There are bird houses on the market which are not suitable for birds to use or live in. The bird houses just simply do not attract any type of bird or they are could be harmful to the birds. If it is your intention to decorate your yard with bird houses, any type will do, but if you are looking for a dwelling for the birds who come to your area every spring, there are certain features you want to ensure your bird house has before making your purchase.

Since your bird house will more than likely be used outdoors, one of the first features you want to look for it the sturdiness of the material. You want a bird house to be able to withstand the strong storms of the season, so the material needs to be sturdy, durable and waterproof. Wood is the most popular material for bird houses and is one of the best. Wood is durable, it breathes and it has insulation qualities. You can use naturally decaying resistant wood such as cedar, cypress, and redwood to avoid using chemical to preserve the interior of the house. The chemicals can be harmful to the birds and their offspring.

With some woods no painting is required, but if the bird houses have been painted make sure the paint used on them are not a lead based paint. Varnished bird houses pose the same problem as the lead based painted houses. The birds can digest some of the paint when they peck at the houses. The interior of the house should be left as natural wood.

Even though the brightly painted houses are cute and pretty to look at, birds prefer a house that blends in and does not attract attention. You want to hang the bird house where it will best blend in with its surrounding. This will make the birds feel safer and the house will be more attractive to them as a nesting place.

The roof on the bird house should be slanted in order to allow for the rain to run off, and just under the roof line safe from the rain, there should be small holes for the purpose of ventilation. It is important the bird houses have good ventilation in the summer or the house will be like an oven and they will avoid it. You also want the bird house to be insulated for the winter. The bird house should maintain a moderate temperature year round. It should be warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

As it is with any dwelling, the bird houses need regular cleaning. Bird houses are made to be accessed from the top, front, side and bottom. You will want to watch out for the house which is accessed from the bottom because they have a tendency to allow the nest to fall out. The top is the best way to access the house. It is less likely to disturb the nests when the house is accessed from the top. Regular cleaning will prevent the growth of mites and parasites. There also needs to be a hole in the floor of the bird house for drainage. If water is allowed to stand in the bottom of the bird house, parasites and diseases can grow making the environment unhealthy for the birds.

The bird house will need to have an entrance hole for each of the two cavities inside the home. This allows for one area for roosting and one area for nesting. This will encourage the birds to stay longer and ensure their return for years to come.