Perfect Gifts for BIRTHDAYS ~ MOTHER'S DAY ~ FATHER'S DAY ~
~WEDDINGS ~ CHRISTMAS ~ or Just Because
Place an Order by contacting the artist at raganratters@yahoo.com
or call 865-856-0508
If you were a BIRD, would you live HERE? If you would, please 
and share it with friends. Thank you!
High winds and a tornado blew trees down on our property during Spring storms of 2011 and 2012. Rather than push the trees and limbs to a burn pile, I began to repurpose the beautiful red cedar wood into bird houses. My eco-friendly homes mimic a natural habitat and blend well into any garden or make a conversation piece in your home. If placed outside, the house should attract nesting birds and also provide shelter for birds during inclement weather. I never use house blueprints.
After I rip the wood, the shapes and wood grains inspire me. My first impression of what I see is the basis for most designs. Examples are the fronts of the 3 churches and the bird and heart (see below). My birdhouses are genuinely unique; no two are the same. They could be similar, but never the same.
The houses are well built, sturdy and covered in clear polyurethane to maintain the red color. Without the poly, the wood will turn gray with time. The houses are constructed with finish nails, caulk, glue, mosses, metals, river rock, tiles, glasses and many eclectic elements. They are ventilated and care has been taken so baby chicks don’t get wet from roof leaks. The houses are easy to hang.
Cedar is highly resistant to decay and attack by insects, including termites. Cedar is said to be a natural insect repellent (fleas/ticks), therefore, I use the cedar shavings from the cut wood in my yard. Red cedar has a distinctive scent; the birdhouse interiors are very aromatic. The silver-brown bark is used on several of my bird house roofs. The bark may peel off in thin strips. The birds may use pieces of bark and some of the mosses in nest construction.
Eastern Red Cedar has thin, golden to white sapwood, while the heart of the wood is red to deep reddish-brown. The sapwood may be in stripes, alternating with stripes of the red heartwood. You’ll find a lot of RED coloration in the majority of my creations. All birdhouses are handmade in eastern Tennessee / USA near the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. If you like one of the houses marked “SOLD”, I’ll be happy to make something similar for you.
Email me at raganratters@yahoo.com or call 865-856-0508. Shipping is not included in the price. Email for S&H. I may be able to personally deliver a house if I happen to be traveling in your area. Payment Options: Cash, Money Order, Personal Check, Paypal to raganratters@yahoo.com . Click “gift” to avoid fees. Thank you.
More to come: BUTTERFLY HOUSES ~ SQUIRREL BOXES ~ TOAD HOUSES ~ BAT HOUSES
Our very own Keyno is ON THE COVER of the 2013 Rat Terrier Browntroutt calendar. This is the third year Keyno has been in Browntroutt calendars. Keyno's coloration is chocolate and white. You will rarely see such deep, dark chocolate. Keyno is a UKC Champion and has his Lure Coursing title. His registered name is CH CA Raganrat Key Signature.
