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Mansion
 

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The original design of the "mansion" was for Western Bluebirds by Linda Violett from CA.  She used these as hanging boxes from trees.  We have adapted them to the Eastern Bluebird using a box mounted on a pole with a predator guard (Ron Kingston's design using an 8" x 2' stove pipe.)  The design of this box is detailed below:

  1. Cut all the parts as shown.  The sides have ¼" slots for venting.  Note that each side has two ¾" pieces protruding above the slots for mounting the roof.
  2. Assemble the back, two sides and floor.  Floor should be recessed 1" above the bottom of the box.  I use SS screws for assembly and I pre-drill holes for the screws.
  3. Make sure the front fits in between the sides.  Shave it or plane it down so it fits nicely and without any resistance. 
  4. Glue the guard to the front with the tops even, then make the entrance holes.  Center the holes as follows: draw a horizontal line 2-3/4" below the top, and find two points 2-3/8" from the sides of the guard.  These are the centers of the two entrance holes.  I use a Forstner bit, 1-9/16" diameter to make these two holes (1-1/2" size is fine also.)
  5. Make grooves inside the front under the entrance holes as shown.  These are about ½" apart.
  6. Mark the "hinge" screw points in the sides.  These are ½" above the bottom and 3/8" from the front face.  They should match exactly so the front will hinge down properly.  Put the front in and put the two hinge screws into it.  Near the top of the front, put one more screw to hold the door shut.
  7. Using waterproof glue, attach the roof to the box using four screws into the four protruding parts of the sides.  The roof is 12" from a 1x12" nominal piece.

 

horizontal rule

Please feel free to send me, Fawzi Emad, any corrections, observations, comments or questions.  Thank you!  (The tail feather on the left is from Koko, our Blue-Front Amazon Parrot.)