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the gourds. During the drying process you will have noticed mold growing on the outside of the gourds as well as a flaky thin outer shell. All of this needs to be cleaned off. The best way to do this is called elbow grease. Soak the gourds in water for just a minute and then use either steel wool or a copper scrub pad and start scrubbing. You want the outside to be clean and smooth.

After the gourds are clean then you will need to let them dry again this step should only take a day or so though as you should have only left them in the water for a minute. Now you can start actually turning the gourd into a birdhouse by drilling holes into it.

On the face of the gourd you will want an opening for the birds to enter their new home depending on the type of bird you want to attract or what you have in your area this hole can be any where's from 1 inch diameter to 3 inches. Once you have your entrance you will want to clean out the seeds as well as the dried innards of the gourd. You can save your seeds to plant next year and discard the rest.

You will also need to drill two holes in the top of the gourd. This is for your hanger, wire, cord, straps, or rope all work nicely. You'll want the holes just large enough to accommodate the hanger. At the same time you will need to drill 3-4 small holes in the bottom of the gourd. These holes are so any water that may get inside the birdhouse can drain out giving the birds a dry home.

Now you can paint, varnish, or stain your gourd however you desire. Some people prefer the natural design of the gourd shell while others paint elaborate seines on them. Rumor has it the birds actually prefer the natural option but the fancy ones are attractive hanging in the yard.

If you don't want to go through the entire process you can find gourds that are excellent for turning into birdhouses that are at different stages; raw, dried, dried and cleaned. That's about it, string your hanger and find a location for your new birdhouse. Some gourd birdhouses have been known to last for many years and provide homes for many generations of birds.

Learn more about this author, Faith Draper.
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