8. Fit the roof carefully and nail it fast to the upper section. Be sure 
the joint at the top of the roof is weather proof. If you do not cover 
the roof with roofing, nail a thin strip of wood or a strip of tin over this 
joint, this will keep the roof from leaking in case the two roof boards should 
shrink. 
9. The two one-half inch strips must be nailed to the top side of the 
top floor, three inches in from both edges, so they will fit just inside of the 
two sides of the top section. A few one inch screws put thru the bottom 
edge of the two sides into these strips will hold the house together until it 
should be taken apart to be cleaned. 
Finishing 
Paint the body of the house white, the roof and porches a dark green. 
FEEDING 
Feeding shelters are as important to build, and put up, as bird houses 
themselves. The birds that return in the early spring, are often caught in 
a few late cold snaps and sometimes snow storms; which cover the ground, 
and the food supply of the birds, who soon freeze to death because of in¬ 
sufficient food to warm their bodies, if no artificial means of feeding them 
are provided. 
A feeding shelter or two should be in every farm yard. They should 
be well built and so placed that the open side will be protected from the 
cold winds, rain and snow storms, and prowling cats. The shelter in this 
drawing is simple in design and easy to make. The curves on the sides 
may be omitted if desired, but they add a little artistic touch to the ap¬ 
pearance of the house if left on. 
A few small hooks placed in the back of the house to fasten suet on, will 
prove to be an added attraction to the birds for your feeding shelter. 
All birds like suet, wheat, cracked corn, sun flower seed, and millet. 
Material Required 
Lumber—White pine or cypress. 
Pieces 
Finished Sizes—In. 
Use 
1 
K"xl2"x20" 
Bottom 
1 
.K"x9^"x20" 
Roof 
1 
V 2 "x 8"x20" 
Roof 
2 
y 2 "xioy 2 "x9y 2 " 
Sides 
1 
y 2 "x5y 2 "xi8" 
Back 
1 
M"x8"x8" 
Bottom support 
1 
18"x20" 
Roofing 
If the roof is covered with roofing it will not need any paint. Do not forget 
to paint the bottom as it is exposed to the weather after mounting the 
house on a post. 
If the body of the house is covered with birch bark, the roof and porches 
covered with red asphalt roofing it makes a very attractive and durable 
house. 
Mount the house on a post about sixteen feet above the ground, and 
cover the post with tin or sheet iron twenty-four inches wide, about six 
feet above the ground, so the cats can’t disturb the birds. 
(Note)—If you cover the house with bark do not leave any nails stick¬ 
ing thru on the inside of the house. 
SHELTER 
Hardware and Tools 
inch brads; 1 inch screws. 
Tools—Rule, pencil, saw, plane hammer, square, coping saw, nail set. 
Construction 
Cut out each piece rough. Plane smooth on both sides, plane both edges 
straight, and both ends square. 
After squaring each piece, mark out the exact shape as shown on the 
drawing; saw and plane to the lines you have laid out on the different 
pieces. Be sure the two sides are exactly alike so the roof will fit correctly. 
Assembling 
1. Nail the back piece on the back edge of the two sides keeping the 
bottom edges even, and the sides flush with the ends of the back piece. 
2. Nail on the 9J/£ inch roof board next, allowing it to project 1 inch 
over each side and 1 inch over the back of the house. 
3. Nail on the front roof piece, but be sure you have the roof joint 
fitting perfectly tight. This piece of the roof must project 3 inches over 
the front to protect the opening from wind, and snow. 
4. Nail on the bottom; keeping it even with the back of the house, and 
having 1 inch projection on the sides, and 2 inches on the front. 
5. The bottom support which is 8 inches square should be screwed to 
the house with 1 inch screws exactly in the center on the bottom of the 
shelter. 
