Creating your own DIY bird feeder can be fun and beautiful without too much work and complex materials. You can use pinecones, mason jars, plastic bottles, milk cartons, teacups, cookie cutters, egg cartons, coconut shells, toilet paper rolls, and even an old bundt pan.
Whether you live in a house with a patio or an apartment with a balcony, engage in homemade bird feeders, and your home will be ready to welcome the most adorable birds. Read the creative and entertaining ideas in this guide to get inspired!
How To Make A Bird Feeder?
To create a bird feeder of any kind, you must choose the materials, design the feeder, prepare the structure, add birdseed or suet, create a way to hang it, hang it, monitor it, and refill it. Read the details below and start planning your bird feeder design.
- Gather materials like pinecones, bottles, wood, or other upcycled items like cups, tins, or cartons. You will also need birdseed, string or wire, and sometimes tools like scissors, glue, or a drill.
- Decide how birds will access the seed, where the feeder will hang, and whether perches or holes need to be added.
- Clean any used materials and cut or modify them as needed.
- Depending on your design, fill the main section of the feeder with birdseed, suet, or a peanut butter mixture.
- Attach string, twine, or wire to your feeder for hanging. Ensure it is sturdy enough to support the weight of the feeder and any visiting birds.
- Find a suitable spot in your yard, preferably near trees or shrubs, and hang the feeder at a height safe from predators.
- Check the feeder regularly to ensure it is stocked with birdseed and clean to prevent mold or spoilage.
Follow these general steps, adjusting for the specific materials and design! This process allows for flexibility, but the essential elements remain consistent. Continue reading to discover the ten most creative and practical bird-feeding station ideas for you to do at home.
10 Top Bird Feeder Ideas
To welcome the most beautiful and friendly birds of your region, create one (or more) of the easy DIY bird feeders in the list below – and later, find out DIY butterfly feeder ideas! From plastic bottles and mason jars to coconut and pinecones, these creative ideas will inspire you to make your own! Read on.
1. Pinecone Feeder
You can do plenty of pinecone DIY projects with your family, but the most beautiful one is to use a large pinecone, spread peanut butter all over it, and roll it in birdseed. Then, hang it from a tree with twine for a simple and natural feeder.
2. Mason Jar Feeder
Another strategy to attract hummingbirds to the garden is repurposing a mason jar by filling it with birdseed and attaching a small wooden perch underneath. To set it in a strategic place, hang it upside down from a tree or a post, and birds will start coming to eat.
3. Plastic Bottle Feeder
One of the infinite possibilities of reusing plastic bottles is turning them into a DIY hanging bird feeder. Take a plastic bottle, poke holes near the bottom, insert perches made from sticks or wooden spoons, fill with birdseed, and hang.
4. Milk Carton Feeder
Grab a finished milk carton and wash it thoroughly, letting it dry for a while. Then, cut openings into the sides of an empty milk carton, paint or decorate it, and add birdseed inside. This option can also be suspended from a branch or hook.
5. Teacup Feeder
Use an old teacup to go beyond the functionality and add an aesthetic to your bird feeder. Glue a vintage teacup and saucer together at an angle and fill with birdseed. Place it on a garden table or attach it to a post for a charming feeder for an authentic landscape accent for the garden!
6. Cookie Cutter Suet Feeder
Here is a fun DIY bird feeder you can invite the kids to help create. Grab your different cookie cutter shapes, mix suet (or lard) with birdseed, and press it into the fun shapes of your cookie cutters. The bird feeders are ready to be hung in your yard or balcony.
7. Egg Carton Feeder
Who does not have an egg carton available for DIY projects? Use a cardboard egg carton as a feeder by cutting it in half and filling the compartments with birdseed. You can also hang it using a string or set it on a flat surface.
8. Coconut Shell Feeder
For a natural-looking bird feeder, you can use fruits as a seed container. Coconut shells are the best option for this idea. Hollow out a coconut shell, fill it with seeds or suet, and attach it to a tree with string or wire for an eco-friendly feeder.
9. Toilet Paper Roll Feeder
For an idea that does not require you to hang the bird feeder, you can make use of the shape of toilet paper rolls. Spread peanut butter on an empty toilet paper roll, roll it in birdseed, and slide it onto a tree branch.
10. Bundt Pan Feeder
A bigger bird feeder can be created by repurposing an old Bundt pan! You can fill the center hole of the pan with birdseed and tie a string through the center for hanging. This idea will attract plenty of birds to your home – which, by the way, is a natural mosquito repellent!
You can count on homeyou's decorators to assist you in the process of creating a beautiful and efficient DIY bird feeder. Call them, and your home will be filled with birdsongs.