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Birdhouse Gourds and Hanging

17 years ago

Hi, Folks: Now to this forum--I usually hang out on Wintersowing. Anyway, have a question that I can't seem to find an answer to on the "search."

I rec'd a beautiful gourd birdhouse with a hanger last year as a gift. I placed it out on one the tree branches in my yard, but got no permanent residents. My hunch is that the birds don't like the "swinging." All my other houses are mounted and stationary. I have no experience with gourd birdhouses.

How do you mount these when they're so irregularly shaped? Can you drill holes in them? There's no access to the inside except through the small bird entrance.

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Comments (3)

sowngrow (8a) G
17 years ago
retiredprof-I drill two small holes in the neck of the gourd, near the top and then put baling wire through to hang it. I've tried twine, but it doesn't last long. Wrens will nest in hanging birdhouses. Also, it helps to drill 3 small holes in the bottom of the gourd for drainage and/or air circulation.
Robin
dragonknoll
17 years ago
You might want to check the size of the hole in the gourd also. Different birds need different size holes and if my guess is right your gourd was bought at a craft shop and they didn't take that into account. I have had swallows, bluebirds, wrens, and finches nest in mine. I did the same thing as Robin for the hanger and be sure to put the drain holes in the bottom too or your young chicks may drown. You can find books at the library that tell you what size hole for the birds you want to attract. Good Luck!
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shasta_2008
17 years ago
I painted a gourd once and hung it, I just drilled a hole for any bird to drop in (did the ones at the bottom too) I can't remember which bird finally did make it it's home but a woodpecker came along and pecked the gourd to death and left the top half hanging!

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