An artificial feeding place for birds, which man has built to support the feathered friends in winter and to secure their existence, is called bird house. Simply scattering food on the ground is not a patent solution. The feed would become moldy due to weather conditions and attract feed predators. Moreover, the birds would not be protected from their predators, the cats.
Birdhouses come in different shapes. The most common are probably birdhouses in country style with a pointed roof. But feed silos and columns have also proven their worth.
Wood for the birdhouse roof
Wood is a sustainable natural material. It grows in a short time and is affordable for the hobbyist. If you build your own birdhouse, you will enjoy the easy workability of the wood. Wood is also an extremely aesthetic material, then it fits perfectly into the habitat of birds due to its closeness to nature.
However, wood has a significant disadvantage that actually precludes using this material alone for the cover: It is not weatherproof, nor is it rainproof. After one year at the latest, this natural product will show damage due to moisture and give the birds, whose feeding place it is supposed to keep dry and protected, harmful mold on the wooden structure as well as the food.
It is not for nothing that our houses also have roof shingles.
Bitumen
One might think that bitumen, a natural asphalt that is absolutely waterproof when properly processed, would be an optimal roofing material due to its excellent sealing properties. But it is not like that.
Bitumen could have a negative effect on the health of humans and birds, because it is an environmental toxin and is suspected of damaging organs and causing cancer. This is due to harmful hydrocarbons that emanate from bitumen. The natural asphalt is produced in nature, but does not fit into it in an ecologically safe way.
Those who process bitumen should wear protective clothing and be careful not to heat up the substance. Bitumen is available as a coating, as roofing felt or as shingles. Bitumen is disposed of as hazardous waste!
Stainless steel
Stainless steel is an alloy of steel (iron and carbon) with a percentage of chromium and nickel, and the chromium content must be at least 10.5%. This is the only way to keep stainless steel rust-free.
You can enjoy a birdhouse roof made of this material for decades, because it is durable and stable, odorless, tasteless and easy to clean. It is also extremely resistant to weathering.
It is very suitable for a purchased bird feeder, but perhaps less so for the hobbyist, as it is difficult to work with. In any case, there is no health hazard from stainless steel. On the contrary, it is extremely environmentally friendly, because it can be 100% recycled without loss of quality.
Copper
In the case of a copper roof, minimal amounts of this element can be released to the bird feeder and the wooden structure. This is not undesirable, because copper belongs to the trace elements, which are necessary for higher developed creatures. Excess copper is excreted from the organism.
However, lower organisms cannot do anything with the copper, so copper in the birdhouse has a desirable antibacterial effect.
Copper for the bird feeder is also quite easy to process for the amateur craftsman. It is soft and tough and can be easily driven into the desired shape with a hammer. A roof made of copper sheet could last for centuries. The underlying materials are well protected against corrosion.
A copper roof is also aesthetically pleasing, as it develops a beautiful greenish patina over time.
Slate
This metamorphic rock is 400 million years old and lies on top of each other in many layered slabs. Since slate consumes relatively little energy in its manufacture, it has a really good ecological balance sheet. Its longevity, naturalness, durability and environmental friendliness make it a sought-after material for birdhouse roofs.
The slate tiles, which are nailed to the substructure, allow the house builder the greatest individual freedom of design. Defective stones are easy to replace.
The slate roof requires maintenance from time to time, by removing algae, moss and lichen from it. Slate is simply disposed of as construction waste, though you can also use it as garden chippings.
As you can see, there is quite a choice. But whichever you choose, here at gartenetage you can buy the right birdhouse!