Wrens, Chickadees, Woodpeckers,
house sparrows
, Bluebirds, and some Finches are all cavity nesters who will use a gourd home. (Don’t be surprised if some birds use your gourd for a place to roost and not bother to build a nest in it.
What can you do with
birdhouse gourds
?
Mature hard-shelled gourds have been used for millennia as food containers,
water jugs
, floats for fishing nets, and even body armor Early Native Americans used them as musical instruments in religious ceremonies, as well as birdhouses to attract insect-eating purple martins.
Where should I put a birdhouse gourd?
Hang your gourd birdhouse outdoors in early spring before the birds arrive. Attach it to a post or tree with plenty of space between houses Position the house with the opening away from prevailing winds.
How do you eat a birdhouse gourd?
Immature gourds can be used in stews and stir-fries “Thai Bottle” gourds are most often used to make birdhouses when the mature fruits are dried. But, young gourds are delicious steamed or sliced and stir-fried. Grilling is another favorite preparation technique, as is grating the fruit and making it into fritters.
How long do gourd birdhouses last?
Gourd birdhouses will last 5-10 years without any care (This does not include the dye or paint). The dye and paint will be long gone before the gourd wears out unless you repaint or dye it in between. Put birdhouses outside only for the nesting season.
When should I pick my birdhouse gourds?
Harvest them when they are full-size, the skin is hardened, and the stem attached to the fruit turns brown These thick-skinned gourds can take light frost. Cut off the vine with a sharp knife, leaving about 2” of stem.
Can birdhouse gourds grow on the ground?
Birdhouse gourds can be grown on the small “hills” that is the traditional way of growing squash or gourds. However, because they are a long-season crop, they end up sitting on the ground for long periods and could become rotten on the side touching the ground.
Do gourds make good birdhouses?
For larger birds like the purple martin, they prefer a 9-10” kettle gourd. For wrens, chickadees, and most other small birds, a kettle gourd from 6-8” in diameter works best. Dipper gourds and bottle gourds also make great birdhouses For these, just use the same diameter measurements as the kettle gourds.
How do you seal a birdhouse gourd?
Spray the gourd with a water seal This will help to preserve the birdhouse for years to come. Hang. Pull twine or fine wire through the holes in the top of the gourd and hang the birdhouse in a area that is easy for you to see but sheltered so the birds will be safe from predators.
How do you make a bird feeder out of a gourd?
Scrape out all the insides of the gourd, saving the seeds for next year. Now drill two holes opposite each other at the top of your gourd. Thread the string, wire, or chain through the holes and create a loop from which to hang your bird feeder.
Do birdhouse gourds need drainage holes?
It’s important when making gourd birdhouses that you wear a facemask, as the dust is a caustic substance. Drill 2 sets of holes about 2 inches from the neck for hanging and ventilation. Also drill 2 or 3 1/4 inch holes in the bottom for
drainage drill
the size hole necessary to encourage the birds you want to attract.
Will Tree swallows nest in gourds?
From Wild-Bird-Watching.com Gourds make excellent birdhouses. Wrens, Purple Martins, Tree Swallows and others will use them provided the opening and placement is right Another thing you might consider for your gourd birdhouses are access ports.
How big should the hole be for a gourd birdhouse?
Soak the gourd in soapy water with a little bleach and then scrub the gourd with brush and steel wool. Let dry. Then drill four small holes 1/8” in the bottom of the gourd for drainage. With an adult’s help drill a 3/8” hole just inside the circle of the gourd.
What are Purple Martins good for?
Purple martins are beneficial birds to have near a home or on a property because they eat insects These birds feed during daylight, and their diet consists mainly of beetles, moths, dragonflies, butterflies, horseflies, leafhoppers and wasps.
Will birds eat gourds?
Large seeds like pumpkin and gourd are particularly attractive to larger birds like blue jays , and best offered on the ground, on a large flat rock or on a platform feeder. Some backyard birds also will eat pumpkin flesh if it’s opened and offered to them.
Will wrens nest in gourds?
Before the house wren explosion, other cavity nesting species routinely used these boxes. House wrens prefer gourds over wooden boxes. Wrens nesting in gourds ignored empty wooden nest boxes, even within 15 feet of their nesting gourd In previous years, these surplus boxes would have been filled with sticks.
How many gourds will one plant produce?
How much bud from one weed plant? Many factors affect how big a plant gets, but generally speaking, if you are growing a healthy plant, you can expect these yields from one weed plant: Outdoor plant: ½ pound of buds, or about 224g Indoor plant: ¼ pound of buds, or about 112g.
How fast do birdhouse gourds grow?
Birdhouse gourds have a long growing season, 120 to 140 days In warmer climates with longer growing seasons, the seeds can be sown directly in the garden. They grow best in hills which can provide drainage. Your hills should be 4 to 6 inches high and 12 inches around.
What kind of paint do you use on a birdhouse gourd?
If you’re using paint, choose an enamel or exterior latex paint and consider adding a primer first. Make sure that drainage holes remain open after painting. Step 8 – Hang your gourd birdhouse and watch the birds come flocking to it.
How do you decorate a birdhouse gourd?
-
Leave It Natural. Nature does a
great job
decorating gourds without any help - Pyrography (woodburning) Gourds are a great canvas for pyrography (woodburning)
- Painting. Paints are a great way to add vibrant color to a gourd
- Alcohol Inks
- Spray Paint Stenciling.
Citations
https://www.thespruce.com/gourd-bird-houses-4070291