i have a plain bird house, should i paint it? or leave
Well the straight birds can care less, but the gay ones may want a nice pastel color to come home too.
Paint or no paint on the outside is fine...just leave the inside bare.
Don't paint. It'll be healthier for the birds, you, and the environment as well as easier on your pocket. As you can probably guess, I am not in paint business ;)
Painting the box is not necessary. Some colors may even discourage birds from nesting. If you do paint the box keep in mind that lead based paints and creosote can be harmful to birds. Dull, light colors reflect heat, and are less conspicuous to predators. You should seal the sides with sealant as you build, to make the box both windproof and waterproof. You can use a coat of linseed oil to keep the wood from drying out. Again be careful because some wood preservatives can be harmful to birds. If you do use a preservative do not treat the inside.
