The Biggest Red Birdhouse and How to Easily Mount It

Discover the Amish Birdhouse, a durable, large red birdhouse designed to attract Purple Martin birds. Learn how to mount it in your front yard.

Amish Birdhouse in Red with Pole and wheelbarrow

Our Amish birdhouse is called the Martin Birdhouse. It has 14 apartments and a removable cedar roof for easy cleaning. We chose the birdhouse in red with black shutters to match our own home. There are many options available, though.

*Click on the photo to shop.

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The Martin birdhouse weighs about 30 pounds and is really large!

This is what we were looking for with our wide-open yard and the Green Mountains as its backdrop.

It will look just beautiful in the winter months, too, surrounded by white snow.

Scroll down to see…

Amish Birdhouse for Purple Martins

Amish birdhouses for purple martins are a popular choice among bird enthusiasts. Purple martins are a type of swallow known for their beautiful plumage and melodious songs. They are highly social birds and nest in large colonies.

Amish birdhouses are handmade by Amish craftsmen who have a long tradition of creating high-quality, durable, and functional birdhouses. These birdhouses are typically made from solid wood, such as cedar or pine, which provides insulation and protection from the elements.

When it comes to purple martin birdhouses, there are specific design considerations to attract and accommodate these birds. Purple martins prefer multi-unit birdhouses known as “martin houses” that have multiple compartments or “rooms” for nesting. These houses are designed to mimic the natural cavities found in dead trees, which are the preferred nesting sites for purple martins.

Amish-made purple martin birdhouses often feature multiple levels or floors, each with several compartments. The entrances to these compartments are typically large and round, allowing easy access to purple martins. The birdhouses may also include removable panels for easy cleaning and maintenance.

It’s worth noting that purple martins are migratory birds that spend their winters in South America and return to North America in the spring to breed. Therefore, it’s important to place the birdhouses in suitable locations to attract purple martins. They prefer open areas with clear flight paths and access to water and insect-rich areas for feeding.

When installing Amish birdhouses for purple martins, it’s recommended that they be mounted on a pole or post. The houses should be placed at least 10-15 feet high to provide a safe and attractive nesting site for purple martins.

Amish birdhouse purple martin birdhouse waiting to be mounted on pole.

The Martin birdhouse weighs about 30 pounds and is really large!

This is what we were looking for with our wide-open yard and the Green Mountains as its backdrop.

It will look just beautiful in the winter months, too, surrounded by white snow.

Red Ranch in the Vermont Mountains

Custom Birdhouse

I emailed the seller, Amish Home Outdoor, and requested a custom color combination that would match our red home and trim. They responded within minutes, and their red Burgundy Barn Red worked beautifully with our red ranch home. Here is the formula they sent to me, too, so I could paint the pole.

How to Mount an Amish Birdhouse

Materials We Used

Purple Martin Amish Birdhouse Post

First, we started with a 4 x 4 x 8 wooden post that we purchased from our local hardware store for about $20. The seller on their website also recommended this size to fit the mounting on the bottom of the birdhouse.

We then moved the wooden post all around our yard to determine the best position for our new Amish birdhouse for the Purple Martins.

Large Pole with man holding it up to determine where to mount it.

How to Install the Amish Birdhouse Post

How to dig the hole

Once we had the location, we dug a hole with the help of our neighbor’s Post Hole Digger.

We dug down approximately 1 1/2 feet so that the wooden post would be visible from about 6 1/2 feet above the ground.

Installation of birdhouse post in large open yard.

We then placed the wooden post into the hole and anchored it steady with a few large rocks.

Then decided which direction we wanted the birdhouse to be mounted. Which, of course, we all had a different opinion on… But I won out by having the Amish birdhouse on a bit of an angle so we would be able to see two sides of it from our porch.

We would now position the wooden post so that the birdhouse’s mounting would fit that angle. I hope that makes sense. Then, we used a level to make sure it was absolutely straight.

Man holding wooden Amish birdhouse post in yard.

Cement Mix

Next, we used the Sika Polyurethane Fence Post Mix to secure the wooden post into the hole.

Simply follow the instructions on the packaging. It’s a quick cement-like mix that hardens immediately with just a 2-hour set time following.

How To Mount The Amish Birdhouse

Once the wooden post was secured, we mounted the Martin’s Amish birdhouse onto the top of the post and secured it with one 1 1/2-inch screw into each of the four sides of the mounts.

And covered the post’s open hole with dirt and grass.

You may also enjoy our Outdoor Living: Patio and Fire Pit Design post.

And Backyard Living: From Design to Reality.

Large Amish birdhouse on post in yard.

We still need to make a decision on the wooden post itself.

What would you do?

  • Paint it red?
  • Paint it black?
  • Stain it the cedar color of its roof?
  • Let it weather naturally?

Let me know in the comments section below.

Amish Birdhouse in burgundy barn red for purple martins.

You may also enjoy seeing Our Year-Round Vermont Mountain Views.

Large Amish birdhouse mounted in yard for purple martins.

And sit a spell with me on our Cozy Antique Spring Porch.

Cedar shake and copper roof unique mailbox house at antique store.

Pro Tip

You may also find more backyard inspiration in this Unique Mailbox Creative Curb Appeal Design Ideas post.

I’m happy to report that after about four days, we had a family of birds move in, and now we sit on the porch with binoculars and watch them all the time. We love it!

Large red burgundy red Amish birdhouse mounted in the mountains of Vermont.

You may also enjoy the post, Adored One-of-a-Kind Handmade Birdhouse Restored.

And I couldn’t be more in love with this Amish birdhouse in winter’s snow. From red to white:)

Snowy scene with snow covered Amish Birdhouse.

A Vintage Affair

If you have any thoughts, comments, or suggestions, I’d love to hear from you. Please share in the comments below. And be sure to share this blog post link with your friends who are also vintage enthusiasts.

Do you have a flair for all things vintage, too? I would love to see and feature you in our Reader’s Showcase Series. A place for you to share and be recognized for your talents and passion for all things thrifting, vintage, and antique decor-related inspired by your time here with Dabbling & Decorating. Email me at annck@dabblinganddecorating.com

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Amish Birdhouse Install for Purple Martins
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7 Comments

  1. I say stain it to match the roof,it will look very nice.

    1. I am definitely leaning in that direction. But we have birds in it now, so it’s going to have to wait until the fall when they leave now, unfortunately.

  2. We live in Amish country, PA. My husband says cover it with Azek, and U won’t have any upkeep! Love it. Happy Birding!

    1. Thank you so much. I’m definitely going to check it out🙌🏻

  3. Pat Wallenstein says:

    Stain it in a cedar color! It would look beautifully natural and echo the roof of the birdhouse. Almost like a little tree growing there.

    1. Yes I’m leaning that way too, as if we don’t like it we can still paint it🙌🏻