An original bird feeder with your own. Wooden bird feeders - easy and quick to make

In the cold, especially winter, seasons, it becomes difficult for birds to find food for themselves, and they desperately need strength to survive. Man-made bird feeders placed on trees in gardens, parks, or near residential buildings (even near a window or balcony) will save birds from hunger and help them survive severe frosts.
These designs can be bought in stores or made yourself.

Where to place bird feeders

Unlike birdhouses, which need to be placed in quiet, remote places, feeders should be hung in visible and open areas. The birds will immediately notice the food and will regularly visit the “feeding station”.

Suitable for this:

  • squares and parks;
  • courtyards of residential buildings;
  • roofs of houses;
  • garden in a country house.

Feeders are hung, fixed to the branches of trees, bushes or on loggias, terraces, windows. When choosing the latter options, you can watch birds without leaving your home; this is very interesting and educational for children.

What materials are suitable for making a bird feeder?

To make feeders, you can use various materials, which greatly simplifies the implementation of your plans:

For fixation, you can use ropes, fishing lines, laces, and wire. Do not forget that for the convenience of birds, small “perches” are always made. Ice cream sticks, pieces of plastic or wood, twigs, and wood chips are suitable for this.

Fruit and vegetable

The simplest option, which does not require any cost, is to use pumpkin, coconut (removing the pulp), or citrus peel. Often people, without thinking, throw away the peelings from oranges, pumpkins, and other fruits and vegetables. And they can be perfectly used under an organic feeder, filled with seeds, and hung on tree branches.

Cardboard packaging

Making a feeder from cardboard containers is the simplest and cheapest option. Boxes for dairy products, juices, shoes, and equipment are suitable. Using scissors or a utility knife, make windows in the box and add food: seeds, grains, lard, cookies, bread. Then they are hung on bushes or trees, fences and other places.

Plastic bottles

Bird feeders are often made from, this is also completely inexpensive and easy. Just as in the version with cardboard, they make openings for the birds, insert sticks or twigs so that the birds can sit comfortably, fill them with food and fix them in the chosen place.

When choosing a feeder made from a plastic bottle, you should not forget that this material is very sharp at the cut points. To prevent the birds from cutting themselves, it is necessary to “sand” all sharp cuts, or seal them with electrical tape (resistant to bad weather).

Metal option

A simple solution is a feeder made from cans. This container is washed, dried and processed or all sharp edges are bent. If desired, paint the jar, glue wooden or plastic strips (it is better to avoid metal) for convenient placement of the birds. The prepared containers are attached to branches or fixed to fences and posts using self-tapping screws. Then feed is poured in.

Bird feeder houses made of wood

The classic version of a wooden feeder is worth choosing if there are children in the house. This will promote children’s interest in caring for birds, fostering a sense of responsibility and kindness. A wooden feeder always looks very impressive; you can make it yourself in any size and shape.

For this:

  1. Create a preliminary sketch on paper with a pencil (in the form of a house).
  2. They make blanks from plywood according to the sketch.
  3. The structure is assembled - knocking together, gluing, and fixing all the elements.
  4. Choose a place and fix the bird feeder using durable fasteners, since this design has a heavier weight.

Seeds, cereals, dried fruits and lard are poured into the finished feeder. You can often see several wooden feeders (5-6 pieces) installed in parks or courtyards.

The bottom of a wooden feeder made by yourself should be weighted so that in strong winds the structure does not turn over (for hanging options). To do this, choose small stones that are laid evenly on the bottom, or a steel sheet of the required size.

Non-standard options

In addition to frequently used and simple feeders, you can choose an original solution that will not only benefit the birds, but also add additional decor to the overall design of the yard or garden.

Porcelain designs

It often happens that a cup or plate accidentally breaks and is thrown away. Meanwhile, there are good ideas on how to give broken dishes a second life - use them for feeding troughs. The broken parts are glued together, the cup is glued in a horizontal position to the saucer or plate - ready! All that remains is to fix it in the chosen place and fill it with food. You can only use cups, securing them to a base, such as a board. You can also use lampshades and glass jars.

Mixed feeder

Original bird feeders will be visited daily if they are made in a non-standard way at minimal cost. To do this, make sugar syrup or dough from flour, water and protein. Seeds, nuts, grains, dried fruits, and cut fruits are poured into this sticky mass. Everything is mixed and laid out in durable plastic nets. The finished treat for birds is hung on branches.

Having placed the feeder in a certain place, you should not forget that it is always filled with food, as the birds will get used to it and will regularly visit it.

Bunker structures

If it is not possible to fill the feeder every day, you can choose the right solution - the bunker option. This feeder is distinguished by a large, closed, capacious feed container and small recesses for food outlet. As the birds eat grains and seeds, food will gradually be supplied again and again (automatically). In this option, it is very important not to forget to make a convenient additional area for placing the birds, as in the photo.

When installing a bird feeder, it should be taken into account that the location of the structure should not be on the leeward side - the food and birds will be blown away. The bird “house” must be safe for birds (without sharp edges), securely fastened, easy to use, and protected from bad weather. Its location should be accessible to the person who will add the food, and inaccessible to cats.

From this article you can learn how to make bird feeders with your own hands: an overview of existing types of structures and general recommendations for their creation and placement, selection of suitable building materials, photos and drawings with a detailed description of the technology. The text contains unusual and original solutions that will allow you to create a comfortable and beautiful area for feeding birds in the garden or near the house.

If they want to improve the area near their house, many owners of summer cottages lay paved paths, lay out flower beds and flower beds, install benches and lanterns. All this creates comfort and coziness for the residents of the house. However, we should not forget about the small inhabitants of the garden, for whom, with the arrival of winter, it becomes more difficult to obtain food for themselves.

Making a bird feeder with your own hands will not only help birds overcome this difficult period, but will also add a certain charm to the garden. Using simple technologies, you can show your own imagination and create an original feeding house.

Advantages of homemade feeders:

  • the opportunity to take care of birds that find it difficult to obtain their own food;
  • decorative decoration of the yard;
  • an opportunity to instill in children a love of the environment and birds.

Moreover, such a decision can be implemented not only by owners of private and country houses, but also by residents of city apartments.

Is it profitable to buy a ready-made bird feeder: advantages and disadvantages

If you want to install a standard professionally made feeder in your yard, you can order the product from specialists. Experienced craftsmen will independently select high-quality materials and make the structure using special technologies.

Buyers are invited to choose a bird feeder with a design they like based on the picture. Such structures can have any size and shape. By purchasing a custom-made feeder, the consumer can be completely sure that it will meet his wishes and fit perfectly into the exterior of the yard.

Purchasing finished products comes with both advantages and disadvantages. The negative aspects of this include the high cost of professionally made feeders. In addition, the buyer deprives himself of the joys of the creative process and waiting for the birds to arrive. Therefore, many people prefer to create their own houses for feeding birds in their yard or near a window.

Note! The design of the feeder must be reliable, so it is advisable to select practical and durable materials for its construction that will protect the birds from precipitation and wind.

What requirements must a homemade bird feeder meet?

When choosing a specific design for a homemade feeder, you need to take into account not only the type of birds for which the design will be made, but also other nuances. Birds mainly rely on their vision, so the poured food should be visible to them from afar.

The design of the structure must be such that the grain is not covered with snow or blown by the wind. High sides and a roof will help to cope with this problem. It is unacceptable for moisture to get on the feed. Otherwise, the grains will become moldy and spoiled. It is desirable that there is protection from chipmunks and squirrels. In this case, the birds should not experience any difficulties when removing food.

Drawings of bird feeders, of which there are many on the Internet, can be successfully used as a visual aid for creating a beautiful design. First of all, you should pay attention to practical and convenient options. The food should not spill onto the ground, otherwise it will attract small predators such as stoats, weasels, and ferrets. Their presence poses a direct threat to birds.

If the structure will be used for temporary feeding in winter, it is better to hang it. Thus, the feeder will attract less sparrows, which find food much easier than other birds. Stationary structures are used for constant feeding. In this case, protection from predators is mandatory. It is desirable that the grain is located on a level area of ​​sufficiently large size that maintains good stability.

Types of bird feeders: photos and descriptions of designs

The design of homemade feeders is practically unlimited. The main thing is that the design meets the basic requirements of practicality, reliability and safety.

Classification of bird feeders by type of design:

  • suspension;
  • area;
  • house;
  • bunker;
  • tray;
  • peeler

Each of these designs has its own characteristics and is designed for certain types of birds.

Original do-it-yourself bird feeders: photos of hanging structures

The designs of the suspensions are very simple. In this case, the food is suspended in a mesh case or on a thread. They are used primarily as tit feeders. Although other species of insectivorous birds, with the exception of woodpeckers, can also use dewlaps.

The most common version of “antifreeze” feeding is a piece of lard without spices and salt. There are also more nutritious mixtures that are designed for shelling birds. A ball made of seeds is suitable for them. Peanut oil or lard (gastrointestinal fat) is used as a binding component.

Note! You should not cast the feed mass into a beautiful mold or plastic cup and then freeze it. The ball is more comfortable for birds. This makes it much easier for them to cling and they don’t have to expend a lot of energy to keep themselves afloat while feeding.

It is most convenient to form a ball consisting of feed mass with your hands. This must be done in the cold. The fat will harden very quickly, so after forming a ball, you need to hang it up immediately.

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Drawings, interesting and practical solutions for creating fences in street and apartment conditions, taking into account the breed and size of the animal.

Hanging bird feeder crafts can be made with specific types of birds in mind. Great tits prefer garlands made from dried berries. They especially like rose hips. Peanuts in pods are allowed.

The best option for blue tits would be swing feeders. In this case, it is advisable to hang the balls on elastic and thin branches so that they balance.

The beautiful do-it-yourself bird feeders, made in the form of mobiles or movable sculptures, look original in the photo. Such designs can even attract great tits, which will not conflict with blue tits.

Hanging options made from cones are suitable for attracting bullfinches, shelling birds and waxwings. To make the feeder visible from afar, you can hang a bright bunch of rowan or viburnum on it. It is advisable to use a fertile cone for this. If this is not possible, any with ruffled scales will do. It needs to be doused with peanut butter. After this, food is placed between the scales and the cone can be hung. Even crossbills may like such cones.

You cannot use paper to create such structures, but you can make a beautiful bird feeder with your own hands from a thick base from a toilet paper roll. It is advisable to attach bright pieces of fabric or paper from below that will attract the attention of birds.

Convenient DIY bird feeders: photos of tray structures and platforms

Platform feeders are a flat surface on which food is placed. The advantage of such designs is that birds can see the presence of food from afar. However, there are some disadvantages to a DIY flat wooden bird feeder. Firstly, there are no fences to provide protection from the wind. As a result, large quantities of food swell and fall down. Secondly, nothing prevents sparrows from actively using these feeders.

The fact is that sparrows live in flocks. These nosy birds, unlike pigeons and crows, can freely penetrate small feeders and empty them, not giving a chance to other birds, for whom it is much more difficult to obtain food in winter. To eliminate this possibility, it is advisable to avoid the use of open structures.

Sparrows are very careful. In case of danger, they take off straight from their place steeply. Therefore, the best option would be a birdhouse made of cardboard or wood with a steep roof that has more overhang. It is desirable that the structure have low windows to provide birds with access to food. In this case, the sparrows will first have to flutter to the side before flying away, so such feeders are unattractive to them.

Helpful advice! In winter, birds could use a vitamin supplement. To do this, you can put pear and apple cores with seeds, viburnum berries, elderberries, rowan berries, the fibrous part of a pumpkin with seeds, dried rose hips, and grape seeds in the feeder. You can use cherry pits from compote.

For those birds that constantly live on the site, a home-made original tray-type bird feeder is suitable. In front of the tray (window that provides access to food), you can install a perch or landing pad.

There are two types of tray feeders:

  1. With free access to the mixture.
  2. With automatic feeding of food into the tray.

A window bird feeder with automatic feeding is much more practical than bunker structures. In this case, the food practically does not wake up. Trough structures are designed specifically for one type of bird. It is possible to use a feeder for several species of birds. However, creating such a structure will require not only appropriate skills and tools, but also ornithological knowledge.

DIY birdhouses: photos of birdhouses and similar structures

Feeders in the form of houses protect food well from snow. By equipping the structure with a roof, you can protect the inside from the wind and sparrows. But a beautiful bird feeder in the shape of a house does not provide protection against food spillage. Therefore, only those birds that are accustomed to feeding will be present on the site. For forest birds, this option is very inconvenient, because they are drawn to human habitation only in cases of crisis and may simply not notice grains that have spilled onto the ground.

A structure in the form of a house with a sloping roof can be made from a box. If possible, it is advisable to treat such a cardboard feeder with a diluted adhesive composition. For this purpose, PVA is suitable, which is mixed with water in a ratio of 1:3 or 1:5. The supports are made of sticks, which are also attached with glue. If everything is done correctly, such a feeder will last for several seasons. The structure is nailed to the tree.

A beautiful feeder with a pitched roof will be the best option for strong, large birds. These include nutcrackers, waxwings, jays and pigeons. All of them can sit quietly in a row during feeding, so it is better to equip the dining room with a long perch.

Wood or very thick pre-treated cardboard can be used as a manufacturing material. The design for large birds should be much larger than for ordinary birds. In this case, you need to select bird feeder drawings with dimensions that will suit them.

Note! A shoebox bird feeder is not suitable for feeding large birds. The cardboard in such designs is very thin. Strong birds will very quickly break the feeder while feeding.

Practical do-it-yourself feeders: photos of bunker structures and shellers

Bunker-type structures are the best option if an anti-sparrow feeder is required. In this case, the feeding area is limited in size, so the entire flock cannot accommodate. The sparrows will have no choice but to eat alternately with the company of other birds.

Unusual bunker-type bird feeders can have different designs. It is advisable that a product designed for small spotted woodpeckers and tits be equipped with a hard, narrow platform. Anti-sparrow versions are much wider and have a roof. Modern materials make it possible to create a bunker structure in just 5 minutes.

To make your own bottle feeder you will need a minimum set of tools and materials:

  • nylon thread;
  • bottle (PET);
  • Super glue;
  • plastic plate;
  • large needle;
  • knife and scissors.

Plastic is a very practical and durable material that is not afraid of moisture and frost. This feeder will last for several seasons.

Shelling feeders are less popular. They are designed for a specific type of bird. In this case, the feed is retained using a special metal mesh. The design can be improved by making it combined. For this purpose, the peeling feeder is combined with the tray version. Thanks to this, birds of different species can coexist in one area.

How to make bird feeders: choosing materials for work

Having decided on the type of future design, you need to decide what the feeder will be made of. A variety of materials can be used for these purposes. Everyone has many of them in their home, so you can not only create an original bird feeder with your own hands, but also do it at minimal cost.

The following materials are usually used to make poultry canteen:

  • plastic;
  • paper and cardboard;
  • wood;
  • plywood;
  • improvised materials (bottles, boxes, milk or juice bags, etc.).

Each of the listed materials is suitable for creating certain types of structures and has both advantages and disadvantages.

Features of bird feeders made from plastic bottles and trays

Plastic feeders are the most popular option. This material has many advantages.

Advantages of feeders made of plastic bottles and trays:

  1. Availability of material.
  2. The transparent walls of the structure make the food visible from afar.
  3. Ease of processing.
  4. Minimum amount of garbage and waste.
  5. There is no need to use special tools.
  6. High strength and durability.

Important! The roof of a plastic feeder in the form of a house should be opaque or at least matte. In case of danger, birds may not notice the transparent plane above and hit it.

A good way to create a small, visible bird feeder from scrap materials is to use old children's toys, such as blocks. They are made of polyethylene, so it is advisable to use superglue for fixation. Such designs have bright and rich colors, so it will be easy for birds to find food. Polyethylene is easy to process. To cut round holes in the walls, you can use a compass with two needles. Polyethylene is a slippery material, so it is advisable to equip the feeder with a perch.

As a plastic building material, you can use scraps of transparent polycarbonate that may have remained after renovations in the house. This feeder can be mounted on a window using suction cups from bathroom shelves.

Bird feeders made from bottles and other unsuitable containers deserve special attention. The main thing is that the design is well thought out. To ensure visibility of the feed, it is advisable to use a wide tray. The presence of a perch will make feeding birds more convenient. If you take a large tray and a capacious container, you will not have to frequently replenish food supplies. As a result, the birds will be less timid.

To make a bird feeder with your own hands from a plastic bottle, it is advisable to use a trough-shaped tray. In this case, spillage of feed will be insignificant. If you bend up the lid of the hatch that provides access to the food, the feeder will turn out to be anti-passerine. In this case, the plane that is formed at the top can be used to place vitamin supplements.

Features of making homemade feeders from a box

  • milk;
  • kefir;
  • juice, etc.

Despite the fact that these bags are made of cardboard, their walls are covered with film on both sides. Therefore, laminated feeders can withstand one winter.

Small bags left over from juice or milk are ideal as feeders for the following types of birds:

  • goldfinches;
  • tits;
  • granivores.

In this case, you must install a perch stick to make it easier for the birds to get food.

Helpful advice! To attract the Great Spotted Woodpecker to the tit feeder, just attach a wooden circle to the bottom of the valve. This will make it easier for the bird to attach itself to the structure.

Large bags can be used to make universal bird feeders. To do this, you need to cut a large opening so that the food can be seen from afar. If the feeder is hanging, it needs to be pierced with a perch. The structure from the package can be placed in a bush. In this case, a perch will not be required; its function will be performed by the branches.

Eco-friendly do-it-yourself bird feeders made of wood

The advantage of wooden feeders is their durability. Most often, such structures are stationary.

As a protective treatment you can use:

  • drying oil;
  • water-polymer composition;
  • mixture in the form of diluted PVA glue.

To build a bird feeder out of wood with your own hands, you will definitely need carpentry tools and skills in handling them. Traditional models look like a house. It is not recommended to have a flat roof on the feeder, as this will expose the food to weathering.

Standard house-shaped designs can be improved and specialized for a specific type of bird through minor changes. For example, a feeder with a gable roof without railings can be used as a public option. If you build a small sheathing around the perimeter, such a dining room will appeal to shelling birds. It quite realistically imitates natural feeding conditions. A similar model with a continuous low fence will achieve an anti-sparrow effect and protect food from the wind.

A design in which the roof has low slopes will also provide protection against swelling of the feed. Such a feeder will be used by sparrows only as a last resort.

An alternative to a suspended wood structure would be a DIY bird feeder made of plywood. To create it, you will also need wooden blocks with a section size of 3x3 or 3x4 cm. To avoid the use of lumber, you can make bars from strips of plywood by gluing. However, for stationary feeders on poles, it is preferable to use solid wood, since plywood in outdoor conditions will delaminate after a few seasons, regardless of the quality of the protective impregnation.

Helpful advice! If you use waterproof birch sheets to build a bird feeder from plywood, you can get a reliable and durable structure. This material perfectly withstands outdoor conditions.

DIY bird feeders from scrap materials

Unusual and original designs can be made from scrap materials, the creation of which can focus on design or functional features.

An ear of corn can be used as a feeder. To do this, a nail is passed through it. This version of a bird feeder made from scrap materials can simply be hung or made part of a stationary structure. Corn should be firm, preferably oilseed or fodder varieties. The smaller the grains, the better.

It is better to avoid using table sugar cobs, as they are harmful to birds. Their grains contain large amounts of sugar and starch. The corn feeder is designed for large frugivorous and granivorous birds, as well as shellers.

You can use popsicle sticks as a building material to create a wooden bird feeder. During the summer season they can be accumulated in sufficient quantities. To make such a structure you will need string and PVA glue. You can install a pole of larger popsicle sticks on each side of the feeder. Thanks to this, the dining room can be used by 4 birds at the same time, for example, chickadees or siskins.

An excellent option would be a wicker basket-shaped feeder with a hanging lid. To create it you will need paper tubes, which can be made from old newspapers. The weaving technology is quite complex and labor-intensive, so not everyone will decide to take on the construction of such a feeder, but the result exceeds all expectations. To prevent paper straws from becoming soggy, they need to be treated with a protective compound (glue and stain).

A large metal tin can is also suitable for constructing a feeder. It is suspended on a rope in a horizontal position. To prevent food from spilling onto the ground, you need to install a small damper. The top part of the lid, bent in half, is suitable for this. You definitely need to install a perch.

Important! Regardless of the type of design, the feeder must be safe. Wooden models must be thoroughly sanded and all sharp corners rounded. Metal options can be wrapped with twine, which sits on the glue.

Making bird feeders: drawings, descriptions and technologies

Having decided on the type of design and material, you can begin the actual manufacture of the feeder. It is worth noting that not all types of grains are suitable for feeding birds. The favorite food of birds that stay for the winter are seeds of wild grasses. It is desirable that these are burdock plant species. A turnip seed is suitable, which can be collected in the summer or purchased ready-made at a pet store.

Homemade feeders can be filled with:

  • oats and millet;
  • small sunflower seeds (unroasted);
  • hemp and flax seeds;
  • dried pods of acacias that live in mid-latitudes (wisteria, honey locust, sophora, etc.);
  • pumpkin seeds;
  • dry pea pods (they must be ripe and firm);
  • pine nuts;
  • millet (in small doses);
  • seeds of deciduous trees such as ash, hornbeam, linden, maple, alder;
  • acorns and seeds of coniferous trees, for example, beech nuts, ruffled cones (if the feeder is designed for shellers).

Note! The use of rye, wheat and bread is not allowed. They are harmful to birds. Moreover, black bread is the most dangerous because it causes inflammation of the goiter. Porridges that swell greatly during cooking, such as buckwheat, pearl barley, and rice, are poorly received. The peel of any tropical fruits and citrus fruits is lethal to birds.

How to make a birdhouse with your own hands: assembling a wooden structure

To build a wooden birdhouse you will need skills in working with carpentry tools.

For work you will need the following materials:

  • wooden beam for racks (2x4.5 cm);
  • a square of plywood as flooring on the bottom (25x25 cm);
  • wooden pieces for roofing (22x35 cm, 2 pcs.);
  • fastening elements (adhesive, screws, nails).

It doesn’t hurt to first find a suitable drawing of the feeder, which will help you navigate when assembling the parts.

First, the base is assembled: sides and bottom. To do this, the bars, pre-cut according to the size of the bottom, are glued on the end sides and fixed with self-tapping screws. The result is a wooden frame. A pair of sides running parallel should be made longer than the bottom by about 5 cm. They will be used to install perches. The bottom is nailed to the frame using nails.

At the next stage of making a feeder with your own hands, stands are mounted from wood. To do this, you need to screw the corresponding parts on the inside of the box. The optimal length is 18-20 cm.

The rafter system is attached to the racks. To do this, you need to connect a pair of beams at right angles. To strengthen the place of fixation, the joint is secured with a piece of timber. The result is a right angle with equal sides. According to the drawing, it is necessary to make two such parts.

Helpful advice! To properly connect the parts of a wooden bird feeder when fastening the bars, you need to lay the flat, wide part on the table. After this, an additional element is attached to the top at the appropriate angle.

Then the rafters are attached to the posts using self-tapping screws. Next, the roof slopes are installed. To do this, two wooden elements are installed on the rafters. If you have a wooden corner available, you can make a ridge. A bird feeder made of wood needs a perch. To do this, sticks or window beads are glued between an elongated pair of sides.

This design can be either stationary or suspended. It can be installed on a pole or, by making a couple of holes in the ridge, hung on a wire.

How to make a bird feeder with your own hands from wood: plywood structure

An alternative to a wooden feeder would be a structure made of plywood.

The material allows you to choose any modification:

  • open;
  • with a gable or flat roof;
  • with bunker compartment.

Plywood is a derivative of wood, but it is much cheaper and lighter in weight. Before you make a bird feeder from wood, you must select the appropriate drawing. In this case, you need to take into account the type of birds living in the region. Large birds such as magpies, pigeons and jays can eat all the food, leaving small birds without food. Therefore, if the feeder is designed for tits, the openings should be such that large species cannot reach the grains.

For work you will need the following tools and materials:

  • jigsaw;
  • sandpaper;

  • water-based adhesive composition;
  • nails and hammer;
  • plywood sheet;
  • timber with a section size of 2x2 cm.

In accordance with the drawing, markings are applied to the plywood sheet. After which all the parts are carefully cut out using a jigsaw. A square element of 25x25 cm will be used as a flooring for the bottom. To build the roof, you need to take larger parts, otherwise moisture will drain onto the feed. The edges of the resulting blanks must be sanded.

You need to cut 4 posts, each 25-30 cm long, from the timber. If the structure has a pitched (flat) roof, a pair of bars should be shortened by 2-3 cm. The cut is made at an angle. All joints between parts are treated with adhesive and then fastened with nails. The racks are installed on the bottom, and the sides are fixed to them. A roof is installed at the top of the racks. The structure can be installed permanently or suspended using a hook and hardware.

Helpful advice! If a wooden feeder will be opened with varnish, it is recommended to use a water-based composition for this so as not to harm the birds.

How to make a feeder with your own hands: hanging structure made of grain

Suspended structures made of grain are the simplest option. This design can be made in a few hours.

To work you will need:

  • raw bird food;
  • oat groats;
  • egg;
  • gelatin;
  • flour;
  • needle and thick thread;
  • thick cardboard and scissors;
  • pencil and molds for filling.

How to make an edible bird feeder with your own hands:

  1. Draw the shape you like on the cardboard, for example, a square, circle, triangle, heart, etc.
  2. Cut out the shape according to the markings.
  3. Form a fastening by threading a needle and making a hole.
  4. Prepare the adhesive mixture. To do this, mix the following ingredients: 1 tsp. honey, egg, 2 tbsp. l. oatmeal and a small amount of flour.
  5. Leave the mixture for half an hour.
  6. Apply the adhesive mixture over the cardboard base.
  7. Mix grain feed with adhesive mass.
  8. Apply the resulting mixture onto the cardboard base.

After this, the grain feeder should be placed in the refrigerator for several hours. Once the mixture has hardened, the products can be hung on tree branches in the yard.

There is another technology for making edible feeders:

  1. Dissolve a packet of gelatin in warm water.
  2. Pour food into it.
  3. Place the resulting mass into molds.
  4. Insert thread for hanging.
  5. Place the molds in the refrigerator for several hours.

After hardening, the feeders are completely ready for use. To make it easier for birds to grab onto, the molds can be placed in bright mesh bags.

How to make a bird feeder from a plastic bottle

Every home has unnecessary plastic containers. Therefore, many people are thinking about creating a bottle feeder. The material is cut with scissors or a knife, and the design is transparent and very light. This option is especially convenient since there are several ways to create plastic feeders.

How to make a feeder from a plastic bottle:

  1. A pair of holes are cut out on both sides of the bottle. They should be located symmetrically. The shape can be any: arch, square, circle, rectangle.
  2. Spacers must be left between the holes.
  3. You can make a rain canopy by making an inverted U-shaped slot and bending the plate upward.
  4. The lower edge of the slots where the birds will land must be secured. To do this, the cut is covered with fabric insulating tape or adhesive tape.
  5. In the lower part you need to make symmetrical holes.
  6. A perch stick is inserted into the resulting holes.

This feeder can be mounted on a tree. To do this, the jumper is wrapped with rope, tape or other material.

Helpful advice! If you insert twine through the lid of a birdhouse from a bottle, having previously made holes in it, you can form a loop that will allow you to hang the structure from a tree branch.

DIY bunker feeder from a plastic bottle

The bunker design is very rational. It allows you to fill in the feed mixture with a supply of several days. As the birds eat the grains, the additive will automatically flow into the tray.

To work, you will need a couple of bottles of the same capacity. Markings are applied to one container using a marker. Near the bottom, you need to make holes similar to those made in the previous version of the plastic feeder, and then remove 1/3 of the bottle (from above).

A pair of symmetrical holes are made in the upper part. These will be used to hang the feeder using ribbons or twine. The second bottle will contain food. In the narrowest part of this container, several holes should be made through which the grains will spill. Don't make the holes very large. If necessary, it is better to expand them later.

The corresponding bottle must be filled with the feed mixture, screw the cap into it and place it inside the container, which is cut off by 1/3. After this, twine is pulled through the holes and the structure is suspended from the tree.

How to make a bottle feeder: the simplest design with a spoon

There is another version of the bunker design - a feeder with a spoon. A bottle with a capacity of 1.5-2 liters is suitable for this. First, you need to make a hole in the cork and stretch the twine through it. Using it, the structure will be suspended on a branch. Then you need to make holes symmetrically (one on each side of the bottle). They should be the size of a wooden spoon.

On the side where the deep part of the spoon will be placed, the hole needs to be slightly widened so that it is convenient for the birds to take food. All that remains is to fill the feeder with the selected feed mixture and hang it in a convenient place.

Helpful advice! To prevent the bunker feeder from accumulating moisture, several holes need to be made in the bottom. To do this, you can use a small nail or a hot needle.

How to make a bird feeder from a 5 liter bottle

5 liter water bottles can hold much more feed than standard containers. In addition, the large size of the container allows you to make several holes, so that a large number of birds can feed at the same time at the feeder.

To work you will need:

  • wire or ribbon for hanging;
  • clean bottle;
  • birdseed;
  • cutting tool, such as pruning shears, scissors or a utility knife.

First, a hole is made for hanging the structure. Its location will depend on the nature of the placement of the feeder on the tree:

  1. Horizontally - a pair of wide holes are made (one near the neck, the other from the bottom).
  2. Vertically - at a distance of 5-7 cm from the bottom of the bottle, you need to cut 3 rectangular holes or several square ones.

It is most convenient to hang the bottle by the neck. If the structure will be fixed in a horizontal position, you need to make two holes in the wall and, passing twine through them, fix the feeder to the tree. Plastic structures are very light. To prevent the bottle from being swayed by the wind, it is advisable to place ¼ of a brick at the bottom before pouring food into it.

Technology for creating a bunker feeder from a 5 liter bottle

To create a bunker feeder, you will need several bottles (5 l - 1 pc., 1.5 l - 2 pcs.), as well as a stationery knife, rope and marker. First, markings are applied to large containers. Using a marker, the area near the bottom is marked where the hole will be placed, which will serve as a tap hole. It is best to make 2 small slots and one large one through which you can install a 1.5 liter bottle.

Then a U-shaped hole is cut upside down. The upper part should be folded back to form a protective canopy against rain. The lower edge of the opening is sealed with adhesive tape so that the birds do not get hurt during feeding.

In those areas where the bottle placed inside comes into contact with the bottom of a large container, as well as in areas slightly higher, you need to make holes. As the food is eaten, the grains will spill out through them. A round hole is made in the cap of a 5 liter bottle so that after screwing the thread, the neck of the inner container rises. Then you need to cut off the neck of the second bottle along with the top. The result should be a funnel. It should be placed on the neck of the inner bottle and screw on the cap. The feeder is ready.

Helpful advice! It is advisable to install a feeder under the roof to make the birds more comfortable. A canopy or gazebo is suitable for this.

How to make a feeder from a box: process description

A homemade bird feeder can be made from the simplest materials available. Almost every home contains boxes of food, shoes or electrical appliances. For work, it is advisable to select thick cardboard. An ideal option would be a bird feeder out of a box with a laminated coating, which will increase the service life of the structure.

The advantage of this method is that the box already has walls, a bottom and a roof. Therefore, the steps to convert it into a feeder will be minimal; you will only need to cut rectangular or square holes on the sides.

To make a bird feeder with your own hands from a box, you will need a utility knife or scissors, cord and tape. Since cardboard is short-lived and vulnerable to moisture, it should be wrapped with tape for protection. This is done after the feeder is ready. When holes are cut in the side walls to access the feed, you need to secure the cord and hang the feeder. To prevent the structure from swaying from the wind, you should put some pebbles or sand on the bottom.

You can change the technology slightly. In this case, the box lid is glued perpendicularly. As a result, it will serve as a stern stand. The second part of the box will replace the roof and fences. The structure must be sealed with tape.

Next you need to organize a mounting system for hanging. To do this, a pair of hooks is made from wire. A piece of wire is bent in half and the end makes a puncture through the “ceiling” part of the feeder. After this, the wire is twisted and bent on the inside. Now the feeder can be hung on a branch.

How to make a feeder from a juice or milk box

To create such a design, you will need a tetra pack bag for liquid food products, such as juice or milk.

List of necessary materials and tools for work:

  • wire for hanging or nylon rope;
  • a clean milk or juice carton;
  • adhesive plaster;
  • stationery knife or scissors;
  • marker.

The feeder should be comfortable for the birds, so markings are applied to the cardboard and a pair of holes of sufficient size are cut on opposite sides. The through space will allow birds to easily move and take food. For safety reasons, the window should be covered with adhesive tape.

Under the slots you need to pierce a hole with scissors and insert cardboard rolled into a tube into it. This will be a roost. The material for its manufacture can be taken from scraps left over from previous operations. In the corners you need to make small holes where the rope or wire will be stretched for hanging. A milk carton feeder can be tied to a branch or mounted on a tree trunk.

Helpful advice! To prevent the structure from swaying, it is better to cut slots not on opposite sides, but on adjacent walls of the bag.

The feeder can be made from two juice packets. The first tetra pack needs to be cut along the narrow side parts so that the top remains intact. 1/3 of the second bag is cut off, and a hole should be cut on the front side. This area will be used as a stern board. The bottom of the second tetra pack must be combined with the first bag. If everything is done correctly, you should end up with a triangle. To fix the parts, it is better to use glue, as well as wrapping with tape.

How to decorate a bird feeder with your own hands: interesting ideas

When the feeder is ready, you can start decorating it. In this case, everything depends solely on imagination. The design of homemade bird canteens is practically unlimited, the main thing is that all decorative elements are environmentally friendly and safe for birds.

How to decorate a feeder using scrap materials:

  • paint the structure with a coloring compound;
  • decorate with weaving from ropes or twine;
  • use materials of natural origin as decoration, for example, moss, tree bark and branches, cones, acorns, chestnuts;
  • decoration with colored ropes;
  • use of chains with unusually shaped links, etc.

On the Internet you can find many interesting ideas for decorating homemade feeders. If you approach this issue thoroughly, you can make a house of an unusual shape. After that, the paint remaining after the repair, various figures and colored paper are used for decoration. However, you should not overdo it with rustling and shiny parts, otherwise the birds will be scared. In addition, decorative elements should not create obstacles to feed collection.

The use of paint will not only change the color of the structure, but also protect the material from the negative influence of atmospheric factors. Coloring can be monochromatic or multi-colored. In this case, you can use various drawings. It is better if their theme is intertwined with winter motifs. You can find many interesting stencils on sale that will simplify the decorating process.

You can get an interesting design if you decorate a wooden structure in the form of a beehive or a miniature mill. This work is very meticulous, but if you try, you can achieve complete resemblance to real buildings. Decoration in the form of small branches will add natural charm to the design. You can hang a beautiful pine cone or an edible garland at the entrance, the main thing is that it does not block access to food.

Old dishes can be used for decoration, for example, a saucer with a cup or a teapot. To do this, 4 holes are drilled in the saucer and a rope is pulled through them. After this, the cup is glued to the saucer. This design can be hung in any corner of the yard. The design of the feeders looks original with carvings, bright paintings, pieces of leather and appliqués. By creating several designs in the same style, you can get a beautiful composition that will highlight the exterior of the yard.

By spending a little time building a bird feeder with your own hands, you can not only provide the feathered inhabitants of your garden with a tasty snack, but also get a worthy decoration for your yard.

For birds, you need to have a few simple items and tools.

You can make a feeding trough with your children, but keep in mind that you need to watch every step, since during the construction process sharp things are used - scissors, knives, screwdrivers and even, sometimes, a saw.

There are many options for feeders - made from plywood, plastic bottles, tin cans or cardboard.

Here are the most interesting, popular and original ideas for creating a feeder:


Feeder made from scrap materials: toilet paper rolls


You will need:

1 toilet paper roll

Peanut butter

Small bowl

Plate

A couple of branches

Strong thread or fishing line

Knife (dull or plastic).

1. Connect two branches or sticks together using hot glue or string. You can skip this point if you make 4 holes in the sleeve (see below).

2. Make holes in the toilet paper roll so that you can thread two branches or sticks through them. It is better to make 2 holes: a little higher and 2 slightly lower (see image). This item is not required, because The sleeve can be put on differently.


3. Place the peanut butter in a small bowl and use a plastic knife to spread the butter onto the surface of the cardboard toilet paper roll.


4. Sprinkle the food over the peanut butter sleeve.


5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for 4 more bushings.

6. Tie a strong thread to the connected branches so that the structure can be hung.

7. Hang all the cardboard tubes on the branch structure, and then hang everything on the tree.

Feeder made from a plastic bottle. Option 1.


You will need:

Any plastic bottle

Ribbon, thread or fishing line

Awl or drill (for making holes in the bottle and plastic cap)

Bolt and nut

Stationery or simple knife (if necessary)

Deep plastic plate.


1. Prepare a plastic bottle. Remove the label from it, wash it well and dry it.

2. Make a hole in the middle of the lid and plastic plate.

3. Attach the lid to the plate using a bolt and nut.


4. Make a hole in the bottom of the bottle (bottom).

5. Make several holes on the side (4-5), near the neck of the bottle, so that the food can spill out when you turn the bottle over. Holes can be made with a stationery knife if the bottle is not too dense.


6. Take the ribbon, fold it in half, and tie the ends in a knot. Thread the ribbon through the hole at the bottom of the bottle.

Now you can pour food into the bottle, screw on the cap and turn it over. The ribbon will allow you to hang the feeder on a branch.


Bird feeder made from a plastic bottle. Option 2.


You will need:

Plastic bottle

Plastic container

Strong thread or fishing line

Screwdriver or nail

Knife (simple or stationery).

1. Remove the cap from the bottle and the cap from the container.

2. Place the bottle cap on the container cap (in the center) and trace with a pen, felt-tip pen or pencil.

3. Using a utility knife, cut a hole in the lid of the container. The hole can be made slightly smaller than the diameter of the bottle cap.


4. Make one hole along the edges of the container lid.

5. Make a hole in the center of the bottle cap. The hole should be large enough to allow bird food to spill out.

6. Place the cap on the bottle and then insert the bottle into the hole in the container cap.


7. Tie a strong thread to the bottle and put the cap on the container.

Now you can pour food into the bottle or pour water and hang the feeder on a tree.


How to make a feeder from a box (photo instructions)




Original polymer clay feeder


You will need:

Polymer clay

Rope

Thick wire or piece of aluminum

Baking bowl or any other utensil that can be placed in the oven

A small piece of fabric.

1. First roll out the clay on a flat surface until it is about 6mm thick.

2. Carefully place the rolled out clay inside the baking bowl. Trim off any excess pieces so that the clay lies flat. Make 3 large holes in the clay for the rope.


3. Place the bowl of clay in the oven. Read the clay instructions carefully to know how long it takes for the clay to harden in the oven.

4. When the clay has hardened, carefully remove it from the bowl, tie three pieces of rope to it - tie a knot at one end of each rope, and insert the other end into the hole of the clay plate.

5. Tie all ends of the rope and secure them with wire.


6. It is advisable to place a small piece of fabric inside the plate so that the birds do not accidentally peck the clay along with the food.

Original do-it-yourself pumpkin feeder


You will need:

Small pumpkin

Wooden crossbars (even branches can be used)

Thin wire.

1. You need to cut off the top part of the pumpkin.


2. Using a knife or screwdriver, make 4 holes in the pumpkin to insert branches or wooden slats into. Make 2 opposite holes at the same height and two other opposite ones slightly lower - this way you will have one branch slightly higher than the other.


3. Take a thin wire and wrap it around each end of the branches so that the feeder can be hung on the tree. Connect all the ends of the wire so that the feeder can hang evenly. Twist them into a hook.


Original DIY bird feeder idea

This feeder is suitable for sub-zero temperatures.


You will need:

Large plastic bottle

Small plastic bottle or small plastic container

Scissors

Coniferous branches

Berries (optional)

Seeds


1. Cut off the bottom of a large and small plastic bottle. First you can make a hole with a knife and then cut with scissors. You will have the base of the feeder.


2. Place spruce branches, berries and seeds in a circle in the cut-out bottom of a large bottle.

3. Place the bottom of a small bottle or small plastic container in the center of the base.


4. Pour earth, sand or pebbles into a small container.


5. Tie strong threads or fishing line to the feeder so it can be hung.

6. If you put the feeder in the freezer overnight, and then take out and remove the plastic parts, you will get an ice feeder.


How to make a feeder with your own hands using a bottle


You will need:

Small glass or plastic bottle (preferably with a cap)

Small saucer or bottom of a plastic bottle

Wire

Saw (if necessary)

Screw half ring (hook).


1. Using screws, connect two small pieces of plywood. In this example, the dimensions of the plywood are 11 x 15 cm and 31 x 15 cm.

2. Using the bottle that you will later attach to the stand, mark the places where you will need to attach two pieces of wire - one at the neck, the other at the bottom of the bottle.

3. The neck of the bottle should be approximately 3-4 cm above the base.

4. Drill holes for the wire, insert your wire through the bottom, wrap it around the bottle and secure it to the back of the plywood (you can twist the wire or secure it with a stapler).

5. Fill the bottle with seeds, screw the lid on so as not to spill the seeds, turn it over and insert the bottle between the wires, place a saucer under it and remove the lid.

6. Screw a half-ring screw into the top of the plywood to hang the feeder.

Original DIY bird feeder


You will need:

Tin can (preferably with a lid)

Sisal rope (sisal rope) or thick rope

A piece of thin plywood, a branch, or any small metal piece

Hot glue.


1. If you have a jar with a lid, then the lid needs to be bent in half.

2. Take a small branch, piece of plywood, or other small piece that birds can perch on and glue it to the can.

3. Insert the bent lid as shown in the image (slightly inside the jar and over the metal part) and secure it with glue.

4. Take a thick rope or rope about 80 cm long and start wrapping the can so that the long ends of this rope (30 cm) remain at the beginning and at the end. Use glue to secure the rope to the can.

5. Cut the rope, tie the ends in a knot and secure with glue.


You will need:

3/4 cup birdseed

1/4 cup water

1 packet of gelatin

Twine or strong thread

Cookie pans

Baking paper.

1. Mix gelatin with water (1/4 cup) and bring to a boil, stirring. Make sure the gelatin is completely dissolved.

2. Remove from heat and let cool.

3. Add 3/4 cup birdseed. You can add more if it fits.

4. Place the cookie cutters on baking paper and fill them with the resulting food mixture.


5. Cut a piece of thread and tie its ends in a knot. Partially insert the thread into the mixture.

6. Leave the mixture to dry overnight, trying to turn it periodically when you have time.

7. Remove the molds and hang the food on the tree.


How to make your own bird feeder using tin cans


You will need:

3 cans of paint or cans

A piece of branch or wooden stick

Hot glue

Paints (if desired).


You can paint the jars, or you can leave them as is.


1. Glue a piece of branch to a jar for the birds to land and eat.

2. Wrap strong thread or ribbon around the jar and tie the ends in a knot. You can secure the tape with glue so that it sticks better to the jar.

3. Fill the jars with food and you're done!

How to make a bird feeder from a plastic bottle

Bird feeders can be seen in yards and parks. If you want to design something special, extraordinary, then we will tell you how to make a bird feeder yourself.

An easy way to give food to birds

A feeder can be made from available materials, for example, take a piece of board, plywood or any flat and durable material at hand and place it higher from the ground. This way the food will remain available to the birds.

This is a temporary measure, as precipitation may fall or the feed will simply be blown away by the wind. But such a feeder can save birds from starvation.

We use plastic bottles

From a plastic bottle you can build both a very simple and multifunctional dining room for birds. Let's take a closer look at some feeder ideas and their implementation.

Hastily

If we cut a hole in the side of the bottle, we can say that we have done half the job. Near the neck you need to make 2 holes with an awl, insert a wire and secure the feeder to a branch of a tree or bush. If you pour food on the bottom, after a while you will be able to see birds flocking there.

To prevent moisture from spoiling the food if precipitation gets inside the bottle, drainage holes must be made in the bottom of the container.

Complicating the design

You can make a feeder with a “dispensing window” from a plastic bottle. Having selected a container of suitable size, cut a small hole on one side and pierce the bottle with scissors on the opposite side. Insert the wooden spoon with the handle forward so that it fits tightly into the pierced hole. The spoon should be positioned so that the grains roll into it as the birds peck at the food. The number of spoons involved may vary, but most often there are two.

To hang a bottle, you can pierce the cork with an awl (or nail), thread a nylon thread through it, and tie a knot inside the cork.

How to decorate a gray, unsightly bottle? If desired, you can make the feeder a decoration for any garden.

Glass feeder

You can make a simple design from a plastic bottle, which will be attached directly to the glass using suction cups. The design of such a feeder is very simple, and to make it you will only need 1 container and 2 suction cups.

A small square or rectangular hole is made with a construction knife. Using a soldering iron or a nail heated on gas, you need to make 2 holes on one side of the bottle into which the suction cup heads will fit tightly. In our case, the suction cups had hooks, so we first removed them, and then secured them with them, inserting them into their places, but inside the bottle.

The positive aspects include the fact that you can watch the birds by getting almost close to them. A significant disadvantage is that the birds defecate near the feeder, so the glass and tide will be unsightly.

Video: making a feeder from a plastic bottle

Use of glass

Glass dishes can be used to distribute food to birds. The container must be securely fastened with the neck down at a short distance from any platform. Pour food into this container and place it in place (holding the hole with your finger so that the grains do not spill out). As the feed is consumed, the food in the bottle will be released onto the site.

Video: glass feeder

Other materials at hand

It won’t be difficult to come up with a lot of ways to feed birds.

Tits love not only grains. You can feed such gourmets by hanging a piece of unsalted lard wrapped with rope or wire on a branch.

If you buy products packaged in nets in supermarkets, then this container can also be used by pouring nuts into it.

You can form a ball from small bulk food (adding flour and water) and also hang it in a net. In frosty weather, the food can be mixed with vegetable oil. Milk or sour cream is not suitable for these purposes, since the bird’s body does not accept such food.

In order to protect the food from precipitation, you can build a roof from plywood.

Pumpkin

A pumpkin feeder can be called a waste-free production, since the birds first eat the food, and then the edible “dining room” itself. All you have to do is cut holes in the pumpkin and remove the core.

You can cut the pumpkin in half and thread a rope through both halves with a knot tied at the bottom. To fix it in a disconnected state, you need to install spacers made of twigs between the halves. As a last resort, you can use pencils as stands. The top edge of the rope threaded through the pumpkin is tied to a branch, and the feeder is ready to receive feathered guests.

Video: pumpkin feeder

Sofa spring

Things and items that usually have nowhere else to be used can be used.

If you have a spring left over from an old sofa, you can also use it by holding pieces of bread between the coils. This feeder can be hung both vertically and horizontally.

Car air filter

A metal mesh feeder can be seen on a store counter, but a similar structure can be built from a used paper car air filter.

To make it, you need to cut off the top part of the filter and remove the paper filling (you can do it together with the inner or outer mesh if you don’t plan to put food between them). Outside the filter, to the top of the mesh, a wire is tied, which will serve as a loop for hanging the feeder on a tree. Suitable food is poured inside, and the cut off upper part of the filter can be used as a lid.

To reduce feed loss, you can glue the lid of a plastic bucket to the bottom of the feeder with hot glue. You can make a canopy from the same cover.

Teapot for brewing

If you have an old kettle and it would be a pity to throw it away, but it can no longer be used for its intended purpose, then you can make a feeder out of it. How to hang it? Drilling a hole in a piece of earthenware is a very thankless task, so you can use hot glue. If there is a hole in the lid, then you need to insert the ends of the rope into it and make a knot inside. To be on the safe side, it is better to tie a small washer. Now the lid can be glued to the teapot, the neck of which will now serve as an entrance for the birds.

Looking into a barn or pantry, you can find things that are “hard to carry, but a pity to throw away.” This category includes an old metal bread bin. You don't need much imagination to place it - just tie a rope and hang it on a branch.

You can use an unnecessary plastic container in a similar way.

Using different boxes

It will also be easy to make a feeder from a juice or wine box.

One or two windows are cut out in the box so that there is a small bowl at the bottom for food.

When cutting out a window, you can take care to protect the food from precipitation. For this, a small visor is left, but to prevent it from falling down and blocking the entrance, it can be secured with a nylon thread in the open position.

To make a large cardboard feeder you will need a large box. Using a construction knife or scissors, a window of the required size is cut out. If the box is very large, then you can cut out a smaller product from it and wrap it with tape. It is important to realize that such a feeder will only last until the first rain.

Tin box

Manufacturers often sell products in tin boxes, which can also be used to make a feeder.

In addition to the jar itself, we will need:

  • metal or plastic chain – 2 m (4 pieces of 0.5 m each);
  • split ring (used for keys);
  • small cotter pin – 8 pcs. (you can get by with knitting wire);
  • awl;
  • alcohol marker;
  • wire cutters or metal scissors;
  • ruler;
  • pliers.

Now let's start manufacturing.

  • As accurately as possible, you need to mark 4 points on the jar and transfer the same marks to the lid.
  • Using an awl, you need to make holes according to the marks so that the cotter pin fits through them.

  • Using wire cutters, cut the chain into four 50 cm pieces.
  • Having threaded the cotter pin through the outermost link of the chain, insert it into the hole and use pliers to push its ends apart from the inside of the can.

  • Having measured 15 cm of the chain (starting from the can), thread the remaining 4 cotter pins into it and secure the lid with them.
  • Now we will pass a split ring into the ears of the free ends of the chain.

After hanging the feeder on a branch, look in which direction the box slopes, and pierce it with an awl in the bottom (from the inside) - this will be a drainage hole.

Branches

From large branches you can assemble an original feeder. To complete the job you will need an axe, a hammer, nails and a little imagination.

Plywood

Plywood products are quite durable, but are susceptible to moisture.

A simple version of the feeder consists of just a pallet with sides, two pieces of plywood that serve as a roof, and a rope connecting all the parts. To fix the bottom and roof in the desired position, knots are tied on the rope.

If you have the desire and a jigsaw, you can design a more complex feeder using one of the presented drawings.

Log

When preparing firewood, logs with rotten cores are encountered. This piece of trunk will serve as our base. You need to remove the core. Windows are drilled into the hollow trunk or its longitudinal part is cut out. The ends are closed with selected “plaques”, sawed off from other trunks. A tree trunk feeder can be found in both horizontal and vertical versions.

For production you will need:

  • self-tapping screws;
  • small nails;
  • slats.

To make the roof and bottom, you can use plastic or HDF (whatever you can find, since this material is sold only in large sheets).

When making any design, it is convenient and practical to use drawings that indicate the dimensions of the parts. We will also use the drawing to cut all the blanks to size.

They can be lightly sanded.

First, we will assemble the narrower part of the future feeder, hammering 3 nails on each side.

Then the entire frame is assembled in a similar way. If the nails are short, then you can use 5 pieces each.

We will install the frame on the prepared bottom and outline the outside with a pencil - this will give us a marking along which we will need to cut out this part and then nail it.

In order to fix the top slats, we use 4 self-tapping screws - 1 pc. for each attachment point.

From the remaining slats we will make the upper part of the feeder, fastening the parts with self-tapping screws. The final stage will be marking, sawing and securing the roof. The junction of two sheets of roof sheathing can be hidden by nailing an angle strip on top.

There are some points that need to be taken into account when making and determining the installation location of the feeder:

  1. You should not underestimate cats, because they can get to the feeder, and then the birds will fly away or become prey to a domestic predator.
  2. The feeder needs to be made with a large roof, then a lot of precipitation will not fall into it.
  3. The entrance to the feeder should not be small, as fear may be stronger than hunger, and the birds may not take advantage of your hospitality.
  4. It is better to make the structure from moisture-resistant material, then it will last a long time. Other materials must be treated with water-repellent compounds.
  5. If the feeder is too light or has a large windage, then a gust of wind can turn it upside down. Even turning over for a short time will result in all the food ending up on the ground. The lightweight structure needs to be weighted down.

Photos of original feeders

Video: original ideas brought to life

Drawings and sketches

Making feeders, without which it is quite difficult for birds to survive the harsh winter, does not require much effort.

But in gratitude for the care shown, the feathered chirps will repay you a hundredfold, destroying garden pests on your site and thus saving the harvest.

The article discusses manufacturing options feeders made from various materials with step-by-step construction instructions.

What types of feeders are there?

Feeders can be different. They differ on materials and manufacturing complexity, but at the same time they have one task: to feed the birds, for whom winter is a severe test.

Most often the design is platform, above which there is a canopy for protection from rain and snow. On this site there is a container into which food is poured.

It is best to choose a feeder that hangs out of reach of cats and dogs. Sometimes the feeder is installed on a post dug into the ground or on a tree.

Materials For feeders, wood (boards and even branches of medium thickness), pieces of plywood, a plastic bottle, thick cardboard, a juice carton, an old headlight, a large pumpkin and much more can be used.

Requirements for feeders

They are presented to the poultry canteen certain requirements:

  • there must be a feeder conveniently located: away from housing and in a place protected from the wind;
  • have roof which will protect food from rain and snow;
  • birds should easily hit inside the feeder and get out from her;
  • the manufacturing material must withstand high humidity and temperature fluctuations.

DIY wooden feeder

Wooden feeder is rightfully considered a traditional design, and it may well last for more than one year.

Old furniture panels, plywood, and scrap boards can be used. But the most beautiful feeders are made from unprocessed branches, which are laid like a wooden frame.

Sequencing:

  1. Theoretical stage: execution of the sketch future feeder on a sheet of paper. Approximate overall dimensions of the structure 30x30x25 cm(length, width and height);
  2. Preparatory stage: marking the material by size and cutting it. First mark 3 parts of the same size 300x230 mm. These are the future bottom (1 part) and the roof, consisting of two parts. Then you should mark the base with size 3 00x300 mm and 2 side walls 250x230 mm. When all the parts are marked, we begin cutting the material;
  3. Practical stage: assembling the feeder. On the board base exactly in the middle the bottom is fixed. On the left and right, two side walls are attached to it, and two halves of the plywood roof are attached to them; it is best to fasten all parts of the structure using self-tapping screws. The simplest wooden feeder is ready.


Plastic feeder


Plastic feeder from available means does not require any costs for its manufacture. Even a child can make such a feeder.

Just stock up on two or five liters plastic bottle with handle, sharp scissors and a piece of wire.

Cut a hole in the bottom of the bottle hole and pour food into it, then hang your feeder on a branch using the handle. To prevent the wind from tearing the feeder from the tree, secure it with piece of wire.

We recommend! The edges of the cut hole are quite sharp. To prevent the birds from injuring their paws, just quickly run the light of a regular lighter along the cut. When exposed to high temperatures, the plastic will bend slightly. Now it will be much more convenient for birds to climb into the feeder.

Hopper feeder

This type of feeder is very popular in poultry farming, but why not use a similar construction in our case.

Hopper feeder presented in two parts:

  1. pallet with low sides;
  2. feed container with small holes at the bottom.
To create such a feeder with your own hands, you will need the following materials:
  • liter plastic bottle with a wide neck;
  • two liter bottle from mineral water or soda;
  • spicy knife or scissors
  • wire.

A liter bottle, which will serve as a container for food, cut off threaded part of the neck. Along the cutting line with scissors, make several cutouts for pouring out feed. The bottom of the second bottle is cut off. This will be ours pallet.

Into container food is placed, and a pallet is installed on top. Now all that remains is to quickly turn the feeder over. The sides prevent the grains from spilling out of the feeder, and the size of the tray does not allow the bird to climb into it.

When the birds begin to peck at the food, new portions will pour out spontaneously. This automatic design does not require frequent filling; bird food does not spill out or become dirty.

In order for the structure to acquire the necessary stability, it should be screw it with wire to a wooden stand. Any online store with goods for poultry breeding offers an assortment of bunker feeders, especially many options for bunker feeders for.

What can you feed birds?

Birds love raw food most of all. sunflower seeds. This food will provide the birds with a supply of energy.

The birds will not refuse millet, oats, pumpkin seeds, melon, watermelon. You can also stock up on seeds of wild herbs. Visitors to the poultry canteen will also like berries - bunches of viburnum and rowan.

Can you offer a piece? unsalted lard and calcium supplement from finely ground eggshells. Feathered guests will happily enjoy food crumbs, pieces of chicken eggs, nuts, white bread crackers and even dry pet food.

Important tip! Never offer your birds salty, sour, spicy or fried food. Brown bread, which is poorly digested, is also dangerous for them.

Where to buy ready-made feeders

If you don’t have enough time to make your own feeder, then you can buy not only feeders, but also birdhouses, drinking bowls, garden figures in the form of animals or gnomes in combination with feeders.

A wooden feeder will do without any fuss at 250 rubles, original log house about 800 rubles, and a large garden sculpture with a feeder about 2500 rubles.

But you must admit that it is much more interesting for a home craftsman to build something unusual from scrap materials on one's own. And it will be interesting and useful for children.

Detailed instructions for assembling bunker feeders from plastic bottles, watch in this video.