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Painting Birdhouses and Feeders: Dilemmas and Solutions

Maybe you just finished building brand new birdhouse and you want to give it a snappy new coat of paint. Or perhaps the feeder you received from the grandkids four years ago for Christmas is starting to look lifeless and drab. Your first instinct may be to hightail it to the nearest hardware store for a quart of paint or stain, but before sprucing up that a birdhouse or feeder, there are a few things that should be considered.

First, it's perfectly acceptable to leave a birdhouse or feeder unfinished. Over time, they weather naturally, blending in subtly with the color of the trees and branches in the yard. Many people prefer this rustic appearance as opposed to a flashy blue or yellow birdhouse mounted in the backyard. Also, some paints and stains may contain creosote or other chemicals that are toxic to birds, so avoiding them altogether may be wise.

A paint and stain-free option for decorating the house or feeder may be to simply attach wooden pieces such as hearts or stars, mini signs that say something catchy like "Welcome" or "Home Tweet Home," rusty tin shapes, or mini grapevine wreaths. These will gussy up the bird's quarters in no time at all with out the concern of a lot of chemicals and fumes.

But if peeling paint on the backyard birdhouse is keeping you awake at night, or the weathered-gray color of the feeder has left you fidgeting, there are ways to finish them in a manner that may be safer for birds.

Use water-based stains and paints and never apply them to the interior of the unit or to the side of the entrance hole. This will limit the bird's contact with any chemicals.

Avoid using brightly colored paint that will draw attention to a bird's nesting or feeding area, and steer toward using light colors that will reflect the sun's heat. Also, make certain that the paint or stain you are using doesn't contain lead or creosote.

Whatever your plans, just remember that backyard birds don't really care what their house or feeder looks like. They just want their favorite spots in your backyard to be safe and nurturing.

Learn more about this author, Di Reiter.
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