gardening

Installing a New Birdhouse

installing a new wayfair birdhouse

Yesterday, my new Goolsby 28 in x 14 in x 14 in Birdhouse by Tucker Murphy Petâ„¢ from Wayfair was delivered. I know the dimensions are in the name but this birdhouse is SUBSTANTIAL! It’s light for its size because it is made of resin and not wood. The inside walls and ceiling/floor pieces are a tad on the flimsy side since it’s not made of 1/4″ plywood. But, as you’ll see in the video, its plastic surface cleans up easily.

It came in in perfect shape and was really easy to assemble once I figured out how to pull the guts out without breaking anything. It didn’t come with instructions. However, it did come with the decorative angle brackets so I was happy!

First, I selected a spot that receives only partial sun later in the day. It’s also just a few trees down from where I feed the robins, bluejays, woodpeckers and squirrels peanuts and sunflower seeds. This is now the focal point view when visitors leave the house on the circle drive.

The soil is all sugar sand so it was easy to auger out. I recommend filling the hole with dry concrete and letting the rain harden it once the post is level on all sides. I found an old 4×4 post so I’m not sure how tall it is but I put it in the hole 1-1/2 feet deep and it’s at least 6 feet above the ground… so let’s go with “it’s an 8-foot post.”

digging a hole with a post hole digger
digging a 1-1/2′ hole with a post hole digger
the unassembled birdhouse not yet installed
the unassembled birdhouse not yet installed

After screwing in the finial onto the roof, it was time to secure the decorative brackets to the base. Both the base and the braces have predrilled holes.

predrilled birdhouse base
predrilled birdhouse base
Disassembled parts: roof, ceiling/divider, compartment dividers, birdhouse base. not pictured: 4 decorative brackets and the screws
Disassembled parts: roof, ceiling/divider, compartment dividers, birdhouse base. not pictured: 4 decorative brackets and the screws
the innards of the 8 compartment birdhouse are removable for easy access to installation and cleaning
the innards of the 8-compartment birdhouse are removable for easy access installation and cleaning

I set the birdhouse on its side, poked the screws through the predrilled holes of the base, then aligned them to the predrilled holes on the braces. Use the flat head screws for this part.

aligning screws in predrilled holes on birdhouse
aligning screws in predrilled holes on birdhouse

After all four base brackets are installed, place the contents back inside. Then, locate the holes on the roof and screw that to the base. Use the rounded head screws here.

screw the roof to the base
screw the roof to the base

The only thing left to do is position it onto the post and wait for the tenants to arrive! We don’t feel that it’s secure enough, so we will cinch it down with additional metal brackets.

Looking forward to enjoying my new birdhouse for years to come!

birdhouse installed
birdhouse installed
birdhouse
birdhouse on a post

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