When the squirrel comes: we build a comfortable and beautiful house for the squirrel with our own hands. Each squirrel family has a separate apartment! (Squirrel Hut) Dimensions of a house for squirrels drawings

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If there is at least a small forest not far from your dacha, then it is likely that squirrels will become frequent guests in the garden. Watching these funny animals brings great pleasure to both children and adults.

If you want to tame a squirrel, install a house for it on a tree in your garden. You can purchase a ready-made house at a pet store or build it yourself. This is no more difficult than building a birdhouse, and besides, you can involve exciting activity and children.

Selecting a location

Housing for a squirrel can be built in the form of an ordinary wooden box with hole, if you are a beginner amateur carpenter.

In order for a squirrel to like its new home, you must follow several rules:

1. Carefully select the tree on which to hang the squirrel house. It’s good if it can be seen from the window, because watching the life of its inhabitants is very fascinating.
2. The house should be located on south side, but not in direct sunlight.
3. When installing the house, it is necessary to take into account the direction of the wind so that a draft does not blow into the entrance hole.
4. For the squirrel to feel safe, the mounting height of the house should be about 5 meters.
5. The squirrel cage material must be natural. Any wood will do, you can use leftover lumber. You should not use plastic during construction, as squirrels can chew it.
6. When the animal settles in the house, do not forget that it is a wild animal. You should not pick him up in an attempt to tame him. Squirrels have sharp teeth and claws that they use for self-defense. Moreover, living in natural environment habitat, they can be carriers of dangerous diseases. Pets can also suffer from close contact with squirrels.

The simplest option

This option does not require special construction tools and carpentry skills. To start building a house, you will need:

Measure a 55x30 cm rectangle on the board and cut it out - this will be the back wall of the house. The second rectangle (50x30 cm in size) is a blank for the front side.

Two sides The ribs will be 55x30 cm in size so that the roof of the house is at an angle to allow water to drain after rain.

The upper and lower planks are cut out measuring 30x30 cm, one of them will be the roof, and the second will be the bottom.

When creating an entrance to a house, on one of the side surfaces you need to draw a circle with a diameter of about 8 cm. The hole should be located closer to the front and top surface. The entrance must be cut out with a jigsaw and be sure to sand it.

The walls must be fastened together in the following order:

Feeder

The simplest and quick option feeders for squirrels - make one from plastic bottle . A 5 liter bottle is best. All you have to do in a bottle is round hole with a diameter of 10 cm. The hole should be located 2 cm above the bottom.

Nest house

If you are not new to carpentry and want it to live in your garden a whole family of squirrels, you can try to organize a nest.

The nesting house is built less high, but wider, so that the mother is comfortable with the kids. You can install several perches for babies under the entrance hole. The nest must be attached to the tree in such a way that it was not accessible to predators and was not blown by the wind. Dry leaves and hay should be laid at the bottom of the house to make it easier for the squirrel to build a nest.

So that mother does not have to leave her babies for a long time, you can combine a house with a feeding trough. To do this, in the panel opposite from the entrance, you need to cut a round hole with a diameter commensurate with the neck liter jar, and make the bottom of the house longer by the height of this jar. To the jar sprinkle treats for squirrels, insert into the hole in the house and securely attach it with wire to the bottom bar. The jar should be easy to remove for refilling with food.

Having built such a house for a squirrel family, it is likely that in the spring you will be able to admire the baby squirrels crawling out to bask in the sun and eat nuts from the feeder.

Squirrel for degu

Finished cell

You should not try to catch a wild squirrel and put it in a cage. It is better to let the animal remain in the wild, in natural conditions. If you want to keep a rodent at home, you can get a degu. This little brown rodent is size 15 -2 5 cm looks and behaves like a squirrel, only without a fluffy tail.

Degu is very - sociable and social rodents, are easily tamed and rarely bite. Degus are able to recognize their owners, have a fairly good memory and behave more openly with people they know. They they are not afraid of anything, That's why able to defend themselves from cats, dogs and vacuum cleaner. They are very curious, taste and smell everything new.

Degus will appreciate a house with furniture: branches, pipes, ladders, ropes. Must be placed automatic drinker and several feeders for dry and plant foods. Can put the wheel on with a diameter of about 30 cm, the degu will happily run around in it. It is better if the wheel is solid and not wire, otherwise the tail may get stuck in it, and this is the weak point of these animals. Like lizards, degus cast off their tail when threatened, but it will not grow back.

You can put a cup of sand in the house, the animal will be happy to bathe in it and clean its fur. The flooring must be continuous and covered with a material suitable for digging, such as a peat mixture or wood shavings. The litter must be changed periodically.

The cage must be placed away from direct sunlight and drafts. The room should be about 20 degrees Celsius. The animals will survive even in severe frosts, but they do not like humid, damp air.

Homemade house

If you cannot find a cage suitable for comfortable living for a degu, you can build it yourself.

The top of the cell will consist of wire mesh with cells no more than 2x2 cm, you can buy it at a hardware or hardware store. The lower part with a pallet can be made of hard wood, lined inside sheet metal. It is necessary to consider closing the cage so that the animals cannot open the door. In the cage you can put a branchy part of a tree, which the rodent will enjoy climb and sharpen your teeth.

Inside the cell you can attach a small house- the same as for a squirrel, where the animal can hide in case of danger or for rest. The house is made measuring 20x15 cm and 10x12 cm in height. It is best to use when building a degu burrow. conifers wood with a bitter taste so that the house is not eaten by a rodent.

You don't need to be an architect to build a squirrel tree house or a den for a pet rodent; Can be done by people without special construction skills. Observing the life of animals will be fascinating for all family members. This process also provides educational experience for children.

It happens that a pet needs to be kept outside, for example. But it happens exactly the opposite - a wild forest animal lives in our apartment, and when certain conditions It can even become tame. An example of this is the common squirrel, a small, nimble animal that lives in trees.

Common squirrel

Natural habitat of squirrels

Until the middle of the 20th century, squirrels lived only in forests, making homes in the hollows of wide trees or nests - hainas. But these are quite smart animals, and they realized that man is nothing other than a source of food. If you give a squirrel a treat from your hand, it will remember this place very well, and if it does not find another source of food, it will return again in a day or so.

And half a century ago they began to populate cities, settling in parks and forest belts. People admired them, fed them, built special houses, but an idea was born - why not bring the squirrel home? Why not a pet?

And indeed the idea turned out to be a good one, squirrels get along well in an apartment, and they have many advantages over traditional pets.

Protein and its benefits

Domestic squirrels are valued as a pet because of their easy care, or rather, they do not require care at all.

They never need to be bathed, they don’t need to be combed, they don’t need to trim their nails, they completely look after themselves. We will only be required to help them with this by equipping the cage.

Also, a big advantage of squirrels over other rodents is their diurnal lifestyle, you can admire them during the day, and at night no one will disturb you by rustling and grinding their teeth.

Squirrel cage

Firstly, the cage must be spacious, at least 150 cm in all directions.

Secondly, the rods should be made only of metal, no wood or plastic, which the squirrel will chew through in no time.

Thirdly, it must be equipped with:

• A couple of floors so that the animal can run up and down, this is necessary for them;
• Be sure to install a squirrel wheel;
• Be sure to place a thick wooden log to grind down teeth that grow throughout your life;
• There should be a closed house inside the cage, preferably on the top floor, so that the squirrel can hide in it.

It will take a very long time before it stops being afraid of people, and all this time the animal will hide in the house when it detects a person. Avoid sharp loud sounds and strong odors, and the squirrel will get used to it faster. When she starts taking food from your hands, and this is an excellent sign of taming, then you can let her walk around the apartment, but be sure to close all the windows and front door. If she jumps out the window, it will be impossible to catch her, and it doesn’t matter what floor, even the fiftieth, the squirrel will not break.

Also, keep an eye on it so that it doesn’t chew furniture or wiring.

You need to clean the cage a couple of times a month, giving Special attention in the corners and hiding places - you will probably find reserves of the animal there, no one has canceled the instincts.

Buying a squirrel

Buying a squirrel is quite difficult. This is a rare animal to keep at home, and it is strictly forbidden to take it home from the forest - it is a wild animal, it cannot be tamed, but it can easily be tortured to death. In this case, the squirrel may get sick.

The purchase can be made at a specialized nursery, if there is one nearby, you can try to place an order at a large pet store. At worst, you can try to go to the zoo, but you better not hope for that.

Do not buy protein at the poultry market if your health is important to you.

The price of an animal varies from 5,000 rubles and above, which can also be attributed to the advantages of a pet.

Characteristics of a rodent

• Proportionally built body;
• Color – fiery brown, in winter – silver-fawn;
• There are long dark tassels on the ears;
• The tail is fluffy;
• Eyes – black;
• Body length - up to 31 cm. The tail is the same length;
• Weight – up to 1 kg;
• Life expectancy is up to 15 years at home. For comparison, in the wild they live 3-4 years.

The squirrel has a playful, inquisitive character and inexhaustible energy. She can spin the wheel for hours, jump off it at the same second, make a couple of dozen circles around the floors of the cage, and jump into the wheel again.

The only thing is that at first they are cowardly, but this is just a precaution, then the squirrel will become gullible. But let us warn you - petting and cuddling her like a kitten is unlikely to work, they do not like physical affection, this is not... But there are also exceptions.

You also need to constantly communicate with them, because... Squirrels have a very short memory, they quickly run wild, and this is fraught with bites.

Diet

You need to feed the squirrel the same thing that it eats in nature:

• Berries;
• Fresh vegetables and fruits;
• Pine and spruce seeds;
• Mushrooms;
• Nuts (except almonds, which are poisonous to squirrels);
• Buds, shoots.

Contrary to the general belief that they are herbivores, squirrels eat insects, their larvae, frogs and shelled eggs. You can drink both water and milk. We fill the feeder 2 times a day - morning and evening, about 50 grams at a time. To prevent supplies from rotting, do not add too much food.

Never give a squirrel sweet, fried, salty, or any food from our table.

Squirrels are prone to obesity! They eat a lot because... Nature prescribes the constant activity of the animal. At home, less energy is consumed, but the squirrel will still eat as much as they give.

Of course, the squirrel is a very beautiful animal, but before buying, think again about whether you really need it, because there are more domestic rodents that bite and scratch less. And if you don’t change your mind, then be prepared to devote a little more time to communication than you expected, after all, the beauty, as in the photo above, is a wild animal.

And remember - we are responsible for those we have tamed!

See how a squirrel feeder is made from wood, plastic, and even a helmet and a plate. Do two-storey house for squirrels, so that these animals can not only eat here, but also spend the winter.

In anticipation of the onset of cold weather, the following topic is especially relevant. After all, feeders for squirrels will help them not to starve in winter. Make these animals happy by making these canteens for them.

DIY wooden feeders for squirrels

If you have a forest or park nearby where these funny animals live, we suggest making the following feeders for them. You can make these items from leftover materials. After all, very little is needed.

Pay attention to the presented diagram.

It gives the dimensions of the parts of this product, as well as the diameter of the holes. In total you will need to make 4 notches. Then several animals will be able to feast on this feeder at once. Having made the templates according to the presented diagram, you will cut the boards to the desired size.

They need to be properly sanded so that the animals do not get hurt. For this wooden feeder you will need to make two boards at the same distance miter saw 4 round holes.

Place these two boards vertically, parallel to each other. Using self-tapping screws, attach the central and lower shelves and the two halves of the walls to them. And the roof should be larger than the floor so that precipitation does not flow inside.

A wooden feeder like this will be more durable if you then cover it special composition which protects the wood. But it must be harmless to animals.

A wooden feeder can also be created based on a glass jar.

Squirrels? flexible animals, they will get food from this container. This container can be removed and washed at any time, and dirt and precipitation will not get inside. You will be able to see through the transparent walls how much food is left and, if necessary, replenish its reserves. It’s also interesting to watch the fluffy little prankster who will feast on this food.

For such a feeder you will need a few parts. It consists of:

• 2 rectangles with round holes of different sizes;
• one rectangle bottom;
• sidewalls;
• two loops;
• banks.

The small circle will hold the neck of the jar, and the large one? bottom. According to the size of this lower square, you need to make another one, which will become the lower part of the feeder. On this square you will attach a square with a large hole. Attach a square with a small hole at the top. These parts are fixed on a large rectangle, which will become the side of the wooden feeder. To be able to get the jar out at any time, fix the top rectangle with the hole on the window hinges.

Align the solid rectangle and square with the hole. Glue them together.

Now drill small holes in the large rectangle to insert the screws here. Connect the parts.

Now you can lift the top wooden piece, add food into the jar, then close the lid again.

But use a jar of sufficient volume so that the squirrel can easily get in and out. It is better to put nuts there in time so that the animal does not have to reach to the very bottom.

You can make a similar feeder out of wood with a glass jar, but in such a way that the squirrel also has a house where it can warm up in the cold.

The following diagram of the feeder will allow you to determine its size.

In the upper triangle you will need to cut a hole into which the can will be inserted.

This will be the front wall. Attach it to the three main ones, and make a hole in the side wall, which will become the entrance to the home. This house is mounted on two boards. The lower one will become both a floor and a platform, and the upper one? lid and visor.

Attach a metal strip to this structure, which will be fixed to the tree. Periodically pour nuts, seeds into the jar, you can put an ear of corn here. Squirrels will be happy with this treat.

It is interesting to watch through the glass walls of the jar as the fluffy beauty enters the house and takes a tasty morsel.

You can attach a spacious faceted jar using wire in wooden block and put the treat here.

A rectangular bottle with a large neck will also come in handy for such a good cause. Fix it in the house and hang it on a tree.

If you want it to be decorated with a train like this, then construct one from planks, cut out round parts that will become decoration and wheels.

And the next wooden feeder looks like a small one country house. Make a frame for the walls from straight branches. From the same ones you will make a platform in front of the can. Do gable roof and paint it.

If you need to quickly make a squirrel feeder, then simply tie a glass jar with a large neck to wooden supports or to a tree with wire.

You can use two jars that will be attached to the house, then you can put more food in them or feed two animals at the same time.

You can make a kind of arch out of three branches, attach the front part of the jar to them, and attach the bottom to the bars that make up the next platform of the feeder.

If you have small blocks of small cross-section left over from construction, use them to build a house frame, make a round entrance window on the side, and on the other side? a larger hole to attach the jar here.

Such feeders not only for birds, but also for squirrels can be a simple design. If you have furry animals living nearby, then use a wire to attach a horizontally positioned can to the fence, and attach a spoon to the bottom so that it is convenient for the squirrel to enter. But if you will use this design in cold weather, then attach a wooden spoon instead of a metal one.

If you know how to carve wood, then you can cut out two funny squirrels from plywood that will make up the sides of the next feeder. You will also pour the food into a glass container.

With some effort, you can make a feeder in the shape of a machine, which will delight your children and squirrels at the same time.

You can use lighter or heavier complex design, depending on your skills.

And if you have a wooden container for bulk products with a lifting lid, you can make a wooden feeder out of it. Drill a hole in the front where you want to insert the jar. Also use a miter saw to make a hole on the side where invited guests can run in.

How to make a house for squirrels from a log with your own hands?

Take:

• log;
• wooden planks;
• self-tapping screws;
• roof ridge;
• saw;
• miter saw;
• screwdriver

Cut the log to the desired length. This fragment must be at least 40 cm. Hollow out the cavity, leaving the walls 3 cm thick. You need to make a hole in the upper part of the house. Make it gable roof from slats and boards. The boards need to be nailed, starting from the bottom, so that each top row overlaps the bottom.

Do not forget to sand and sand the hole near the entrance so that the animal does not get hurt.

If you want to cheer up not only yourself, but also those who see such a wooden house, then we suggest paying attention to the next option.

You can also make such a house for squirrels from a log, but take one that has a knot in the right place. He will become the nose of a funny figure. Cut out 2 holes that will simultaneously become the pupils and windows of the house. Remove the bark around them in a circle. This cleared place will become the eyes of a funny character.

Cut out the mouth, and to make it smile, mark the teeth on the wood. This will be the entrance for the squirrel. Cover the hole in the log with a piece of wood on top. Of course, don't forget to select inner part logs, leaving the walls.

And if there is chaga on the log, do not remove it, then it will be convenient for the squirrel, leaning on it, to climb into the house.

You can make several wooden houses for squirrels, then you will have a whole composition. Make a staircase out of branches that will become decor and a convenient accessory for these furry animals.

Original do-it-yourself squirrel feeders with corn

You can make another interesting item by first drawing a train like this on plywood, then you will need to cut it out and paint it. Attach a pin to the side on which you will put the cob. Just remember to change this food periodically once the grains are eaten.

Squirrels enjoy eating corn on the cob. You can make the next feeder by hanging 4 cobs at once. This design is easy to reproduce. It consists of a central circular axis to which 4 metal pins are attached.

The next squirrel feeder is made in the form of a chair. It also has a metal pin attached to it where you will place the cob. It seems that the squirrel is sitting importantly on this chair, like a forest boss.

You can use a wooden pinwheel with three blades, each of which will have a cob strung on it.

The feeder can be made in the form of benches and a table. Attach a couple of cobs to it and hang this structure using metal chains.

The next squirrel feeder is fixed in almost the same way. You will attach two chains to a horizontal bar, which you will attach to the vertical one using an inclined plank.

And if you want to see how the squirrels sit at their desks, then design the following wooden feeders for them.

The little pranksters will be happy to sit on the chairs made for them and enjoy the treats.

You can make two chairs for them at the same time and a house in which they will live. And between these chairs you will place a treat.

Another original squirrel feeder is designed in the form of a cafe. Cut out the bases for the benches from plywood and fill them with narrow planks. Make a small table and attach a metal pin to it on which you will place the corn on the cob.

You can fix it on a small stump, which you make from a branch with bark.

Place a small wicker chair nearby so that the squirrel can sit comfortably here. The next wooden squirrel feeder is made of plywood. It needs to be sawed into rectangles and put together into chairs. For one you will need:

• one large sidewall, which will also become the rear legs;
• one plywood, which you will turn into the front legs;
• and one rectangle of this material will become a seat.

The table is made from the same material. And in the fixed pins there is an ear of corn.

You can make a feeder like a rocking chair and secure the treats here.

You can turn a tree on the outskirts of a forest or in a park into a real Miracle Tree. You will make here at the same time a train, a car, a table with benches, and an airplane. All these items will also treat the tailed pranksters to corn.

Another original squirrel feeder can be made from half a coconut. From it you will make two feeders at once.

If you have a construction helmet and a plate, this makes another great squirrel feeder. You need to drill one or two holes in the helmet and attach it to the plate with self-tapping screws.

This design is good because even if it gets wet, it will dry quickly. And you will make such a feeder from scrap materials.

If you have plastic or rubber animal masks, you can attach them to trees and secure treats there for the squirrels. It will be very funny to watch how the squirrels take food from there and temporarily turn into more amusing animals.

How to make a simple squirrel feeder with your own hands?

Your children will be happy to make this one with you. You will need:

• bushings from toilet paper or cardboard and glue;
• ribbon;
• peanut butter;
• grains, seeds.

If you have bushings, then use them. If you want to make blanks from cardboard, then first roll it into tubes, securing it with squirrel-safe glue or a stapler.

Coat the tube with peanut butter, then roll in the mixture of grains and seeds. Make several of these blanks, then tie them together to turn them into something like a rope ladder.

The squirrels will enjoy the treat with pleasure, and the kids will enjoy not only the manufacturing process, but also watching the results of their work.

You can attach grains and seeds to toilet paper rolls using peanut butter, then simply string them onto branches, compound and fixed in a cross shape. You need to thread a rope in the center and tie it to a support.

You can also make a simple squirrel feeder from a cardboard box. For example, suitable from household appliances. Cut holes on one or more sides. Make a gable roof out of cardboard and attach it to the top.

Or you can use a box that already has a semblance of a gable roof.

A feeder made from a plastic bottle should also not be difficult to manufacture. A container with a capacity of 5 liters is suitable.

Make a slot in it so that the animal can easily get inside. Bend the cut part so that it is not sharp at the fold. To prevent the animal from being injured, you need to scorch the edges of the cut.

You can use a plastic canister; it is convenient to hang this device by the handle. You will frame the cut areas using insulating tape of a contrasting color. Then there will be an additional decoration, and the animals will not get hurt.

If you want there to be a canopy over the entrance, then cut off the area of ​​the door so that the remaining part is at the top. Bend it and wait for the invited guests.

If you want to make a solid structure so that the squirrel not only feeds, but also lives there, then watch the next master class.

Two-story house for squirrels - master class and step-by-step photos

It can be two stories high so that the animals have enough space to comfortably settle here.

Take:

• board 3 m long, 30 cm wide, 2 cm thick;
• saw;
• drill with an attachment for cutting locks;
• self-tapping screws

Reveal the following details:

• for the back side, a rectangle measuring 55 by 30 cm;
• side walls in the amount of 2 pieces measuring 25 by 45 cm;
• internal partition 25 by 20 cm;
• parts for the bottom and roof.

On the front wall, cut a round hole with a diameter of 8 cm, sand the edges. Attach the roof and bottom. Make a porch from two narrow planks, placing them perpendicularly.

A two-story house for squirrels can be very different. If you want their two floors to be separated by an openwork porch like this, make it.

You can make a house for a squirrel so that there are stairs, holes for doors and windows.

To make it easier for squirrels to climb from the outside of the wall, attach several planks here.

Simple options for feeding houses for squirrels

You can make the following squirrel feeder.

To do this, you just need to make a gable roof from 2 planks and from a ridge at the top, and at the bottom attach each wall with triangular slats to a wide floor.

If your coffee machine breaks down beyond repair, then it will also make an excellent squirrel feeder.

Take a large spring, stretch it, and put a variety of dry squirrel food in the middle. You can seal the treats with peanut butter to prevent them from popping out.

If you have a metal mesh or similar container, you can put treats here for your furry animals.

And if you string a treat on a thread, hang it on a tree, and the animals will happily come running here to have a snack.

To make this type of beads you will need:

• strong thread;
• scissors;
• dry breakfast rings.

If you don't have suitable rope, then use wire. And instead of a dry breakfast, you can take regular bagels.

String such a treat on a rope or wire, tie the ends and hang the treat on a branch.

This is how to make a house for squirrels, and also make a feeder for squirrels. You can see how to somehow build a home for these animals from a log by removing the core from it.

You can also make another squirrel cage with your own hands. They will surely like this two-story house for squirrels.

Belchatnik in country house or cottage, it harmoniously combines with the decor of any site, as it can “dissolve” among the vegetation of the garden area. A homemade squirrel house is practical, durable and warm. If your summer cottage is located near a forest, then be sure to make a house for the squirrel with your own hands. The benefit of such a structure is that every day there will be an opportunity to admire the squirrels visiting the territory.

Why are houses built?

Squirrels live alone, and each animal needs a personal shelter. In their natural habitat, rodents settle in tree hollows (mainly spruce trees) or make nests on branches. If you want to settle a handsome fluffy animal on your summer cottage, you need to equip a house. It performs the following functions:

• protecting the animal from adverse weather conditions (in winter, squirrels do not appear for weeks);
• pantry for supplies - berries, nuts, seeds, mushrooms. Their animals collect and store them in the summer (going out in winter time animals often die from their homes);
• place of breeding (twice a year - in spring and summer). The cubs are blind and helpless; they need to be with their mother in a dry, warm, safe place for at least three months.

IN winter period squirrels help each other survive. They often settle in one house in several individuals, but with the arrival of spring, each rodent needs its own home in which to breed. There are real battles for space: alien animals drive out the legal residents in order to settle in the squirrel colony separately. With the onset of warm days, natural selection occurs when the strongest animals survive. Therefore, installing a house will not only please the human eye, but will also help the life of the fluffy.

Squirrels can live in a self-constructed house all year round. They will feel comfortable and well-fed, especially in winter, when there is no urgent need to look for food. You can observe their interesting behavior and feed them nuts whenever possible. Contact and observation of small furry animals causes positive emotions in a person, relaxation occurs, this has been proven by psychologists.

Construction requirements

Squirrels are funny creatures. The animals are almost tame, especially in the area where they are often fed. Like all animals, squirrels have a developed instinct of self-preservation, this is especially evident in forest areas. The animals are very attentive, careful, prudent, and therefore place them near own dacha- the task is not easy.

It is necessary to take into account all the nuances: the height of the house, the relationship of green spaces (when choosing a tree to attach the house to it, you need to take into account the natural similarity of what grows in the park area and in the place of the new habitat). Camouflage is also needed (the fluffy's future home should be as similar as possible to a forest hollow).

A house for a squirrel is being built from natural wood. When designing, the use of artificial, sealed, and plastic building materials should not be allowed. The inside of the squirrel cage is not lined. Internal walls buildings should also be made of natural material, you should not treat them with varnish, paint or other chemicals. Synthetic odors will scare away the animal, and it will never live in such a squirrel forest.

It is necessary to respect the dimensions of the living space. Squirrels love to live in small, cozy, warm houses. The squirrel cage needs to be compact. In large buildings, the risk of internal wall freezing increases significantly. The squirrel will quickly leave such a house.

Design dimensions

The main purpose of a squirrel colony is to provide living space for the animal and offspring. However, there is a nuance: each cub requires personal space, which can be provided by installing small partitions or building a multi-story squirrel colony. If we talk about optimal sizes one-story house, then the squirrel cage needs a height of 50 cm, a depth of 45 cm, a width of up to 40 cm. You must also take into account the size of the hole for the hole: maximum diameter is 7 cm, it is better to choose a round shape.

For a multi-storey squirrel cage, a height of 30 cm for each tier is suitable. This will ensure a comfortable stay for the animal inside the home. The width of the building is 25 cm. It is not recommended to build a large squirrel colony. This has a direct impact on the comfort of the home and the squirrel’s desire to stay in it.

Necessary materials

The initial stage of building a squirrel house is material selection. It depends on the wishes of the owner summer cottage and equipment available on the farm. Any available materials will be useful in building a home wooden materials- from boards to slabs. Squirrels can be from:

• edged board. The house is held together with standard self-tapping screws, then insulated from the outside with moss. The structure looks like a birdhouse, but its characteristics are suitable for animal habitation;
• solid wood. The dwelling is externally similar to the animal’s natural place of residence - a hollow.

Home boards

The material must be dry. Optimal thickness planks for arranging a squirrel cage - 20-25 mm: such a building lasts much longer. You cannot plan boards from the side of the interior wall of the home. The recommended sizes should be adhered to.

It is better to insert the bottom inside and fasten it from the outside: installation guarantees durability. To build a squirrel house, a drawing is not needed, since the process is quite simple. The following materials are prepared in advance for work:

• board 3 meters long, 20 mm thick, 30 cm wide;
• sandpaper;
• hacksaw/jigsaw;
• self-tapping screws;
• square;
• glue.

First, individual parts are prepared. The length of the board is measured and sawn 55 cm, this part will be the back wall of the squirrel house. On the same board, 5 cm are marked at the top and bottom to leave space for attaching to the tree. 2 parts are cut along the board, each measuring 25x45 cm. These will make the side walls. A piece measuring 20x25cm is sawn off to create a partition. The remaining boards will be the porch.

Entrance hole

Doors are cut with a jigsaw, it is better to make round holes of the correct shape. Suitable size- 7 cm. A hole of this diameter will allow the squirrel to feel comfortable inside the house, and the heat will not escape outside. Then the holes are carefully polished so that the animal does not get hurt.

Assembling the structure with your own hands

After preparing the component parts, you need to assemble the squirrel house itself. All fragments are initially held together with glue so that you can verify in advance the correct assembly and conformity of the shapes, and determine whether the components fit correctly. Next, you can finally fix the parts with standard self-tapping screws. When using regular nails for fastening, there is a risk that the animal will be injured.

The squirrel's house is ready. After final assembly You can insulate the bottom by laying tow or forest moss. Thus, the manufacturer of the home will give the furry animals the opportunity to remove small errors that appeared during the construction of the house on their own. Squirrels will provide your home with maximum comfort.

In order for the squirrels to feel protected, the house should be secured at a height of at least 5 m from the ground. The hole for the manhole turns towards the south or east. The hollow of the squirrel nest is not directed in the windy direction. Build a feeding trough next to the squirrel house, so the animals will quickly settle in their new place. A table or plywood are great options. The house only needs to be secured to a tree.

Build a squirrel two-story house. A whole family will settle there, and the owner of the summer cottage will have more fun from the pleasant invasion. Prepare materials for work: 3 meters of boards 30 cm wide and 18 mm thick, a hacksaw, a cutting square. Prepare the details:

Preparing parts for the house: round holes are cut out with a jigsaw on the front and back walls, they are sanded with sandpaper so that the squirrels do not get caught and are not injured by the wood chips. Cut out the entrance hole. Now check that the parts fit correctly and glue them together. For final fixation, use self-tapping screws rather than nails. The house has been built.

Log construction

Squirrel houses in the form of a natural hollow fits much better into the exterior suburban area, because they appearance merges with the natural surroundings. Structures of this type better retain thermoregulatory characteristics, they are practical, reliable, so that squirrels will live in it for more than one year. The original squirrel nest made from an old log looks great on a pine tree. If the owner of the site log house, then by placing the structure side by side, you can constantly enjoy a harmonious picture, which is presented in a single style solution.

You need to choose a log from coniferous tree or oak. Squirrels love these tree varieties. An animal may not want to settle in a birch or aspen log; poplar is definitely not suitable. Note: squirrels prefer (in descending order):

1. coniferous trees,
2. birch,
3. aspen.

Natural steeplejacks do not favor third and fourth places; they will settle in an aspen or birch house only if absolutely necessary. A house in the shape of a natural hollow has advantages compared to other types of squirrel housing:

• high level of adaptation of residents to the “apartments”;
• the thickened walls of the stump store heat well;
• simple design;
• the design of the squirrel cage will complement any garden decor;
• Little time is required for construction.

A solid squirrel nest is made from a log with a diameter of 40 cm or more. The diameter of the stump for building a squirrel house cannot be less than 40-45 cm. The following manipulations are carried out with the prepared tree:

A two-story log house is also created. From whole piece The wood is sawn off into 2 circles 4 cm thick. This will be the bottom of the first floor and the roof of the second. A part 75 cm long is prepared, in which holes 35 cm deep are hollowed out at the ends (it is worth leaving the walls thick). The bottom and roof are attached. 2 inlet holes are cut. The two-story squirrel farm is ready, resulting in luxurious apartments for a family of nimble animals.

Home care

Over time Bacteria can form in the squirrel's house, causing the appearance of unpleasant odors, as well as animal diseases. Caring for the home of furry rodents is not burdensome. Maintenance involves cleaning at the end of summer. It is necessary to remove all dirt, insulation materials, debris, and husks that were used by the squirrels. The walls and bottom can be wiped with a damp cloth, then let the house dry and lay a new bedding on the bottom.

As a result, the unpleasant smell should disappear, and with the arrival of autumn, the squirrels will happily settle into a useful garden building. To avoid contact with pathogenic microorganisms, carry out cleaning work using rubber gloves.

A dacha located next to a park area or forest is an opportunity to meet small animals, admire them from the outside, and sometimes even try to tame them. A fairly frequent visitor to the summer cottage is the squirrel. To tame her you will need to be smart. However, the first thing you need to do when trying to tame a rodent is to build a house for it.

Building a house for a squirrel is not much different from making a birdhouse or bird feeder.

Making a house: choosing a place and material for creation

Since the squirrel is a rodent thief, placing its house next to a person’s home will not give any results; the squirrel will not settle in such a place. Most correct solution– place the house on the edge of the site, away from people and bustle. It is advisable that the house does not stand out too much from general interior, was on safe height from the earth. These measures when choosing the location of the house will allow you to lure the squirrel into the house and gradually get used to its new home.

As practice shows, the material for a squirrel’s home is not of fundamental importance. A small rodent responds equally well to both wooden houses, and on carton boxes, tin buckets, etc. However, the habit of building housing for smaller brothers from wood, as a rule, plays a decisive role in choosing the material for creating a house.

Timber, mounting rail, etc. are perfect for making a house. Tools that will be useful are a screwdriver, a hacksaw for wood or a jigsaw, a round attachment for cutting the entrance to the house, a pencil and tape measure, and a hammer.

Manufacturing and installation of a squirrel house

All parts for making the house are cut out using a hacksaw or jigsaw. Then, in the front part of it, a round hole is cut out, which will serve as the entrance to the house. A small ledge is made next to the entrance, the so-called balcony. With its help, the squirrel will be more comfortable entering and leaving the house. All parts of the house are fastened with nails or self-tapping screws. When installing the house, under no circumstances should you use glue or any synthetic materials. They can harm the health of the squirrel and even lead to its death.

Upon completion of the manufacture of the squirrel housing, it is necessary to secure it to the tree. Most The right way fastening the house - use fasteners or wire. It is not advisable to use nails or self-tapping screws to secure the house; they will damage the wood. The house itself should be placed in the thick of foliage and branches so that the squirrels are far from the bustle and noise. When mounting it at a high altitude, it is necessary to use insurance to prevent an accident.

Unusual ways to make a house for a squirrel

An old uprooted stump can be used as a material suitable for making housing for a squirrel. Most in a simple way make a home - cut a hole in the middle of the stump, which will be the place where the squirrel can set up a home. After this, the roof is fixed on top of the stump, and the housing for the rodent is ready.

Another way is to make a squirrel patch directly in the tree if it has died completely or part of it. In this case, it is necessary to cut a hollow in the middle of its trunk, sand the wood from the inside and protect the entrance to the house so that a cat or weasel cannot enter there. With this method of making a home for a squirrel, a roof is not needed.