A DIY bird feeder is a great way to enjoy wildlife. If you live in an area where there are a lot of birds, a few well-placed bird feeders will allow you to get a pretty close look at the birds and enjoy their beauty. You don't necessarily need to buy an expensive feeder. You can easily make it yourself. In addition, feeders can be a lifesaver for birds. Winter is a difficult time for our feathered friends: under the thick snow it is difficult for them to find food. Most types of bird feeders are low cost and will take up very little of your time.
Outdoor bird feeder: getting to know the design
Bird feeders can be quite varied in design and choice of material. But a good feeder must meet several important requirements. The design must have:
- A roof to protect food from rain and snow. Food spoiled by precipitation is unsuitable for consumption.
- A convenient wide opening that will allow birds to easily get inside and also easily exit the feeder.
- Durable material, suitable for harsh winter conditions. Winter bird feeders must withstand temperature changes and high humidity.
It is also important to choose the right food for the birds and an acceptable place for the feeder. Standard feeds for birds are:
- millet;
- white bread crumbs;
- sunflower seeds;
- pieces of unsalted lard (lard attracts tits, nuthatches, and woodpeckers).
The simplest options for making bird feeders
You should not limit yourself only to wooden building materials. Feeders for birds can be built from various simple materials at hand. Most feeders do not require complex drawings or special skills. Basically, anything can make a great outdoor feeder.
Feeder made from a tetra bag or box
A feeder made from a tetra bag (juice box) is a simple and cheap design that takes only 10 minutes to make. You will need two washed liter juice boxes, wire or twine, a utility knife and a stapler. The food in this feeder is reliably protected from wind and moisture, and the bright packaging attracts birds. However, there are also disadvantages: the presence of food in the container is not visible. 
So, let's figure out how to make a feeder from a juice box. One box will serve as a container for food, the second is needed for the roof. Using a knife, cut a rectangular hole on the wide edge of one of the boxes. Let's move on to the second box: on two long and one short sides, draw a line exactly in the middle, along which we cut the box into two parts with a knife. The roof for the feeder is ready. Next, we connect the roof and the feed container using a stapler, wire or rope. Next, for hanging, we also make punctures in the upper part and insert twine or wire through them. The bird house is ready. Now you know how to make an original feeder out of cardboard. 
Important! Don't forget to leave strips 6-8mm wide on the long side of the feed box. This is necessary so that the birds can cling comfortably with their paws.over the edges. To prevent water from accumulating in the feeder, be sure to make several holes on the inside of the bottom.
How to make a bird feeder from a plastic bottle
To empty plastic bottle got a second life, find out how to make a bird feeder out of it. A plastic bottle feeder is a spacious house where birds can freely enjoy food. It takes 15 minutes to make such a feeder. You can take a 1-2 liter bottle, but it is advisable to use a 5 liter bottle. Using scissors, carefully make large cutouts (exits) on each side of the bottle. The edges of the holes should be processed. Do not cut off the upper part of each exit all the way so that it can be folded at the top. This way you will have a canopy that protects the feeder from snow and rain. 
Make two holes in the bottle cap for string or fishing line. That's the whole process of creating a feeder. This structure is the most common and simplest option for making a bird feeder with your own hands. However, such a feeder is quite light, and any movement of the wind can rock it, so it would be a good idea to put some kind of weight on its bottom.
Option for a tin can feeder
You can even make a bird feeder from a tin can. The jars are easy to work with and little birds love them. You need to use containers from coffee, cocoa, lemonade or paint. It is worth involving children in the process of creating this version of the feeder. Children can then take this bird feeder to kindergarten to teach their friends the secrets of making it. The work is performed in the following sequence:
Important!You need a tin canhang strictlyin a horizontal position. That's whyIt is advisable to glue the cords to the cans with glue.And then try to make sure that the feeder hangs level.
Designs made from round pumpkins will make unusually original bird feeders for wild birds. Make a wide hole in the pumpkin, which will be the future entrance for the birds. Remove the inside of the fruit. Next, make special holes for hanging. You can use strong rope, wire or chain. All that remains is to choose the right place to place our unusual feeder. For example, a pumpkin can be hung from a tree branch. A bright pumpkin will serve as a magnificent garden decoration. This feeder looks elegant and unusual. 
Feeder "with reserve"
A feeder “with a reserve” is a so-called bird “dining room” with automatic feed supply. Let's take a look at the features of this design, its advantages and possible disadvantages.
How to make a feeder with a spoon
Another option for bird feeders made from plastic bottles are original compositions with spoons that you can make with your own hands. This design is not the most convenient option, but it is easy to construct. You will need a regular plastic bottle (1 L or 2 L) and a wooden spoon. It is necessary to cut slots on both sides of the bottle that can accommodate two wooden spoons. The holes must be parallel. The bottle is then filled with food to the very top. The grains are automatically poured into the spoon in small portions. This ensures a constant feed supply. The birds really like the resulting product. Feathered travelers can sit quite comfortably on a spoon. 
Bunker design
The bunker design is the most convenient, practical and efficient feeder in all respects. This design was borrowed from agriculture. As the bird eats the food, the next portion is automatically added from the hopper. This feeder will last for more than one winter. A homemade bunker feeder for birds can be created from completely different materials: from a cup and saucer, from a box, from the same plastic bottle, from boards, etc. Modern materials allow you to assemble a bunker feeder in just 5 minutes.
Did you know? One of the main advantages of a bunker feeder is that it helps solve the problem of “discrimination” of some bird species by others. Often a flock of the same species, e.g.tits orsparrows, takes an advantageous position in the feeder and tries to prevent other birds from getting to the grains. This is where homemade bunker feeders, also known as “anti-sparrow” feeders, can come in handy.
The bunker structure consists of two parts: a tray and a bunker. First, a drawing is prepared on which all the details are shown in detail. Dimensions of this bird feeder: 40 x 30 x 30 cm. All material must be carefully marked. The base is cut out of boards, the roof is made of plywood, and the racks (30 cm each) are made of 2 x 2 cm timber. The racks are attached to the bottom in a vertical position with a slight indentation inward. A roof made of a piece of plywood is mounted on top of the racks. Our bunker feeder is ready.
Beautiful bird feeder: how to make it from plywood
A classic wooden feeder is a beautiful and functional mini-house for feathered travelers. The version of the feeder presented below allows the feed to flow in portions into the bird’s “dining room”.
Drawings and preparation of materials
For construction you will need the following materials:
- boards 20 cm wide;
- moisture-resistant plywood (or plexiglass) 16 mm thick;
- screws, self-tapping screws, wooden edges, glue;
- furniture hinges;
- milling machine;
- grinding machine.
Making a feeder: step-by-step instructions
The work is performed in the following order:
- Feeder parts are cut out of boards 20 cm wide and plywood 16 mm thick. Sometimes plexiglass is used instead of plywood. To fix the plexiglass, grooves 4 mm deep are cut in the side walls using a milling machine.
- Dimensions of the side wall of the plexiglass bird feeder: 160 by 260 mm. Thanks to the transparency of plexiglass, you can easily monitor the availability of food in the house.
- To fasten the parts of the feeder, screws, self-tapping screws, wooden edges, and glue are used.
- Be sure to sand the corners of the structure with a grinding machine.
- The role of a perch in this feeder is played by a round bar. It is attached to the edges of the side in 10 mm drilled holes.
- To assemble the roof, we fasten the right half of the roof and the ridge together. We securely attach the left half to the side walls. Using furniture hinges, we fix both halves of the roof into a single structure.
- The gap formed between the plexiglass and the bottom of the product allows you to control the supply of food: one refill of the feeder can be enough for 2-3 weeks.
- The product is almost ready. As a finishing touch, the house can be painted to suit your taste. Write in the comments what questions you have not received an answer to, we will definitely respond!
9
once already
helped
Wild animals and birds that live in nature cannot count on someone helping them in the winter just like their domesticated “brothers.” However, many people understand this and try to provide all possible assistance during the winter cold.
Benefits for both you and the birds
Caring people understand well how difficult this time is for our little brothers, since starting in late autumn, it is becoming increasingly difficult for many of them to find food. Of course, with all the desire, it is not so easy to help those of them who live in the forest or in remote areas. However, if you live in a city, town or village, then everything is within your power. Today we will talk about bird feeders. It is quite possible to make them, and we are talking about using improvised means, old packaging and containers, as well as other materials that, in any case, would most likely be thrown into a landfill.
By the way, having “accustomed” the birds to your feeder located on the site, in addition to the feeling that you are helping them, saving them from hunger during a difficult time of year, you receive some kind of additional “bonuses”:
- Birds will get used to your site and will begin to live in and around it more often. Thus, they will constantly delight you with their games, bustle and chirping, filling the surrounding space with vital energy.
- Quite often it happens that in the summer birds return a kind of debt to you, destroying numerous insects and pests that live in almost every garden or vegetable garden.
Wood is a reliable material!
In today's article we have presented photos of many options that will help with ideas on how to make a bird feeder with your own hands. As a rule, in order to implement a project for such a feeder, you do not need complex designs and drawings.
Attention! You can feed birds not only in winter, but also in summer, especially if you live in a country house or in a private house.
Before we look at the basic ideas for making feeders, let's talk about some of the features of choosing the material, as well as the places where you can hang or attach such a homemade structure.
Selection of material and installation location
Before choosing a place for a feeder, it will be very useful to learn the most common types of birds that live in our latitudes.
1. Nuthatch; 2. pika; 3. small spotted woodpecker; 4. crossbill; 5. jay; 6. nutcracker or nutcracker; 7. bullfinch; 8. waxwing; 9. common grosbeak; 10. goldfinch; 11. siskin; 12. common oatmeal; 13. greenfinch; 14. great tit; 15. blue tit; 16. tufted tit; 17. Muscovy tit; 18. long-tailed tit; 19. titmouse.
It is traditionally believed that a bird feeder should have the shape of a kind of house, which would be somewhat similar to a birdhouse. And in fact, this configuration is optimal for organizing a place for feeding birds. Let's consider the advantages of this form:
- The roof allows you to create protection from rain and snow.
- This design, made of plywood or wood, is strong, durable and reliable.
- It will not look alien, since we are talking about landscape design and the visual appeal of the entire site.
However, you should not be limited only to this form, and also to the fact that only wood can be used as a material. In fact, both the configuration and the material can be completely different.
The main thing is that the feeder meets the basic requirements:
- The material from which the feeder is made must be stable and not deform over time. In other words, a birdhouse made of cardboard or similar improvised means is not suitable. It simply will not withstand difficult weather conditions: rain, sleet, etc.
- At the same time, you can, as a last resort, make a small feeder from juice packaging or dairy products (kefir, milk, etc.). Tetra Pak and similar cardboard packaging are to a much greater extent, compared to ordinary cardboard, adapted to the effects of moisture. However, such structures cannot be classified as durable. On the other hand, they are quite suitable as a temporary solution, which, under favorable circumstances, can serve you throughout the whole season. At the same time, it is necessary to understand that a feeder made from a milk carton is suitable only for small birds, since large ones simply will not fit in it.
- From the previous paragraph, by the way, the following conclusion follows: the material must be strong and stable, since it must withstand not only autumn-winter bad weather, but also the weight of the birds themselves, some of which are quite massive. In addition, keep in mind that wear will also occur due to the constant impact of their claws, since they will, as a rule, sit in a cut-out opening (“window”).
- By the way, since we are talking about a window, an entrance (this technological hole can be called, in fact, whatever you want), then we need to understand that its edges should not be sharp, because, otherwise, birds can injure their paws on them.
Location
In addition to the material, as well as manufacturing technology, you need to understand that the place in which you install or hang the bird feeder is also an important point. Thus, if possible, it is necessary to avoid installation in places where birds will have difficulty accessing. We are talking about dense branches and other similar places.
In addition, pay attention to ensuring that the feeder is located in a place that is difficult to reach for cats, which, as you know, are excellent hunters, living in large numbers in villages, dachas, as well as in cottages and private housing estates.
Advice! Place the feeder in an open space, in places easily visible to birds.
Popular ideas
Let's look at the basic ideas on how best to make a bird feeder with your own hands, looking at “live” examples of how many people have implemented their projects. There can be many feeders, and there are countless options for making them. However, they are all made for the same purpose. So, here are the main types of structures of this kind.
A dispenser is a very useful device for feeding birds. In addition, the bottle can be hung vertically “upside down”
Wooden house
It is quite possible to make such a design yourself. There is no need to have any specific skills or knowledge. As a rule, in such work, improvised or unnecessary boards, pieces of logs and many other wooden elements are used. Taking planks or veneer as a basis, the main task is their strong connection.
By the way, wooden bird feeders can be used not only for feeding yard birds. Similar designs are also used in chicken coops, when feeding chickens and other poultry. However, this, as they say, is a completely different story.
Plywood feeder
This design can be made with your own hands right at home. You don't need any special tools or conditions for this. In this case, of course, you will have to find drawings of the feeders. On the other hand, you can make a drawing with dimensions yourself, since there is nothing particularly complicated in its development. For additional ideas, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with photos and examples of finished work.
Hopper feeder
This type of construction, so to speak, “migrated” from agriculture. One of its main advantages is that it allows one to exclude “discrimination” of some bird species by others. You yourself have probably noticed that often a flock of birds, for example, sparrows or tits, takes an advantageous position in the immediate vicinity of food (seeds, bread crumbs, grains, cereals, loaves, etc.) or even in the feeder itself and strives to prevent other birds from accessing such a valuable resource.
Therefore, limiting the area where feathered friends can feed becomes an important task. Therefore, in such cases, homemade bunker feeders, also known as anti-passerine feeders, can be useful.
Feeders made from plastic bottles
A canister feeder is also a great option.
This type of design is extremely simple, so everyone, including children, can make it themselves. In order to make it, you just need to cut one or two holes in the bottle in order to pour bird food inside, and, in fact, so that the birds have the opportunity to get inside. Of course, you need to be careful in doing this, since the holes should be, if possible, as even and symmetrical as possible.
Interesting! If you have the time and desire, you can further decorate the feeder with natural materials or apply inscriptions.
Let's take a closer look at the features of carrying out work when there are bottles of different sizes. The fact is that the most common starting materials in such cases are:
So, if you use the first option, then you can choose two types of structures. In the first case, we are talking about making holes in both sides of the bottle. They can have different shapes: round, rectangular or square.
In the second case, you can make a special canopy that would cover the hole, protecting it from snow. In order to make it, you just need to cut a U-shaped hole, leaving one side (top). After this, this section of the bottle is bent upward, thus forming a kind of visor. This, by the way, can also be done on both sides.
To make it more comfortable for the birds, you can make two small holes under the main openings and insert a long stick into them for them to perch on before getting inside. As for the lower edge of the main holes, for greater safety it is advisable to seal it with adhesive tape or several layers of electrical tape. A cloth adhesive plaster will also work. In this way, you can make your own feeder from plastic containers of relatively small volume.
Even easier, you can make a feeder from a 5-liter bottle. The fact is that the walls are often straight, which allows you to cut a more even hole. Plus, more seeds and crumbled loaf can be placed in such a container, and it is more convenient for birds to fly inside. To make this you will need a knife or strong scissors.
If the plastic bottle is attached horizontally, then holes can be cut in place of the bottom and neck. If you plan to fix it vertically, then you can cut 2, 3 or even 4 holes on different sides if you are working with a bottle that has a square or rectangular cross-section. This, by the way, will allow several birds to fly in and feed at once. For round bottles, you can cut 2-3 holes. By the way, based on a large bottle with a volume of 5 liters or more, you can also make a bunker feeder.
On a note! It is advisable to cut the holes at a height of at least 5 centimeters from the bottom, maybe a little more.
Attaching such a feeder is quite simple: you can tie it either by the neck or by the handle, which is an integral part of the lid, using twine or thin wire. This is if we talk about vertical options. When fixing horizontally, it is best to make 2 parallel small holes (they can be made using a knife or other sharp object), passing the wire or rope through them, which is necessary for fastening.
In any case, this option is very affordable, since almost everyone has unwanted 5-liter water bottles at their disposal. Example photos show various options for how this can be done.
Bird feeder made from a milk or juice carton
5 minutes - and a new feeder from a juice bag is ready
Everyone has juice or milk boxes. We usually throw them away. The manufacturing technology is extremely simple, and in some ways resembles the previous one (with plastic bottles). So, if you want to make a bird feeder from a juice or milk carton, your sequence of actions could be as follows:
- We outline future holes using a pen, marker or felt-tip pen.
- Carefully cut them out using scissors or a sharp knife.
- Cover the bottom side of the opening with tape or adhesive tape.
- We make small holes for the rope or wire at the top of the bag.
- We hang the resulting feeder from a tree branch, lilac or other places.
The easiest and fastest option from a milk carton
By the way, in some cases you can put a weight on the bottom or attach to it in the form of a piece of brick or something similar. This will minimize swaying in the event of strong winds. This applies not only to paper boxes, but also to plastic bottles.
Remember! In some cases, you can attach the feeder to the wall.
Using a shoe box
By the way, a bird feeder is made from a shoe box in a similar way. Of course, the fact that it is made of cardboard does not allow such a feeder to be durable. On the other hand, some boxes are made of fairly durable and moisture-resistant cardboard. Moreover, you can additionally cover the cardboard with tape, which will further increase its protection from the effects of bad weather conditions. This will increase the life of the feeder to some extent, although, in any case, it will not be as durable as its counterparts made of wood, cardboard and even plastic.
The manufacturing technology itself is extremely simple and does not require any special instructions. You just need to make the necessary slits on the sides of the box and also secure the lid. This can also be done using tape.
Other options
Of course, all these types of feeders are the most common and popular. However, it makes sense to talk about alternative options. The first of these is a feeder made from tableware.
By the way! You can also make a drinking bowl from the dishes, which is also very important for the birds.
Such original products are made from cups and saucers. If you add a deep plate, you can make both a feeder and a drinker at the same time. Some craftsmen make feeders from old buckets, usually plastic. They turn out to be large, which somewhat limits the possibilities for their installation, which, of course, is a certain disadvantage. The advantage is the same: the size of such a product is quite large. This allows you to pour in more food. In addition, several birds can feed at the same time. We must not forget about the strength of this design.
We offer you a selection of different options for making a bird feeder with your own hands. Here we have collected the best master classes and step-by-step lessons, as well as dozens of original ideas and photos for inspiration. In this article you will find crafts of varying degrees of complexity: from those that will take no more than 5 minutes to create, to those that will require a lot of tinkering.
Creating feeders is one of the best ways to organize excellent leisure time and at the same time help feathered creatures survive the cold. This is a really useful and very kind thing - by hanging a feeder, you will prevent the birds from dying of hunger (in urban conditions, this, unfortunately, is quite possible).
What should you pay attention to?
We have previously told you about how to choose the right wood for creating birdhouses. If you are planning to make a wooden feeder, check out our tips. However, feeders can be made from other materials. Here are some general important tips before starting the creative process.
- If you want to make your feeder colorful, paint only the outside to prevent birds from accidentally pecking and ingesting harmful chemicals.
- When creating feeders, make sure that the hole into which the bird flies is smooth on all sides (this is especially true for bottle feeders, the edges of which can get scratched if not carefully cut). This will help protect birds from accidental injuries.
- If you use glue or varnish in your work, carefully study their composition. They should not contain toxic elements.
- Do not make paper feeders too large - if a bird sits on it, the craft may tear and harm the bird.
- Remember that wooden feeders can develop dangerous mold, and metal feeders can develop rust. Therefore, it is better to protect them with a special coating (without harmful chemicals).
- It is important to check the cleanliness of the feeder from time to time and examine it for damage.
Made of wood
Let's move on to the manufacturing process. A standard wooden feeder is made in the form of a birdhouse or house. They can also be made in several variations. We offer you the most popular of them.
House with vertical posts
Please use this dimensional drawing. The picture is clickable, and it contains step-by-step instructions for assembling the feeder with your own hands.
Please note that vertical posts can be replaced with thick branches.
The hut can be made of plywood, but it will need to be varnished.
Vary the size and height of the sides.
House with side walls
An approximate assembly diagram for this hut looks like this. Please note that dimensions can be changed and adjusted proportionally.
The side walls can be made solid. Interesting decor will add attractiveness to the house.
You can cut neat round holes in the side edges. Don't forget to sand them down so the birds don't pick up the splinter.
If the design turns out to be small, it is better to fill it with cereals and seeds, glued together into a special treat. More on this below.
Edible feeder
To feed the birds, you can do without a traditional feeder. Let's prepare special "cookies" for the birds and simply hang them on the branches.
We will need:
- 2 packs of gelatin;
- 2/3 glass of water;
- 2 cups of food (seeds, cereal);
- skewers;
- cookie cutters.
Pour hot water over the gelatin and wait for it to swell. Then mix it with cereal and seeds. Mix the mixture thoroughly and fill the cookie or muffin molds. Insert a skewer to make a hole.
When the mixture has cooled and “set”, carefully remove it from the mold and remove the skewer. Insert thread into the hole.
If you don't have molds, spread the gelatin mixture onto a toilet paper roll and roll it over the food to help it stick. Let it dry, then attach it to the branch.
You can also roll the mixture into lumps and place them in large mesh bags.
Birds really like this treat.
Bonus
Didn't find a suitable option? This video presents 50 more original ideas and a variety of ways to make a bird feeder from wood or bottles.
Choose any of the presented feeders, decorate it, fill it with seeds and cereals. This will give you a wonderful opportunity to observe the life of birds and do a good deed!
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