Painting Birdhouses??????????

[oneleggimp]

The last time I made a birdhouse was as a ten year old in Elementary School Wood Shop and that was over sixty years ago. My question is: Should the inside of the birdhouse be painted (before assembly/glueup) or is it sufficient to assemble/glueup the birdhouse and only paint the exterior??? Even with latex paint I am wondering about fumes on the inside of the birdhouse if the interior is painted.

 

 

I know someone here probably makes birdhouses and can let me know what is proper.

[WayneMahler]

Like you it's been ages on ages for me. I do not remember seeing any painted on the inside though. Should be interesting to see the different opinions here.

[Scrappile]

Ages ago they would have had lead based paint.  I do not think the modern latex would harm them.  You put it in your own home..

 

The advantage I see is might make it easier to clean the inside.

 

Just my opinion though, I am certainly no expert.

Edited July 17, 2015 by Scrappile

[New Guy]

I saw a "Rough Cut" wood working TV show when he was making bird houses. The people at the nature

park he went to said to not paint them and to leave a vent near the top of the house.

[heppnerguy]

I would not paint the inside either.. I think natural wood would be the way to go for the birds

 

Dick

heppnerguy

[oldhudson]

I have a book somewhere titled, "Woodworking for Wildlife". It was from our Department of Natural Resources in Minnesota. I'll see if I can't find it tomorrow.....

[Phantom Scroller]

I've never painted the inside of my bird boxes just outside. Roly

[oneleggimp]

Thanks to all. This site has so many willing to help. It's very much appreciated.

[oldhudson]

I have a book somewhere titled, "Woodworking for Wildlife". It was from our Department of Natural Resources in Minnesota. I'll see if I can't find it tomorrow.....

Hooray, I found it. (maybe I should pick up a lottery ticket today?) 

In the front of the book there is a section called "General house and platform Instructions" and instruction #11 ends "If you must paint or stain, do not put ANY inside the house."

 

I've scanned those two pages into pdf files because I thought they may be a value here. I'm certain the

book can still be purchased. Unfortunately, I can't figure out how to attach it to this post?

[Scrappile]

Darn, I'm odd man out..... again.

Edited July 17, 2015 by Scrappile

[campasano]

I never paint the inside of my birdhouses, I think the natural wood will entice the birds inside.

 

Mike

[DWSUDEKUM]

What ever you decide to do one wood NOT to use is walnut.  It will kill off the birds as the sap and oils are toxic to them.  I had a Mennonite friend that does woodworking and was collecting the shavings.  He did a large walnut order and collected the shavings to spread around for his chickens to forage through and it killed off all of them in a real short time.  No paint on the inside of the birdhouse is the way to go.

 

DW

[amazingkevin]

Interesting info!

[bobscroll]

Do you put window's in them? LOL Just fooling around guy's

Bob 

[ChelCass]

We have made several birdhouses over the years and birds do not like the smell of paint and will often refuse to use a painted birdhouse until the smell goes away.  This can be for a few years.  They are very sensitive to odors.   We just built three bluebird houses this spring and none were painted inside or out and all three house were used by the birds this spring.  DW is correct about the black walnut, it is toxic.  We always put a vent hole and the bottom is removable for easy cleaning.

[oneleggimp]

Thanks to all! It;s very much appreciated!

[kywoodmaster]

I would like to throw in one more thing. I agree with not painting but never use treated lumber for bird houses. The Arsenic in the wood can have some very bad effects on the birds and eggs too.

[Lucky2]

Years ago I was told not to paint any part of the birdhouses we built, the reason for not painting them was different I thought. I was told that by painting the inside of the house it could kill the birds, because of the fumes off of the paint. We weren't to paint the outside of the houses, because it made them to noticable for the preditor birds to see them while fling by. We never questioned this, as the man that told us this was one of the wisest men we ever knew, he was our grandfather. He got me started in serious woodworking when I was just nine years old, we built three cedar stripped cargo canoes that year. That was back in the sixties, the canoes are still around and are used ever year when the salmon run is on. I tried to purchase one just for sentimental reasons, but, the fellow who now owns them wants over five grand for one. Hey, I like my hertitage, but, five grand just for sentimental reasons, I think not! Besides what do I need one for, definitely not to help remember my grandad, I have lots of fond memories of hanging around with him. I get a big grin on my face when I think of him. Some of the things me and that old deaf man did were amazing, I truly loved every minute of being with him. He was the only grandfather I ever had, my grandfather on my moms side died many years before I was born.

 

Len

[mgmine]

I would not paint the inside BUT I would attach a large washer either inside or outside of the opening. Birds require a certain size opening if it's too big they woun't use the house. What you will find is that squirrls or other birds will chew away the opening and ruin the house.