DIY Your Own Bird Feeder:Creative and Fun Projects for Your Backyard

by Lucy Guo on Jun 27, 2024
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    It's easier than you might think to give your feathered friends a snack bar in your backyard. You can make a DIY bird feeder from almost anything - from a simple pine cone to a fallen branch or an empty wine bottle. These projects are totally doable and lots of fun, offering a creative way to repurpose household items while attracting a variety of birds to your garden. Whether you're crafting with kids or enjoying a solo project, these feeders will add charm and functionality to your outdoor space. You might even find yourself making more than one!

    Some Innovative Examples:

    Pine Cone Bird Feeders

    Grab your binoculars: These pine cone feeders will bring all the birds to your yard! Pine cone bird feeders are a simple yet effective way to attract a variety of bird species to your garden. They are easy to make and a fun project for the whole family. Let the fluttering begin and enjoy the sight of birds visiting your homemade feeders.

    To make:
    1. Wrap a length of string around the top stem of the pine cone. Ensure it's secure so the feeder can hang steadily.
    2. Fill the opening of the pine cone with peanut butter. This will act as the adhesive for the bird seed.
    3. Roll the whole pine cone in bird seed, ensuring it's thoroughly coated.
    4. Hang outside from a tree branch. Choose a spot where you can easily watch the birds.
    5. Remove and refill as needed to keep the birds coming back.

    Branch Bird Feeder

    Transform a fallen branch into a feeder where birds can come to have a quick snack. This rustic and natural-looking feeder is perfect for blending into your garden, providing a convenient snack stop for birds while enhancing your outdoor space.

    To make:
    1. Screw a screw eye bolt into the top of the branch for hanging. Make sure it's securely fastened.
    2. Drill holes in the branch using a spade bit. The size of the holes should be large enough to hold a good amount of peanut butter and bird seed.
    3. Fill the holes with peanut butter, which will help the bird seed stick.
    4. Roll the branch in bird seed to fill the peanut butter-filled holes.
    5. Thread a length of rope through the bolt and hang the branch feeder from a tree or a hook.
    6. Refill as needed to ensure your feathered friends always have a treat waiting for them.

    Milk Carton Bird Feeder

    Crafter extraordinaire Hilary Giambalvo of Design Improvised worked with Country Living to create this super colorful bird feeder made from an empty milk carton. This project is not only eco-friendly but also a fantastic way to engage kids in a fun and creative activity. They'll love painting and decorating the carton while learning about recycling and bird feeding.

    To make:
    1. Cut a house-shaped hole in one of the large panels of an empty half-gallon paper milk carton. This will serve as the main feeding area.
    2. Paint the carton with craft paint. Allow it to dry completely. This step is perfect for kids to get creative with colors and designs.
    3. Add details using washi tape. Decorate the painted carton to give it a unique and colorful look.
    4. Create a perch by poking a hole just below the opening. Insert a painted wooden dowel and glue it in place. This perch will allow birds to comfortably access the feeder.
    5. Cut 10 rainbow craft sticks to size and glue them onto the slope of the carton to create shingles. This adds a charming touch to the feeder.
    6. Add a cardstock paper eave above the opening and glue it in place. This will provide some shelter for the feeding birds.
    7. Glue twine under the top of the carton and tie it together to hang. Ensure it's securely fastened to support the weight of the feeder and the birds.
    8. Fill the opening with birdseed. Your colorful milk carton bird feeder is now ready to attract birds to your garden.
    This creative and colorful feeder not only provides food for birds but also adds a splash of color to your backyard. Kids will be proud to see their handiwork being used by their feathered friends.

    Wine Bottle Bird Feeder

    Have an empty wine bottle at home? Turn it into a bird feeder! This project combines upcycling with functionality, resulting in a charming and elegant addition to your garden. The glass bottle not only looks beautiful but also keeps the bird seed dry and fresh. Here's how you can create this unique bird feeder:

    To make:
    1. Gather materials: You'll need a wooden base, a few pieces of wood for the stand and roof, a screw eye bolt, some screws, and, of course, an empty wine bottle.
    2. Prepare the base and stand: Cut a piece of wood to serve as the base where the wine bottle will rest. Attach two vertical wooden pieces to the base, ensuring they are spaced just enough to hold the wine bottle securely.
    3. Create a roof: Cut two pieces of wood and attach them together to form a sloped roof. Secure this roof to the top of the vertical wooden pieces. This will help protect the bird seed from rain.
    4. Install a screw eye bolt: Screw a screw eye bolt into the top of the roof for hanging the feeder.
    5. Prepare the wine bottle: Clean the wine bottle thoroughly and remove any labels. Fill the bottle with bird seed.
    6. Attach the bottle to the stand: Place the bottle upside down between the vertical wooden pieces, ensuring the opening is slightly above the base. You may need to secure it with additional screws or brackets to keep it in place.
    7. Drill a small hole in the base just under the bottle's opening to allow bird seed to flow out gradually.
    8. Hang your feeder: Thread a length of rope through the screw eye bolt and hang the feeder from a tree branch or a sturdy hook in your garden.
    9. Refill as needed: When the bird seed runs low, simply lift the bottle out, refill it, and place it back in the stand.
    This elegant wine bottle bird feeder will not only attract birds but also serve as a stylish garden decor piece. Enjoy watching your feathered friends flock to this sophisticated feeder!

    Tea Cup Bird Feeder

    Ring in spring with an ode to tea time. This elegant craft will add a touch of charm to your garden and attract a variety of birds. Even if you don't have a green thumb, your garden will look better than ever thanks to this beautiful and functional teacup bird feeder.Get the tutorial at Practically Functional.

    To make:
    1. Gather materials: You'll need a teacup and saucer, a strong adhesive suitable for outdoor use, a length of chain or sturdy string, and a hook for hanging.
    2. Attach the teacup to the saucer: Apply a generous amount of adhesive to the bottom of the teacup and press it firmly onto the center of the saucer. Allow the adhesive to cure according to the manufacturer's instructions.
    3. Prepare for hanging: Once the adhesive has set and the teacup is securely attached to the saucer, determine where you want to attach the chain or string. You can either attach it to the handle of the teacup or to the saucer. Drill a small hole in the chosen spot if necessary.
    4. Attach the chain or string: Thread the chain or string through the hole or around the handle, and secure it with a strong knot or appropriate hardware.
    5. Fill the teacup with bird seed: Pour a generous amount of bird seed into the teacup.
    6. Hang your feeder: Choose a spot in your garden where you can easily watch the birds. Hang the feeder from a tree branch or a sturdy hook.
    This teacup bird feeder not only serves as a delightful decor piece but also provides a welcoming snack station for your feathered friends. Enjoy the sight of birds flocking to this charming addition to your garden!

    Hanging Bird Seed Eggs

    These adorable eggs feeder are easy to make and so charming to give as a gift in an egg carton. They're essentially an edible bird feeder, since the birds can eat the entire thing.You'll need plastic Easter eggs (the kind with the little vent holes), nonstick spray, twine, about a cup of birdseed, a ¼-ounce pack of unflavored gelatin, and ¼ cup of boiling hot water.

    To Make:
    Open about six plastic Easter eggs. Thread a loop of twine through the tops of each container, leaving the ends of the twine inside the egg. Spray the eggs with nonstick spray.
    1. Mix the boiling water and gelatin in a pan. Stir until the gelatin is totally dissolved.
    2. Pour in the birdseed. Stir to combine.
    3. Pack the seed mixture into each half of the eggs, working the twine ends into the middle of the seed mixture so they're embedded. Slightly overfill the eggs and push them closed.
    4. Allow the seed eggs to cool overnight.
    5. Remove the seed eggs from the plastic shells and hang them up for the birds or give them as a gift.

    Empty Bottle Hummingbird Feeder

    Not that you need an excuse to buy wine or liquor for its pretty bottle, but you can put those beautiful glass bottles to use by turning them into DIY hummingbird feeders. This is a super easy project too. You'll need a bottle (the prettier the better), a stopper kit like this one from Amazon, and some thick copper wire.

    To Make:
    1. Bend the copper wire around the bottle starting at the neck and working down to the bottom. You may need pliers to make sure it's secure. Create a hanging loop at the bottom of the bottle (it will hang upside down).
    2. Fill the bottle with hummingbird food.
    3. Insert the stopper kit to allow hummingbirds to access the food.
    4. Hang the feeder someplace you'll be able to access it easily when you need to refill it.

    1 comment

    Great ideas!

    Dayna Hilton | Jun 27, 2024

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