowery cottage garden look than the timber wooden look will tend to fit in especially well in this environment but will still look good in the more traditional yard as well.

---

Tips for Making a Bird Friendly Yard

• Provide Layers of Vegetation: starting at ground level and working to treetops is your best way to create your Bird friendly habitat. On the lower ground levels provide grasses and groundcovers and move up to annual garden plants and a variety of different perennials. Your next level would start to be bigger such as shrubs and providing vines for birds to perch on (great for having around a bird feeder) in case the birdfeeder is too busy. Your next layer would consist of small trees and then into the larger trees providing with a beautiful natural and multifaceted bird sanctuary that will provide food, shelter and a safe environment for nesting spaces for a wider variety of bird species.
• Keep the Living Area Green/Healthy: provide a chemical free type of area for the birds to thrive in by not using lawn and garden chemicals unless you absolutely have to. If you are using chemicals/fertilizers for your lawn during the season try to use it sparingly as to not overly contaminate or harm the birds. If you can find natural alternatives for creating healthy lawns the birds will be a lot happier.
• Keep Birdhouses Clean/Healthy: A vital part of creating a healthy environment in your backyard for birding is to clean your bird feeders, water features and the nesting boxes to keep diseases away and under control. Avian diseases can spread rapidly in these heavily used birdhouses/nesting boxes, so regular bird house maintenance and cleaning is part of being a good landlord to your birds. Typically washing a birdhouse mix a solution of 9 parts water to 1 part chlorine beach, this will and completely kill and eliminate pathogens and bacteria. It is recommended to do this a couple times a year especially on birdfeeders that tend to have high volume use.

---

Country birdhouses have a variety of different styles, designs

You may consider just the basic, plain wood birdhouse attached to the patio posts or furthering your backyard on a fence post. If you want something with a bit more style you may choose one that looks like a church that has been weathered for about 20 years, this may look beautiful under a rose colored arbor.

The best advice that you can use is to choose your favorite overall theme/design and tried out in several different areas in your yard. These placements in your yard will determine whether the birds feel safe or not, once this is established you can securely attach it for its permanent location.

Research and read up about the birds that you want to attract into your yard. Some of your bird species like an open area so they can see predators as they approach, this is a protective choice for some species. Other birds prefer the shady areas of the yard which include bushes and small shrubbery allowing them to hide inside of the plant and also have a great cooling effect on hot days, this also is great for protection in extreme weather (hot and cold climates).

Provide the basics to attract birds:

• Water access: Make sure you provide a good source of fresh water from either a pond, water fountain or bird bath.
• Birdseed/food supply: Add a variety of different types of bird food to your feeders (tubular feeders, tray/ground feeders) for a variety of different bird.
• Natural shelter/protection: Try to provide a variety of shrubbery, bushes and heavy fines or possibly tall grasses within your backyard garden allowing for more potential nesting in your garden.

---

Wooden birdhouses are a durable choice for housing

Typically this is a very natural way to supply shelter and a good home for birds. Wood is a natural protectant and has characteristics that help it sustain in the outdoor environment. Cedar, cypress can be used without any kind of outside protection by being untreated. Pine and plywood will have extended life if you apply a good exterior latex to the outside of the house. Colors of choice would be that of gray, tan or even dull green providing camouflage for the cavity style nesting species.

Best types of wood for birdhouses:

• Cedar wood
• Redwood
• Exterior plywood (good grade)

Other woods typically do not fare as well and should be painted on the outside, colors should be chosen accordingly to add to the aesthetics of the rustic style. Remember to use lead free paints and do not apply any paint or any other chemicals to the interior of the birdhouse as this will contaminate and make it a poor environment for the birds to live in.

---

Birdhouses Provide a Sanctuary of Stress Relief and Relaxation

Inviting birds into your backyard has many beneficial factors. By providing a unique country birdhouse you will have a conversation piece that people can enjoy by remember the focus is on the birds more than the house. Their songs will relax you, their antics and flying around will amuse you and provide you with stress relief and help relieve anxiety from the day and not cost you a cent.

Some bird species like wrens, eat a lot of insect varieties, so you will benefit by them helping to keep your yard free of excessive pasts. We here at Garden-Delights.com want to help you with all the information and resources they need to learn more about birding and ways that you can use it in your backyard to bring it to life.