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This cabin is handmade by Ben Murch, in the classic style of the Appalachians. It features a single-room design with wide-board pine floors. The cabin itself is made of native white pine. Each board was hand cut and nailed. The birdhouse was built just as a full-size cabin would be built-- Foundation first, wall framing, windows and doors framed in, roof installed, siding nailed on, porch built, all one board at a time. The dimensions are 12" x 12" x 14" high (not including the porch).

Anybody can glue rocks to a piece of wood. This cabin's foundation and chimney are made of Southern yellow pine. It is hand-crafted to look like stone. This cabin is not stained. It has a hand-rubbed oil finish which brings out the natural colors of the wood.

The roof of the cabin is actual rusty metal roofing that Ben salvaged from one of the outbuildings that he repaired here at Covenant Farm.The rust is on the surface only, the metal is sound. This gives the cabin the authentic look and feel of the older cabins and farmhouses found here in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The windows, shutters, door, doorway and porch are crafted of red oak. The roof is removeable for easy clean-out in between bird families.The window above the porch is the bird entrance. Its size is perfect for song birds. The entrance is high off the floor and small, to prevent predator birds, squirrels and raccoons from raiding the nest. The roof has ventilation both on the roofline as shown below, and along the eaves, to prevent the young birds from dying of the heat. All other windows but the entrance are blocked off to protect from predators.

The metal pegs in the top corner of the cabin are what holds the roof securely to the cabin.

It's almost a shame to leave this cabin "to the birds". It would serve just as well indoors as an excellent rustic decoration in the den, foyer or family room.