5 Gallon Birdhouse

I've got 3 problems that I need to solve.
1. Now that the house is finished, I've got about a dozen 5 gallon buckets from paint and drywall mud.

2. Now that the house is finished, the barn swallows can no longer nest in the eaves (sealed up).

3. I really like having the swallows around (just not in the eaves), since they do a great job of keeping down insects.

So, the solution to these three problems is to recycle the buckets into bird houses. Something along the lines of a Martin house. Problem is, I'm short of time (birds are already circling, looking for a place to nest), and I'm not quite sure how to go about it.

I figured I could get at least 2 floors in each bucket. Small bolts could be run through the bucket from the inside to make landing perches. 1/4 luan plywood dividers inside. 3/4 inch plywood on the bottom to screw through to hold the bucket to a post.

Any other suggestions? Do you think it's better to set the bucket top up or top down? Anybody tried this before?

Steve

Wondering if the Barn swallows would go into a bird house. They may just go back to the eves and stick a nest there on the side of the house.

Egon

That I'm not sure of. I've seen them nest in barn rafters and once in a hollowed out fence post. The fence post is making me think that some kind of housing may be possible.

Steve

Sorry, Steve. Barn swallows won't go into bird houses. [img]/forums/images/icons/frown.gif[/img] They make their mud nests on the sides of buildings or other structures.

Also, if you can't get rid of the paint smell in the buckets, I don't think any birds will nest in them. Paint buckets usually still have the smell of paint.

Aw nuts. [img]/forums/images/icons/crazy.gif[/img]

Steve