Bat House Forum

[BrackishBatter]

I would like to build this bathouse using four full sheets of plywood cut as shown on the far right. The whole structure could alternatively be placed on one center post. 12 feet tall with 8 houses! (7 if use single center post)

If using 4x4 posts, as shown ,each of the four middle houses is 30" tall and 21" wide, while the top and bottom houses are 36" tall and 48" wide. They are 3.5" deep (width of a 4x4) , so likely 3 -4 chambers, depending on the divider thickness, and this can be enlarged at the expense of narrower width houses.





Here is one with 8 24" tall and 21" wide chambers. The pieces are not staggered as shown in the first design. This one is 8 feet tall.




This is just the basic frame. There is a lot of room for making it architecturally pleasing, as well, in making the roofs and accents, etc.

Anyway, just day dreaming. . .

[Terry Lobdell]

I like what you've got there.........probably will have to use a stouter post with that much weight though........I think a 4x4 would snap off at ground level.........another thing that would be good with this design would be to have it so bats could move internally to any of these boxes mounted on the post.......the different orientations will give them many different temperatures to choose from for roosting.......I'd love to see this design put to use!

[cloudman75]

I am not sure that I visualize what you presented. How much vertical drop between houses would the bats have if these were mounted at 12 ft height? It appears to me it would be very little only 4 feet because of stacked houses . But as I said I may not understand. How about expanding on how the bats would drop out ? Looks interesting, and I would like to see and hear more.

Frank

[BrackishBatter]

Yeah, plan on openings from the central cavity into each of the house, which would each have differing ventilation schemes.

With regard to the posts, maybe 6x6's or steel.

Where would you go to find cheap or even scrap galvanized steel posts aobut 20 ft long?

[BrackishBatter]

I am not sure that I visualize what you presented. How much vertical drop between houses would the bats have if these were mounted at 12 ft height? It appears to me it would be very little only 4 feet because of stacked houses . But as I said I may not understand. How about expanding on how the bats would drop out ? Looks interesting, and I would like to see and hear more.

Frank

Sorry, without the posts, the first house design is 12 feet tall, and the second design pictured is 8ft.

The fall from the bottom house (in either design) would be as long as the posts used. THe fall from the upper houses would be either 30" or 24" depending on which design, but only have to veer a bit to miss the house under it. Houses may also have exits from above.

[BrackishBatter]

I tinkered around abit more with sketchup

[William Bagwell]

With regard to the posts, maybe 6x6's or steel.

Where would you go to find cheap or even scrap galvanized steel posts aobut 20 ft long?

20 foot long is going to be very tough to find at scrap prices. A few scrap yards will sell by the pound at about double what they pay. Ones near me are currently paying about $9 per hundred pounds for steel and a 4x4" x14 gage x20' long steel tube weighs approximately 88 pounds. Galvanized makes it even more difficult as very little square tubing is galvanized. If you can use round tubing, you might try a commercial chain link fence company and see if they can get a 4" x 20'.

One advantage of round is that you could easily stagger the four sections so the top two are not directly over a lower one.

[Terry Lobdell]

These are real nice sketches..........very asthetically pleasing which is definitely something to consider........I like this idea a lot!

[BrackishBatter]

Thanks Terry. Add rocket boxes?

[Terry Lobdell]

Yeah, this design has much potential for different options!