There has been a pair of swallows harassing bluebirds in an existing birdhouse. I found a template for swallow birdhouses and loosely followed those for this house:
thick all natural rough lumber scraps
1.5" entrance
5.5"x6" interior
3/4" ventilation holes
interior steps for hatchlings to climb out
corners of floor notched for ventilation/drainage
hemp oil applied to roof
I also used an old 100% wool sock torn up and sandwiched between two layers of wood in the roof for some addtl insulation
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Wood you're starting with
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Wood you're starting with cut to dimensions (the roof had to change to another piece not shown as it split)
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Bird house under construction
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Bird house under construction hinging side
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Bird house completed and installed in its final location