DIY bird feeders: interesting ideas and tips for their implementation

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

Wood is the most common material for making feeders.

DIY bird feeders: what should be the design

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

Creative saucer and cup feeder

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

The advantages of homemade feeders:

• the opportunity to take care of birds, which find it difficult to independently obtain food for themselves;
• decorative decoration of the yard;
• the opportunity to instill in children a love for the world around them and birds.

A wire feeder for fruit can be easily made by hand

Moreover, such a decision can be implemented not only by the 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 feeder made on a professional level in the yard, you can order the product from specialists. Experienced craftsmen will independently select high-quality materials and make a structure using special technologies.

Ready-made bird feeder made of plastic

Buyers are invited to choose a bird feeder with a design they like from the picture. Such structures can be of any size and shape. Buying 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.

Buying 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 the expectation of the arrival of birds. Therefore, many people prefer to independently create houses for feeding birds in their yard or by the window.

Bunker feeder for simultaneous feeding of two birds

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 birds from rain and wind.

What are the requirements for a homemade bird feeder

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

Original feeders using wine bottles

The design of the structure should be such that the grain is not covered by snow and 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 grow moldy and deteriorate. It is desirable that there is protection from chipmunks and squirrels. At the same time, birds should not experience any difficulty in removing feed.

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

The bird feeder is made in the form of a mesh flower

If the structure will be used for temporary feeding in the winter, it is better to hang it. Thus, the feeder will be less attractive for sparrows, which are much easier to find food than other birds. Stationary structures are used for continuous feeding. In this case, protection from predators is mandatory. It is advisable that the grain is on a level area large enough to maintain good stability.

Types of bird feeders: photo and description of designs

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

Wafer cups were used to create grain suspensions

Classification of bird feeders by design type:

• suspension;
• area;
• house;
• bunker;
• tray;
• shelling machine.

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

Bird feeder can be cast from plaster or clay

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

Suspension designs are very simple. In this case, the feed is suspended in a mesh bag or on a string. They are used primarily as feeders for titmice. Although other species of insectivorous birds can use suspensions, with the exception of woodpeckers.

The most common type of top dressing is "antifreeze" - a piece of bacon without spices and salt. There are also more nutritional mixtures that are designed for poultry poultry. A ball consisting of seeds is suitable for them. Peanut butter or lard (interior fat) is used as a fastening component.

Beautiful examples of hanging bird feeders

Note! It is not necessary to cast the fodder mass into a beautiful shape or a plastic cup and then freeze it. The ball is more bird friendly. So it is much easier for them to cling and do not have to spend a lot of energy to keep themselves in weight while eating.

It is most convenient to form a ball consisting of fodder by hand. This should be done in the cold. The fat will solidify very quickly, therefore, having formed a ball, it must be suspended immediately.

Related article:

Aviary for dogs: photos of successful do-it-yourself designs

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

Hanging bird feeders can be made for certain types of birds. Great tits prefer garlands made from dried berries. They especially like rose hips. The use of peanuts in pods is allowed.

Original wicker basket with nuts for birds

Swing feeders will be the best option for blue tit. In this case, it is advisable to hang the balls on elastic and thin branches so that they balance.

Beautiful do-it-yourself bird feeders, made in the form of mobiles or moving sculptures, look original in the photo. Such designs are able to attract even great tits, which will not conflict with blue tits.

You can use a regular plate attached with chains as a feeder

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

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

Creative coconut shell feeder

Convenient do-it-yourself bird feeders: photos of tray structures and platforms

Feeders-platforms represent a flat plane on which food is placed. The advantage of such designs is that birds can see the presence of food from afar. However, a flat wooden do-it-yourself bird feeder has drawbacks. First, there are no wind guards. As a result, the feed in large quantities swells and wakes up. Secondly, nothing prevents the sparrows from actively using these feeders.

The point is that sparrows keep in flocks.These nosy birds, unlike pigeons and crows, can freely penetrate into small feeders and empty them, giving no chance to other birds, for which it is much more difficult to get food in winter. To eliminate this possibility, it is advisable to avoid the use of open structures.

An easy way to make a poultry canteen is to use a wicker basket

Sparrows are very careful. In case of danger, they fly straight up from the spot. Therefore, the best option would be birdhouse made of cardboard or wood with a steep roof with more overhangs. It is desirable that the structure has low windows that 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 for them.

Helpful advice! In winter, the birds will benefit from vitamin supplementation. To do this, you can put stubs of pears and apples with seeds, berries of viburnum, elderberry, mountain ash, the fibrous part of pumpkin with seeds, dried rose hips, grape seeds in the feeder. The use of cherry pits from compote is allowed.

Feeder platform made of wood on a long leg

For those birds that constantly live on the site, a do-it-yourself original trough-type bird feeder is suitable. A perch or landing pad can be installed in front of the tray (a window that provides access to the stern).

There are two types of trough feeders:

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

Grain and fruit feed can be placed in the bird tray

The automatic bird feeder is much more practical than hopper designs. In this case, the food practically does not wake up. Trough structures are designed specifically for one type of bird. The possibility of using a feeder for several species of birds is allowed. However, creating such a structure will require not only the appropriate skills and tools, but also ornithological knowledge.

DIY house feeders: photos of birdhouses and similar designs

Feeders in the form of small houses protect food well from snow. By equipping the structure with a roof, you can protect the interior from wind and sparrows. But a beautiful bird feeder in the form of a house does not provide protection against spilling feed. 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 housing only in crisis cases and may simply not notice the grains that have spilled onto the ground.

Simple wooden feeder house

A sloping roof house structure can be made out of a box. If possible, it is advisable to treat such a cardboard feeder with a diluted adhesive composition. For this, 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 done correctly, such a feeder will last several seasons. The structure is nailed to the wood.

A beautiful trough 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.

The dining room is complemented by a hanging bag with goodies

Wood or very dense pre-processed cardboard can be used as material for manufacturing. The design for large birds should be much larger than for ordinary birdies. In this case, you need to select for the birds drawings of a feeder with dimensions that will correspond to them.

Note! A shoe box bird feeder will not work for large birds. The cardboard in such constructions is very thin.Strong birds will break the feeder very quickly during feeding.

Bright elements on the feeder will attract the attention of birds

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

Hopper-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 will not be able to accommodate. Sparrows will have no choice but to eat alternately with the company of other birds.

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

To make a feeder, you can use glass vessels - vases, small aquariums, flower pots

To make a bottle feeder with your own hands, 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. Such a feeder will last for several seasons.

The hopper type feeder can accommodate a large supply of bird feed

Peeling feeders are less popular. They are designed for certain types of birds. In this case, the feed is retained using a special metal mesh. The design can be improved by making it combined. For this, the stubble feeder is combined with the trough version. Thanks to this, birds of different species can coexist on the same site.

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. For these purposes, you can use a variety of materials. Many of them are in everyone's house, so you can not only create an original bird feeder with your own hands, but also do it with minimal costs.

To make a feeder from a coffee service, you need to glue the cup to the saucer and fix the structure to the handle

The following materials are commonly used to make a poultry dining room:

• plastic;
• paper and cardboard;
• wood;
• plywood;
• materials at hand (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.

Simple feeders can be made from cardboard cups

Features of bird feeders made of plastic bottles and trays

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

Advantages of plastic bottle and tray feeders:

1. Material availability.
2. The transparent walls of the structure make it possible to make the feed visible from afar.
3. Ease of processing.
4. Minimal amount of trash and waste.
5. No special tools required.
6. High strength and durability.

An affordable and easy way to build a feeder is to use a plastic bottle

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 from above and hit it.

A good way to create a small, conspicuous bird feeder out of scrap materials is to use old children's toys such as bricks. They are made of polyethylene, so it is advisable to use superglue for fixing. Such designs have bright and rich colors, so it will be easy for birds to find food. Polyethylene lends itself well to processing. You can use a compass with two needles to cut round holes in the walls.Polyethylene is a slippery material, so it is advisable to equip the feeder with a perch-perch.

Bird canteen made of plastic bottle and wooden spoon

As a plastic building material, you can use scraps of transparent polycarbonate, which may have remained after renovation in the house. Such a feeder can be fixed to the window using suction cups from the bathroom shelves.

Particularly noteworthy are bird feeders made from bottles and other unusable containers. The main thing is that the design is well thought out. To ensure the visibility of the feed, it is advisable to use a wide tray. The presence of a perch will make feeding the birds more convenient. With a large tray and a large container, you do not have to frequently replenish feed stocks. As a result, the birds will be less fearful.

Feeder structure made of plate and bottle

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 negligible. If you fold up the hatch cover, which provides access to the feed, the feeder will turn out to be anti-sparrow. In this case, the plane that is formed at the top can be used to place vitamin supplements.

Features of making homemade feeders out of the box

The category of plastic products includes structures made from containers of liquid products:

• milk;
• kefir;
• juice, etc.

Simple and original bird feeder from a tetra pack from juice

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

Small bags left over from juice or milk are ideal for feeding the following bird species:

• goldfinches;
• tits;
• granivores.

Feeders-houses from cardboard milk cartons

In this case, it is imperative to install a roosting stick to make it easier for the birds to get food.

Helpful advice! To attract a small spotted woodpecker to a titmouse, it is enough to fix a wooden circle on the bottom of the valve. This will make it easier for the bird to gain a foothold on the structure.

Feeders are made of juice boxes

Large bags can be used to make universal bird tables. To do this, you need to cut a large opening so that the food can be seen from afar. If the feeder is suspended, pierce it with a perch. A package design can be placed in a bush. In this case, the roost is not required, its function will be performed by branches.

DIY eco-friendly bird feeders made of wood

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

Wooden feeder-dining room, made in modern design

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 from a tree with your own hands, you will definitely need a carpentry tool and skills in handling it. Traditional models look like a house. It is not recommended to make a flat roof on the feeder, as in this case the feed will be exposed to weathering.

The bird feeder is made of logs

Standard house-like designs can be improved and specialized for a particular type of bird by minor changes. For example, a gable roof feeder without fencing can be used as a generally available option. If you build a small crate around the perimeter, such a dining room will be to the taste of poultry poultry. It simulates natural feeding conditions quite realistically. A similar model with a solid low fence will provide an anti-sparrow effect and protect food from the wind.

The design, which has a low slope roof, will also provide protection against feed swelling.Such a feeder will be used by sparrows only as a last resort.

Original bird feeders

An alternative option for a suspended structure made of wood will be a do-it-yourself plywood bird feeder. 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 plywood strips by gluing. However, for stationary feeders on poles, it is preferable to use solid wood, since plywood in outdoor conditions will exfoliate after several seasons, regardless of the quality of the protective impregnation.

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

Birdhouse made of cork corks

Do-it-yourself bird feeders from scrap materials

From the materials at hand, you can make unusual and original designs, in the creation of which you 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 be simply hung or made part of a stationary structure. The corn should be firm, preferably oilseed or forage varieties. The finer the grains, the better.

Simple bird feeder design from egg tray

It is better to avoid using table sugar cobs as they are harmful to birds. Their grains are high in sugar and starch. The corn feeder is designed for large fruit-eating and granivorous birds, as well as huskers.

You can use ice cream sticks as a building material for creating a wooden bird feeder. During the summer season, they can be accumulated in sufficient quantities. To make such a structure, you will need a rope and PVA glue. You can fit a larger ice cream stick on either side of the trough. Thanks to this, 4 birds will be able to use the dining room at the same time, for example, gnats or siskins.

Original feeder holder for food from a kitchen whisk

An excellent option would be a wicker basket-shaped feeder with a suspended lid. To create it, you will need paper tubes that can be made from old newspapers. The weaving technology is quite complicated and time-consuming, so not everyone dares to take up the construction of such a feeder, but the result exceeds all expectations. To prevent decay of paper straws, they must be treated with a protective compound (glue and stain).

A large metal tin can is also suitable for building a feeder. It is suspended from a rope in a horizontal position. To prevent feed from spilling onto the ground, a small flap must be installed. For this, the top of the lid, bent in half, is suitable. It is imperative to install a perch.

The poultry canteen is made of a small tin can

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

Making bird feeders: drawings, description and technologies

Having decided on the type of construction and material, you can proceed to the direct manufacture of the feeder. It should be noted that not all types of grains are suitable for feeding birds. The favorite food of birds that remain for the winter is the seeds of wild grasses. It is desirable that these were burdock plant species. Turnip seed, which can be harvested in summer or purchased ready-made at a pet store, is suitable.

Forged fruit holder for vitamin feeding of birds

Homemade feeders can be filled with:

• oats and millet;
• small sunflower seeds (unroasted);
• hemp and flaxseeds;
• dried pods of acacias living in mid-latitudes (wisteria, gleditsia, sophora, etc.);
• pumpkin seeds;
• dry pea pods (it 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 huskers).

Drawing of a square wooden bird feeder

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 goiter inflammation. Strongly swelling porridges during cooking are badly perceived, for example, buckwheat, barley, rice. The peel of all tropical fruits and citrus fruits is lethal to birds.

How to make a do-it-yourself birdhouse: assembling a wooden structure

Building a wooden birdhouse will require skills in working with carpentry tools.

Large wooden bird feeder house

The work will require the following materials:

• wooden bar for racks (2x4.5 cm);
• plywood square as a flooring on the bottom (25x25 cm);
• wooden pieces for roof construction (22x35 cm, 2 pcs.);
• fasteners (adhesive, screws, nails).

It will not hurt to first find a suitable drawing of the feeder, which will help you navigate during the assembly of parts.

Drawing of a wooden feeder: 1 and 2 - roof slopes, 3 and 4 - roof ridge, 5 and 6 - side walls, 7 and 8 - sides

First, the base is assembled: sides and bottom. For this, the bars, pre-cut in accordance with the size of the bottom, are glued from the end sides and fixed with self-tapping screws. The result is a wooden frame. A pair of parallel sides must be made about 5 cm longer than the bottom. They will be used to install the perches. With the help of nails, the bottom is nailed to the frame.

At the next stage of making a do-it-yourself feeder from wood, racks are mounted. For this, the corresponding parts must be screwed on the inside of the box. The optimal length is 18-20 cm.

Wooden feeder will harmoniously fit into the overall look of a frequent yard

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

Helpful advice! To properly connect the parts of the bird feeder made of wood when fastening the bars, you need to lay the flat wide part on the table. After that, an additional element is attached from above at an appropriate angle.

Technology for making a feeder from ice cream sticks

Then the rafters are attached to the uprights with self-tapping screws. Next, the roof slopes are installed. For this, two wooden elements are installed on the rafters. If a wooden corner is available, a skate can be made. A bird feeder made of wood needs a perch. To do this, sticks or window glazing 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.

It is recommended to use water-based formulations for coloring the feeder

How to make a do-it-yourself bird feeder out of wood: plywood construction

An alternative option for a tree feeder will be a structure made of plywood.

The material allows you to choose any modification:

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

Drawing of a plywood feeder: 1 - side wall 2 pcs., 2 - base, 3 - bottom, 4 - roof 2 pcs.

Plywood is a derivative of wood, while it is much cheaper and lighter in weight. Before you make a bird feeder out of wood, be sure to pick up the appropriate drawing. In this case, one must 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.

To work you will need the following tools and materials:

• jigsaw;
• sandpaper;

A small, simple feeder can be made from leftover building materials

• water-based adhesive;
• 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. Then all the parts are carefully cut out with a jigsaw. A square element of 25x25 cm will be used as a flooring for the bottom. To build a roof, you need to take larger parts, otherwise moisture will drain into the feed. The edges of the resulting blanks must be sanded.

Plywood birdhouse drawing

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

Helpful advice! If the 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.

Plywood bird house

How to make a do-it-yourself feeder: a suspended grain structure

Suspended grain structures are the easiest option. Such a structure can be produced in a few hours.

For work you will need:

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

Hanging grain structures not only help feed the birds, but also decorate the garden

How to make your own edible bird feeder:

1. Draw on cardboard the shape you like, for example, a square, circle, triangle, heart, etc.
2. Cut the shape to the markup.
3. Form the bindings by threading the needle and making a hole.
4. Prepare an adhesive mixture. For this, the following ingredients are mixed: 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 the grain feed with the glue mixture.
8. Apply the resulting mixture to a cardboard base.

You can make grain pendants using a silicone baking dish

After that, the grain trough should be placed in the refrigerator for several hours. When the mixture hardens, the products can be hung on tree branches in the yard.

There is another technology for making edible feeders:

1. Dissolve a bag of gelatin in warm water.
2. Pour food into it.
3. Divide the resulting mass into molds.
4. Insert thread for hanging.
5. Send the molds to the refrigerator for a few hours.

Original trough-suspension from half an orange

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

How to make a bird feeder from a plastic bottle

In every home there is unnecessary plastic container. Therefore, many 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 useful because there are several ways to create plastic feeders.

Children will also be happy to participate in making a do-it-yourself feeder.

How to make a plastic bottle feeder:

1. A pair of holes are cut on both sides of the bottle. They should be symmetrical. The shape can be any: arch, square, circle, rectangle.
2. Leave jumpers between the holes.
3. You can make a rain shade by making an inverted U-slot and bending the plate up.
4. The bottom 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 roost stick is inserted into the holes obtained.

A simple feeder made of a plastic bottle and wooden perches

This feeder can be fixed to a tree. For this, the jumper is tied with rope, tape or other material.

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

Original feeder made of two plastic bottles

DIY bunker feeder from a plastic bottle

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

To work, you need a couple of bottles of the same capacity. One container is marked with a marker. Near the bottom, it is necessary to make holes similar to those performed in the previous version of the plastic feeder, and then remove 1/3 of the bottle (from above).

Diagram of making a feeder from a plastic bottle fixed to a tree

A pair of symmetrical holes is made in the upper part. They will be used to hang the feeder with belts or twine. The second bottle will hold the feed. In the narrowest part of this container, several holes should be made through which the grains will spill. Do not make the holes very large. It is better to expand them later if necessary.

The appropriate bottle must be filled with the feed mixture, screwed on the cap and placed inside the container, which is cut by 1/3. After that, the twine is pulled through the holes, and the structure is suspended from a tree.

From the neck of the bottle, you can make a hanging feeder from grains with the addition of gelatin

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

There is another variant 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 pull the twine through it. With 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 match the size of the wooden spoon.

On the side where the deep part of the spoon will be located, 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 trough with the selected feed mixture and hang it in a convenient place.

Technology for making a feeder from a plastic bottle and a wooden spoon

Helpful advice! To prevent the hopper trough from accumulating moisture, several holes must be made in the bottom. You can use a small nail or a hot needle to do this.

How to make a bird feeder from a 5L bottle

5L 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 trough at the same time.

5 liter bottle can hold a lot of bird food, with a supply of several weeks

For work you will need:

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

First, a hole is made to suspend 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 on the bottom side).
2. Vertically - with an indent of 5-7 cm from the bottom of the bottle, it is necessary to cut 3 rectangular holes or several square ones.

In a plastic bottle, it is advisable to make several holes-doors for the convenience of moving birds

It is most convenient to hang the bottle by the neck. If the structure will be fixed in a horizontal position, two holes must be made in the wall and, passing twine through them, fix the feeder on the tree. Plastic structures are very lightweight. To prevent the bottle from swaying in the wind, it is advisable to put ¼ of a brick on 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 a marker. First, markings are applied to the large container. With the help of a marker, a zone is marked near the bottom where the hole will be located, which serves 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.

The technology of creating a winter bird feeder from a plastic bottle

Then a U-shaped hole is cut in an inverted form. The top should be folded back to form a rain canopy. The bottom edge of the opening is sealed with adhesive plaster so that the birds do not get hurt during feeding.

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

It is better to place the doors in the bottle not at the very bottom, which will provide a certain supply of feed

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 out of the box: a description of the process

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

Feeder out of the box can be equipped with suction cups and attached to window pane

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

To make a do-it-yourself bird feeder out of a box, you will need a clerical knife or scissors, cord and tape. Since cardboard is short-lived and vulnerable to moisture, it should be wrapped with duct tape for protection. This is done after the trough is ready.When holes are cut in the side walls for access to the feed, you need to fasten 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.

Examples of shoebox bird feeders

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

Next, you need to organize a system of fasteners for hanging. For this, a pair of hooks is made from the wire. A piece of wire is bent in half and the end is punctured through the "ceiling" part of the trough. After that, the wire is twisted and bent from the inside. The feeder can now be suspended from a branch.

Manufacturing technology of cardboard bird feeders

How to make a milk or juice box feeder

To create such a design, you will need a tetrapack bag from liquid food products, for example, juice or milk.

List of required materials and tools for work:

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

You can make beautiful feeders from juice or milk containers

The feeder should be comfortable for the birds, so the cardboard is marked and a couple of holes of sufficient size are cut on opposite sides. The open space will allow birds to move around and take feed easily. For safety reasons, the window must be pasted over with adhesive plaster.

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

The technology of creating a feeder house from a cardboard tetrapack

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

The feeder can be made from two packs of juice. The first tetrapak must be cut along the narrow side parts so that the top remains intact. 1/3 is cut from the second bag, and a hole should be cut on the front side. This area will be used as a stern board. The bottom of the second tetrapack must be combined with the first package. If done correctly, you should get a triangle. It is better to use glue to fix the parts, as well as wrapping with tape.

Bird feeder from box, rope and wooden sticks

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

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

How to decorate a feeder using scrap materials:

• paint the structure with a dye composition;
• decorate with weaving from ropes or twine;
• use materials of natural origin as decoration, for example, moss, tree bark and branches, cones, acorns, chestnuts;
• decorating with colored ropes;
• use of chains with unusual link shapes, etc.

You can decorate the feeder with carved elements

How to decorate a bird feeder: helpful tips

On the net 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, do not overdo it with rustling and shiny details, otherwise the birds will be frightened. In addition, decorative elements should not create obstacles for the intake of feed.

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

The bird feeder can be decorated with drawings

An interesting design will turn out if you arrange a wooden structure in the form of a bee hive or a miniature mill. This work is very meticulous, but if you try, you can achieve a complete resemblance to real buildings. The decoration in the form of small twigs will give the structure a natural charm. At the entrance you can hang a beautiful pine cone or an edible garland, the main thing is that it does not block access to the food.

For decoration, you can use old utensils, for example, a saucer with a cup or a tea pot. To do this, 4 holes are drilled in the saucer and a rope is pulled through them. After that, the cup is glued to the saucer. Such a structure can be hung anywhere in the yard. The carving, bright painting, leather pieces and appliques look original in the design of the feeders. By creating several designs in the same style, you can get a beautiful composition that will emphasize the exterior of the yard.

An easy way to decorate your feeder is to paint it in different colors.

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