Been cruising the YouTube sites, found a chart for gourd size related to bird size, got them dried (cost me 2 yrs with my humidity) got them scrubbed, tried sanding and decided it wasn't important with these 3 gourds, sprayed with chlorine water and allowed to dry. Then, my sister says don't put eyes on decorating them or it scares the birds, and another site says give them a back door exit. Anyone have experience with this? Any stories or thoughts if you have made the birdhouse gourds?