Large Bat House Plans – 7 Chambers

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Don’t miss these valuable resources:

The Bat House Builder's Handbook from Powells.com Books – by BCI -Very helpful!

The Bat House Builder's Video from Powells.com Books by BCI - Video version of the Handbook – Great!

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The above diagrams represent a single sheet of 3/8” cdx exterior plywood and an 8ft 2x8 (1.5” x 7.5” x 8’). See the pictures below for how it should look completed. See Bats Magazine v11n1-3 and v6n1-2 for more information.

Please Read the Safety and Liability Statement Before You Begin Working.

1) Groove the 2x8 the long way with 3/4” spaces and 7/16” wide by 1/2” deep grooves to fit the slats (a total of 6 grooves). I thought it was easiest to groove the whole 2x8 and then cut it to lengths (a table saw with dado blade is very helpful, but you can do it with a skill saw). You will also need to groove out a place in the sides for the ceiling to fit (1 1/2” wide, across the short way, just below the angle for the roof.)

2) Cut out the pieces from the plywood as shown above. Note that slats F.1, F.2, F.3, F.4, F.5, and F.6 should be stacked together to make one complete slat similar to the others. The bats won’t care that it is more then one piece and no one can see it.

3) You should lightly groove (1/32” to 1/16” deep) the plywood slats on both sides as well as the insides of the back and the front at about 1/2” horizontal intervals so the bats can hang on better. Use a skill saw or a utility knife. Groove the landing pad too. Alternately you can staple on fiberglass window screen instead of grooving it.

4) Screw the back to the sides with 4 to 6 – 2 1/2” exterior grade screws.

5) Drill several (8+) holes in the ceiling board to let heat from the attic into the second chamber from the back. Do the same thing to the second chamber from the front.

6) Slide the ceiling in so the grooves in the ceiling all line up with the narrow grooves on the sides. Screw the ceiling to the sides and the back.

7) CAULK the joints between the back and the sides (Exterior latex caulk).

8) Slide in the slats and tack them in with 1 or 2 nails each (they should fit pretty snugly so you might have to tap them in with a hammer.

9) Put a bead of caulk along the top diagonal face of the sides.

10) Screw on the roof

11) Put a bead of caulk along the front face of the sides

12) Screw on the front (make sure it is snug with the roof)

13) Caulk around the outside of the roof, front, and back joints.

14) Allow all Caulk to dry

15) Sand, Prime, and paint it with at least two coats of BLACK paint (See below)

Here is what it looked like put together. Notice the Caulking on the exterior seams.

Paint the bottom of the slats and up into the chambers a little way. The bats like the dark

2” opening all the way across the front.) You might also paint it a lighter color if you live in a really warm climate. Experiment! For more information on where to put your bat house, what color, etc. see the BCI bat house criteria page.

Safety and Liability Statement:

Please read the plans carefully and use the proper safety equipment, especially safety glasses and ear protection, when working with any tools. I have successfully built a bat house with these plans, but I am not responsible for any errors it may contain. Use the plans at your own risk. Let me know if you find any errors and I will fix them.

Good Luck attracting bats!! Let me know how it turns out!!

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Keep in mind I spent many hours preparing these plans for you!

Any questions send me an email: habitat@intergate.com!

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Last Update 08/25/02 SMH