Make a house for a squirrel with your own hands, and forest guests will be happy to settle there. Imagine how much joy watching them will bring you and your children! Note: you can, of course, buy a squirrel cage ready-made - for example, made of plastic. But, the animals will be much more comfortable in a house made of natural materials. Squirrel house - from idea to implementation To begin with, it is important to decide on a few general rules. To make a design only from a natural tree. Do not use paints, varnishes or other chemical substances when processing, because their smell will scare away animals. For quick adaptation of squirrels to the house, you can put them nearby a simple feeder(in the form of a table or plywood board). Optimal dimensions structures: height 50-55 cm, width about 40 cm, depth - about 45 cm. It is better to place a climbing hole in the upper part of the house and make it round (about 7 cm in diameter). The installation height of the squirrel cage must be at least five meters. The squirrel dwelling should be oriented by the location of the hollow strictly to the east side (but if winds constantly blow at this place, then locate the entrance to the south). It is more convenient for the animals themselves to build a two-story house for them, so that several squirrels can be accommodated there at once.
Important note: in winter, several squirrels can live in one squirrel, but with the advent of spring, each of them will need separate housing, because babies will be born, and the living space needs to be increased. Little tricks You can use everything: any old boards, boards from packing boxes, slabs - as long as it is natural wood. All material for manufacturing must be dry. Optimal Thickness boards 2-2.5 cm. In this case, the house will last a long time. For the inner walls of the squirrel cage, the boards do not need to be planed. The width of the side panel should be 30 cm, and the front and back - 25 cm. We have already indicated all other parameters above. This is done for the convenience of squirrels, because they will not live in too large dwellings. It is better not to nail the bottom of the squirrel from the outside, but put it inside - so it will not fall out and will serve for a long time. 
The simplest squirrel made of boards may appeal to animals more than a pretentious purchased house Squid can be made in two ways: put together from boards, like a birdhouse; hollowed out from a single log. How to build a house for a squirrel from boards In fact, this activity will be simple and exciting, especially if you make a house with your children. Three meters should be purchased edged board(parameters: width 30 cm, thickness 18 mm.) Also needed for work: a square for drawing lines; simple pencil; hacksaw for cutting boards; drill; drill with a diameter of 30 mm; screwdriver; self-tapping screws (30-35 mm); good quality waterproof glue. 
This chic squirrel cottage flaunts in one of the parks near Moscow
Many residents suburban areas, located near forests, are trying to evict from their yards wonderful fluffy inhabitants - squirrels. If you do not understand such a desire and, on the contrary, you would like to tame these forest dwellers, then you can “domesticate” them to some extent and make them your neighbors. To do this, it is enough to create proteins the necessary conditions and then they will gladly settle on your site. All that is needed for furry animals is a large tree, food and a special squirrel house.
In specialized stores you can buy a ready-made squirrel, since the range of such “apartments” is enormous! What is not here: round pumpkin houses, Chinese huts and real high-rise hotels. However, for a squirrel, the colorful style does not matter, and the forest beauty may well neglect it, choosing not ready-made bright apartments for living, but the most ordinary house made of logs or boards that you can make yourself. Making a house for a squirrel with your own hands is not at all difficult. In any case, it does not differ too much from a birdhouse, except perhaps for its size and some internal features. We will tell you how to quickly make a squirrel, which, despite its simplicity, will soon acquire a cheerful tenant.
House for squirrels - a large "birdhouse"
2. Making a house from a single piece of wood. As a result of construction, a house is obtained that looks like a natural "apartment" of a squirrel - a hollow.
House for a squirrel - imitation of a hollow
Edged boards
In order to build such a squirrel cage, you need to purchase an edged board. Three meters of board 18 mm thick and 30 cm wide are enough. To cut wood, you will need a square and a hacksaw.
The most preferred are multi-storey squirrels with internal partitions. We suggest you build a two-story house.
Cutting details for the house
First, we measure from a solid board along 55 cm - we cut out the first part. This will be the back side of the squirrel. We measure 5 cm from above and below the parts - this way we will get free parts with which the house will be attached to the tree. The front side of the building will be smaller in height - 45 cm.
We cut off two parts from the board - 45x25 cm - these will be the side walls of the squirrel cage. Let's not forget about internal partition dimensions 25x20 cm.
Two small boards left after cutting can be used as an entrance porch.
We arrange "entrance doors"
On the back and front wall we make a hole - the entrance for fluffy lodgers. You can make them square, however, it is better to opt for a round hole. Too big" entrance doors»nothing - 7-8 cm will be enough. This size will allow the squirrels to feel comfortable and contribute to the preservation internal heat. Holes are cut with a jigsaw and carefully sanded with sandpaper so that the animals cannot catch on the chips and are not injured.
If you do not want the squirrel to freeze, make a hole in the wall of the house no more than 7-8 cm
Assembling the structure
Using glue, we fasten all the parts into one design. After making sure that all the elements fit correctly, we finally fix them with self-tapping screws (it is undesirable to use nails, since squirrels can get hurt by sharp edges).
After the house is assembled, put some moss or tow inside. This will allow the forest dwellers to repair all the cracks and errors in your construction on their own to ensure maximum comfort and warmth for their future offspring.
Solid wood house
Houses in the form of a forest hollow fit much better into the design of any site, as they are able to “get lost” among the trees and become almost one with your garden. Moreover, such structures are very warm (thanks to thick walls), durable and practical - squirrels settle in them with great pleasure. It is not difficult to make such a squirrel. You need to purchase a log from wood characteristic of your area. Squirrels love to settle in oak and coniferous hollows. Aspen and birch are not very favorite for them, but if you make a house out of poplar, then be prepared that squirrel families will generally bypass the building.
We will take a pine log with a diameter of at least 40 cm. We saw off a part of our log 4 cm thick - this is the future roof of the squirrel.
Next, we saw off a piece of log 40 cm high. From the top of the hemp, we hollow out the cavity necessary for the squirrel to live comfortably. The main thing here is not to overdo it and leave the side walls and the bottom about 3 cm thick. On one side of the squirrel we cut out the inlet. The upper open part of the house is covered with a roof prepared earlier. As a porch, you can use any thick branch or snag.
Thus, a one-story house for a squirrel is made. The construction of multi-storey apartments is carried out a little differently. For him, we immediately cut out two pieces of a log 4 cm thick - this will be the bottom of the first floor and the roof of the second. We saw off a part of a log 75 cm high for the device of "apartments". From the upper and lower ends of the logs, we hollow out two cavities to a depth of about 35 cm, providing for the presence of side walls 3 cm thick. At the required height, we make two inlets to the first and second floors. We fix the roof and bottom.
We hang a house for a squirrel
They hang a house for squirrels only on trees. Animals will not want to settle in squirrel cages placed on artificial poles or supports. Choose quiet quiet place on the south side of the tree - this will protect the animals from the cold wind. It is desirable that the entrance holes are directed to the east, since squirrels prefer this direction of light most of all. The minimum height from the house to the ground is 5 meters. Only such a height is safe enough for squirrels and will allow them to fearlessly raise their offspring.
House care
At the end of the summer, it is necessary to clean the house. Remove all dirt from it, replace the insulation materials with new ones. This will prevent the growth of bacteria that can cause bad smell from squirrels, as well as diseases of animals tamed by you.
House for a squirrel - creating conditions for the life of a fluffy animal
Meeting with a squirrel always brings a mass positive emotions. A do-it-yourself squirrel feeder will help attract these funny animals to your site.
feeder requirements
Feeding trough, as well as a house for fluffy beauties must be made in accordance with some rules:
- Do-it-yourself squirrel feeders are used exclusively natural wood, and not varnished chipboard or plastic fragments in general. Firstly, squirrels live in the forest and all sorts of paints, laminates and plastic attributes are extremely dangerous for a delicate organism. Secondly, the smell of varnish can scare away the squirrel and your work will be in vain.
- You need to make a compact structure.
- If the feeder is closed, then it needs a round hole.
- In order for squirrels to visit the feeder, you need to hang it correctly - only on a tree, and at such a height that you can safely put food and snacks there.
Manufacturing technique
For squirrel feeders, you can use any natural boards, including slabs. The main requirement is that the material used must be absolutely dry. It is advisable to choose boards with a wall thickness of 2.5-3 cm. So the feeder will last longer, and the animal will be comfortable inside.
There are several basic options for creating squirrels (a photo of some of the options below).
From the boards
This method is the easiest and fastest. You will need boards with thickness / width / length dimensions of 1.8 / 30 / 300 cm, respectively. The total length should be three meters.
Manufacturing technique:
- Using a cutting square, measure and cut a 55 cm board. This will be the back of the feeder. 5 cm are canceled from above and below. It is with them that the feeder will be attached to the tree.
- Now the sidewalls are cut off - two boards 25 * 45 cm and an internal partition with dimensions of 20 * 25 cm.
- The remaining two blocks will play the role of a porch.
- Using a jigsaw, round holes are cut out on the front and back of the future feeder, through which the squirrel will get to the food. Wooden sections must be carefully sanded with sandpaper so that the squirrels do not get hurt.
- Estimate whether you have done everything, whether all the details fit correctly. If there are no defects, you can glue the feeder.
To be sure of the strength of the squirrel feeder, the parts can additionally be fastened with self-tapping screws. It is highly undesirable to use nails in this matter so that the animals do not cut themselves.
From the bank
Oddly enough, but this method is not only interesting, but also simple, popular and looks very original. In addition, the food will be reliably protected from birds.
Choose a jar that is spacious enough, at least 15 cm in diameter, so that the squirrel can not only climb into it, but also sit and eat nuts.
Do-it-yourself squirrel feeder (drawings attached) is a house placed on a long ledge-base. 
The approximate dimensions of the house are 45/25/20 cm (length / width / height, respectively):
- Cut out 2 sidewalls, one front, roof and back wall Outline the hole for the jar.
- A hole is also made in the front, but it must correspond to the diameter of the neck of the can.
- A hole with a diameter of not more than 10 cm is cut out in each sidewall. This is the entrance to the feeder.
The base of the feeder should be long enough to fit into the house, the jar, and a small margin to accommodate the limiter, which will securely fix the jar. As for the back, besides the function of the wall, it is also the holder of the entire structure, since it is she who will be attached to the tree. 
- Having cut out all the details, they process them with sandpaper, glue them and fix them with self-tapping screws.
- It remains only to attach the feeder to the tree and pour the food.
With these tips, you can make your own squirrel feeder and spice up your garden.
And we will deal with the correct size of the house for the squirrel.
First, about what lives in our area:
Squirrel ordinary - Central Russian or veksha. Habitat: in the north - to Novgorod, in the west - to Pskov and Kaluga, in the south - to Tula, Penza, Syzran, in the east - along the river. Kama to Perm. Therefore, veksha lives in Moscow and neighboring regions.
There are about 15 more subspecies on the territory of Russia. Life span in wild nature 3-4 years. In captivity up to 10-12 years. The mating season for the common squirrel takes place in the middle of winter. One female can have about 6 males. After mating with the winner, the female builds a brood nest (sometimes 2-3); it is neater and large sizes. Nests are built only by females. The gestation period is about 38 days. Squirrels are born naked and blind, their weight is only 8 grams. There are 3 to 10 cubs in a litter. Weight - only 250-340 grams.
False information!
Who writes the articles you read? Copywriters! They don't make squirrel houses! They just write. And they write mostly complete nonsense. Correct dimensions squirrels, indicated in the same article on the pages of search engines, are not correct and not logical. They mislead you, because. invented on the knees, to increase attendance. All from one source, the pictures do not match the texts!
So what should be the dimensions of the squirrel?
We enter in the search engine: “The size of the squirrel cage” and: - dear mother! Someone is even looking for “Ideal squirrel sizes”. Probably for the perfect squirrel. As a result, all the material was provided by a man in blue slippers, who had a board 30 cm wide. And this “correct” person deduced the formula for the correct squirrel.
A little information that will help you understand, and not stupidly believe!
In deciduous forests, the squirrel usually lives in hollows, dragging a soft bedding of grass, tree lichens, and dry leaves into it. In conifers, it builds spherical nests from dry branches (gaina), which are lined from the inside with moss, leaves, grass, and wool. The diameter of the nest is 25-30 cm. The squirrel nest builds a diameter of 25-30 cm. And it occupies whatever hollows it needs. Very often it occupies birdhouses, gnawing a hole. https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordinary_squirrel
It is interesting!
In order not to bother with building a nest, the squirrel occupies a birdhouse. Males do not bother building their own nest, but settle down in housing left by females or in empty nests of magpies, thrushes and crows.
You can come across a recommendation to make a house for a squirrel with dimensions of 30 X 30 cm. This is not a house for a squirrel, this is idiocy! And in some sources up to 45 cm. ??? Who will offer more? For comparison! The duck house has a size of 30x30x65 cm.
Why is this redundant?
The required heat is calculated depending on the area of \u200b\u200bthe room, and more precisely, on the volume. Area of a circle less area square. The simplest calculation: For a diameter of 30 cm (radius 15 cm) Circle area S \u003d πR² S \u003d 3.1428 X (15x15) \u003d 707, 13 cm \ sq. S square \u003d 30 X 30 \u003d 900 cm \ sq. with this area, the diameter of the nest should be 33.84 cm. And this is beyond the scope of what the squirrel does on its own. What's the point of making a squirrel more than required? It seems to me that just such was the board of the one who reproduced this proposal on the Internet. Or according to the principle: more - more solid - more expensive. That's how much material! But there is nature, there is mathematics, there is thermodynamics. In cold weather, squirrels gather in groups so as not to freeze.
The required volume to maintain heat limits the size of the squirrel cage. The material costs a penny, and the work is expensive. You can make a squirrel 5 cm more with the same efforts, but sell it for more. Tell me what is more expensive for work, cut off 1 meter of the board or 2 meters. Is it the same? And visually? But why a treehouse the size of a village toilet? We calculate the size of the house rationally, trying to combine the necessary comfortable parameters and pleasant appearance. For a diameter of 25 cm (radius 12.5 cm) S sockets = 491 cm/sq. We calculate the width of the wall of the bottom square. √ 491 \u003d 22.15 cm. Considering that squirrels occupy birdhouses, where the wall of the bottom square is 12 - 14 cm.
So, what is the right house for a squirrel?
The right squirrel is shit! A ball with a diameter of 25-30 cm.
Let's calculate the volume of the nest 30 cm in diameter. The volume of the sphere is V=4/3πR³. We consider V \u003d 4 / 3X3.1428x0.15³ V \u003d 0.014 (m³)
Result: r = 15 (cm); V = 14139 (cm³) or 14 liters.
Now a house with a base of 30X30 and a height of 40 cm. V \u003d 0.3x0.3x 0.4 \u003d 0.036 (m³)
Result: 30x30x40cm. V= 36000(cm³) or 36 liters.
Feel the difference. This is 2.57 times the required volume!
We hope we managed to explain the meaninglessness of large houses for squirrels?
So let's repeat:
- Squirrels occupy even birdhouses.
- They just sleep there.
- They are constantly changing homes. Every time new proteins. One squirrel can have about 10 - 15 shelters, which are located in different parts of the forest. In winter, several squirrels can gather in one nest at once, the animals warm each other with their bodies and wait out the cold. In a huge house they will freeze.
- Your personal, familiar or beloved squirrel will not live on your site. This requires an aviary. But they will change homes, so there will always be squirrels.
- A nest that makes a squirrel for a brood of 25-30 cm in diameter! This is a ball. 25-30 cm high. Not a 70 cm high room!!!
- For a nest with a diameter of 25 cm, a house with a wall of 22 x 22 cm is needed. Not 30 cm. not 45cm. And this is for the brood. That is, in such a house she will breed offspring, and the offspring will not die from the cold.
- There are no internal shelves and partitions in nests and hollows. See pictures. No need to invent!
- There is no need to add grain. Beds and pillows are not provided.
- The squirrel stocks up all over the forest. Not in the house! It's not a hamster. They also write such that the squirrel arranges storage. We read fairy tales and saw cartoons. Ropes with mushrooms, nuts, acorns. There's no such thing!
- Unplaned inner surface allows wasps and hornets to build nests inside the house. She also collects wool and dirt, being an additional source of infection.
- Notches, like a birdhouse on the inner wall, are not needed!
- Wall joints should not have gaps.
- Hang at a height of 7 meters and above.
- Squirrels are not afraid of the smell of paint! There is no point in processing inside. And outside? The paint fades within a week. Squirrels of the 21st century are accustomed to smells and colorful life. The fact that the house should not be painted is invented by the village of Old Believers, washing their hair ash. Don't listen to idiots!
- The right squirrel is not the shape and size! The correct squirrel cage is the volume in which the squirrel is warm and cozy!
Squirrels are lovely rodents, from which neither adults nor children can take their eyes off. They make stop passers-by and watch your every move. And if suddenly a squirrel decides to eat from someone's hands, then great happiness will be reflected on the face of this person. But, there is a time when it is very difficult for these wonderful creatures to get food. Then feeders created by people come to the rescue.
Squirrel feeder from a regular can
This type of feeder is used big enough popularity in Europe. To create it you will need:
- Wooden boards.
- Glass jar.
- screws.
- Screwdriver.
- Ruler.
- Saw.
- waterproofing layer.
First you need to cut a hole in the two side walls of the house. It can be round (make sure it is not too small for a squirrel, the diameter should be at least 15 cm) or in the form of an arch (then it will be very convenient to clean the feeder). In the central board, you need to make a hole so that the neck of the can enters into it. Next, we install limiters on both sides of the can so that it does not ride, but stands tightly in one place. We connect all the details together. On the roof of the house must be glued waterproofing layer, because moisture can destroy the made feeder. It remains only to pour seeds into a jar and attach to the desired tree! Of course , the bird feeder may also appeal to the birds . They can climb into it and bask on cold winter days. Therefore, periodically a feeder is recommended clean (at least once a year).
Wooden to do-it-yourself squirrel feeder
First you need to make a detailed drawing of a squirrel feeder, reflecting the details and their parameters on it. Next you need to take natural materials. During operation, each of them must be thoroughly sanded so that the small animal does not get hurt on sharp elements. And then you can start building the feeder.
- We transfer the drawing to the prepared board.
- Using a hacksaw, carefully cut out each detail of the feeder.
- We make an entrance to the feeder, namely a round hole in the facade (at least 15 cm).
- Next, we need to fix our facade on a small shelf (called "balcony"), the basis of which is a wooden beam. It looks like a small step.
- Last step . Under the entrance to the house, without blocking its internal structure, attach a shelf to the side. So our squirrel will be able to reach the bottom of the feeder.
We assemble and attach our feeder to the tree.
Squirrel feeder in the form of a wooden pallet
We will need:
- Pallet made of wood with sides.
- Two pieces of plywood.
With the help of nails it is necessary to fasten pieces of plywood. Then you need to nail them to the edge of the pallet.
It remains only to hang this feeder on a tree or simply put it on some small pole. 
Natural wood feeder (whether spruce, oak, birch, aspen or pine) will surely attract the attention of squirrels. Thanks to you, this cute animal will not starve in winter. He will love the feeder made for him. And will visit her often. And you only need to periodically clean it and add more food (nuts, seeds, dried fruits without additives).