Bird feeder made from improvised materials. How to make your own bird feeder using tin cans

Our garden can bring us pleasure all year round. Even in winter, frosty and snowy, we are happy to watch the birds and enjoy their chirping. In addition, birds help trees maintain health during this period by destroying insects and pests, so it is very important to attract birds to our garden plot.

What will you need for this? And just a small gift - a feeder, always filled with food. After all, in winter it is difficult for birds to get food, and you can help them escape from cold and hunger.

Wood is the most suitable building material, traditionally used in almost any work. A do-it-yourself feeder made of wood will serve you for many years, especially if you take its manufacture responsibly and strictly adhere to the drawings and recommendations. All you need in the future is to clean the feeder in a timely manner to prevent excessive clogging and rotting of the structure.

There are three aspects of the work that need to be given special attention. The first is the choice of material. He must meet the following criteria:

  • durability - rain and snow should not cause significant damage to it, otherwise you will have to change the feeder after each serious snowfall or downpour;
  • strength - the birds that are planned to be fed should feel stable, and the feeder should not bend under them;
  • smoothness - there should be no sharp edges or splinters that could injure the birds;
  • naturalness - the material cannot be treated with chemicals, this will harm the birds.

The second aspect is choosing a suitable location. It should be:

  • open - birds should easily notice the feeder;
  • not too noisy - you shouldn’t place a feeder next to the road; sufficiently protected from small children and animals - cats are not averse to feasting on birds, so it is worth making sure that they do not have a chance to feast.

The third aspect is design features. The feeder should be:

  • small if it is for small birds - otherwise large birds will feed from it, driving away smaller ones;
  • sufficiently open - birds should not have problems with access to food;
  • devoid of sharp protrusions, edges and chips - otherwise it will be easy to get hurt;
  • equipped with high sides - otherwise the birds will scatter food;
  • equipped with a roof - otherwise the food will get wet in even the lightest rain.

Only when all conditions are met can the feeder be considered useful.

DIY wooden feeder - option No. 1

Stock up on the following materials and tools:

  • sheets of moisture-resistant plywood;
  • plexiglass (if you decide to install transparent walls);
  • screws and self-tapping screws;
  • jigsaw;
  • paper, ruler and pencil for drawing.

So, first of all, you need to create a drawing that will guide you during assembly. Choose a model that you like and draw a design on paper, determining the dimensions by eye. You will need to consistently work with the required dimensions and carefully adjust them so that the feeder ends up beautiful and stable.

After the drawing of the product and all components is ready, you can begin marking and cutting the material. We will take as an example a fairly simple to implement, average project.

The size of our feeder will be 40 X 30 X 30 cm (length/width/height). Mark two pieces of material of the same size - for the roof and base, and two posts connecting these parts to each other. Marking should be carried out as accurately as possible, down to the smallest detail. This will make the further assembly process easier. Now cut the structural elements and begin assembly.

This feeder looks like a miniature house and belongs to a variety of so-called bunker structures. It is easy to maintain and allows you to fill the space with food in portions to make it easier to look after the birds.

Step-by-step assembly of a plywood feeder with your own hands

Wood, timber, plywood and plexiglass are used for feeders not only because they are fairly common and easy-to-work materials. They greatly facilitate the design.

  1. So, we have two parts of the feeder measuring 40 X 30 X 30 cm: wooden for the base and plywood for the roof. You will also need 2 racks 30 cm long made of thin timber (2 X 2 cm is enough) and 2 more racks 27 cm long. This will provide a slope for the roof.
  2. Attach the racks to the base so that they are strictly vertical. Install them not in the corners themselves, but stepping back a little inward from the edge. It will be easier for you if you mark another rectangle inside the board, stepping back from the edge, for example, 2 cm.
  3. When securing the posts, make sure that the shorter ones are in the right places and not in opposite corners. The easiest method of fastening is self-tapping screws. Pass them through the base into the bar from below the structure.
  4. You can use plexiglass as a material for the side walls. This will allow the birds to be protected from the wind while eating, and you will be able to calmly watch the birds. To secure the plexiglass, make grooves of about 4 mm in it using a milling machine, and use screws to fix it.
  5. Place the plywood roof on the posts and secure it with self-tapping screws on four sides. This is the easiest part of our work if you have chosen a structure with a pitched roof. If the roof is gable, then the posts for it should be the same size, and you will also need to make a ridge. Secure the left half of the roof to the side wall, and fasten the right half and the ridge together. After this, assemble the structure and secure it with furniture hinges.

Please note: it is not advisable to cover the feeder with impregnation or paints, since pungent odors can scare away birds and harm their health.

So, a simple, but at the same time beautiful and functional do-it-yourself plywood feeder is ready. You can install it on any flat surface. And if you want to place it on a tree, make hangers out of rope or twine that you can throw on a branch.

DIY wooden feeder - option No. 2

Making a wooden feeder will not require any effort; to do this, you just need to stock up on the necessary tools and you can get started. To work you need to prepare:

  • tape measure, pencil and carpenter's corner;
  • jigsaw or hacksaw, drill with thin wood drills and screwdriver + self-tapping screws (or hammer + nails);
  • plywood or boards, bars for racks and sides, sandpaper and wood glue.

Please note that a feeder assembled with self-tapping screws instead of nails is more durable.

Preparatory stage

First of all, you should prepare a design for the feeder. You can find suitable drawings on the Internet or come up with an original design yourself.

Based on the prepared drawing, where the dimensions of all elements should be indicated, calculate the amount of materials required. Select the correct length of fasteners for the sides, taking into account the thickness of the bottom and the cross-section of the bar.

But we chose not the same drawing as presented above, but the simplest feeder, which can easily be assembled in five minutes; we will describe it in the future.

Assembling the feeder

Step 1: We mark and cut out the components of our “structure” using a jigsaw.

Step 2: We nail or screw the bars to the bottom, which will act as sides; on the two smaller sides we fasten the bars end-to-end with the edge of the bottom; we fasten the other two with a distance of 5 - 7 mm from the edge, it should look like this:

Step 3: From the sides where we screwed the bars with an indentation, we fasten the side walls with self-tapping screws.

Step 4: Our feeder is almost assembled, all that remains is to securely fix the side walls together. To do this, we cut another burk to the size of our feeder and fasten it on the inside with self-tapping screws.

That’s all, our “house” for feeding birds is ready; by threading a rope through the roof, you can hang it in any convenient place.

DIY wooden feeder - option No. 3

An alternative to a wooden feeder is another design option made from 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:


  • 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.

Birds in the wild have a hard time, especially in winter, when it is difficult to find food and shelter. Both adults and children often strive to help birds.

Let's look at how to make a drawing with dimensions and how to build a structure with your own hands.

Making a feeder yourself is not at all difficult, and any available materials are suitable for this - wood, cardboard, plastic, bottles, juice packs and others. Let's look at original bird feeders with your own hands, which you can make together with your children and at the same time “kill two birds with one stone” - instill in your child a hard work ethic and feed the birds.

You can use cookies, bread, crumbs, grains, nuts, and seeds as food. You can prepare your own combination mixture with the addition of all kinds of treats for. It is not necessary to spend money on ready-made feed, since you can get by with table waste. Birds also love berries, seeds from fruits and vegetables.

Wooden feeders

Wooden feeders and birdhouses are considered the most common. But without certain skills, it is difficult to make such a structure with your own hands. To make it you need plywood, a saw, a hammer, nails and fasteners. The first step is to make a drawing. It will depend on the desired dimensions and type of structure. It can be open, closed, large, small, round, square pentagonal, etc.

The drawing begins from the bottom, starting from the dimensions of which the side parts and roof are then drawn. According to the drawing, elements are cut out of plywood using a saw.


When all the parts have already been cut out and hewn so that they do not have sharp corners and ends, all that remains is to knock the structure together into one whole. In this case, the side parts are nailed to the bottom, and the roof is installed on top of them. It can be made from wood, covered with linoleum, slate, corrugated board and other materials that do not get wet and are not susceptible to rot and mold.

Constructions made from plastic bottles

Plastic bottles of 2, 3 and 5 liters are the simplest and most common option for bird feeders. This option does not require any drawing, since the bottle itself will serve as a feeder. Use a marker to mark the hole and cut it out using a sharp knife or utility blade.


To soften the edges of the hole through which the birds will peck food, they can be treated with a lighter to fuse the burrs, which could injure the birds. A rope or a piece of wire is tied in the area of ​​the neck, by which the structure is suspended from.

The advantage of a bottle feeder is that even a schoolchild can make it. In addition, the design is completely closed, which makes it possible to maintain the quality of the feed even in rain or snow.

Pumpkin feeder

This design is perhaps the most original and unique. Pumpkins will help decorate your yard and interior. In addition, even a child can make such a feeder. you need to choose a medium or large size. A small hole is made in the middle of the vegetable and all the insides are taken out. The walls need to be left about a few centimeters so that the structure holds.

From the bottom to the lid you need to make a through hole for the rope. It should not be too large so that the grain does not fall out. This feeder can be hung or installed between branches.

Bottles and wooden spoons

A fairly common design is plastic bottles and wooden spoons. This feeder works on the principle that food constantly flows into the spoon. To make such a feeder you need to take a bottle made of thick plastic and 2-3 wooden spoons.

Holes are made through the bottle at a slight slope. A wooden spoon is placed there, and so on several times. A hole is made on top of the spoon so that the food can fall into it. This design serves not only as a feeder, but also.

For hanging, several holes are made in the neck through which wire or twine is threaded.

Feeder out of the box

Cardboard boxes from juices and other products can be used for homemade feeders. Of course, any cardboard will do, it’s just that the packs have a waterproof structure, thereby protecting the feeder during rain.


To make the product you will need 2 tetra packs per 2 liters. There is no point in using a smaller volume, since the feeder will be too small and it will not be very convenient for the birds to feast on it.

To work you will need adhesive tape, a stationery knife and nylon thread. In one box a window is cut on the outside. This part will serve as the bottom into which the food will be poured. The second pack must be cut vertically in the middle from bottom to top. There is no need to cut the top. The result is a roof. It is put on the bottom and fixed with tape or nylon thread so that it holds well.

For decoration, the pack can be painted, painted and covered with colored cardboard or self-adhesive PVC film.

Mesh tube

You can take a ready-made mesh tube or make it yourself. The cell sizes must correspond to the size of the feed. For grains - finer, for nuts - denser. You will also need two plastic saucers, for example, trays from flower pots.

One of the saucers will serve as the bottom. It can be attached with wire or a metal pin. The second is the roof, which cannot be firmly fixed so that feed can be added through it. The entire structure is fixed with twine and suspended in.

Using a log for a feeder

A bird feeder made from logs is a more complex, but original manufacturing option. This requires at least minimal woodworking skills.


Before starting work, you need to prepare tools and materials:

  • chisel
  • hacksaw
  • drill and large diameter drill bit
  • fasteners
  • material for suspension - rope, chain, thick wire

The length and width of the log are chosen depending on your desire, but it is better to take medium sizes. A feeder that is too small will sway in the wind, and a feeder that is too large may not be supported by the fasteners.

First of all, you need to carefully cut two lengths of the same thickness from the log. In the end, they will serve as plugs on the sides to prevent grain from spilling out. Then you need to draw a circle at the end of the log, leaving a couple of centimeters from the edge (wall thickness).

Then the most difficult process begins - hollowing out the middle. For this, a drill and chisel are used. When the workpiece is ready, you need to cut a small “window” on one of the walls. Through which they will peck food.

After this, the side parts and fasteners are installed. This feeder is distinguished by its naturalness and aesthetic appearance. It can decorate any garden or yard. The impracticality of this design is that natural wood tends to rot, mold or dry out.

Treats for birds without a feeder

To feed the birds, you don't have to make feeders. You can prepare a treat in the form of cookies. To do this you will need food, rope, cookie cutters and gelatin. A rope is placed in the mold, by which the future delicacy will be hung. Next, the food is poured into the mold and filled with dissolved gelatin. Let it set in the refrigerator for up to 5 hours. That's it, the food is ready. All that remains is to take it out of the molds and hang it on the trees.

This method can be used in winter, otherwise the gelatin will begin to melt and everything will spoil.

In conclusion, we note that bird feeders can be made from any available material, as much as your imagination allows. All designs are based on the same principle. There must be a strong bottom into which food is poured.

It is important to take into account the weight of grain and birds that will sit on the structure and make reliable fasteners. You can use cardboard, metal, wood, logs, plywood, ready-made boxes or bottles, cans, cups, wicker baskets. For the winter, it is better to install a covered feeder so that the food does not spoil due to snow and rain.

Making your own bird feeder is not difficult. In winter, birds are in great danger; they need to be fed.

This is why people create feeders and help birds survive this cold season.

Feeders can be created using any materials that are found in any home. They do not require financial investments or special knowledge, but only a good attitude towards the environment.

General rules for creating feeders:

  • convenience;
  • moisture resistance;
  • safety (exclude sharp corners);
  • walls and corners should not be sharp or prickly;
  • fastening not lower than 1.5 m above the ground.

Plywood as a material for a feeder

You can make the drawings yourself, or you can find them on the Internet. When selecting or creating a drawing, take into account the features of the tiles.

If you plan to feed small birds, then plan a small opening so that large birds do not compete with them.

Prepare: plywood, hammer and nails, glue, jigsaw (electric), timber (about 20 by 20 cm) and sandpaper.

  • Step 1 Mark the plywood and cut out the parts with a jigsaw. Make the square on the bottom and on the roof 5 cm larger (25x25 cm).

  • Step 2 Sand the workpieces.

  • Step 3 Cut out racks from the block (up to 30 cm).

  • Step 4 Connect the parts with nails (or glue), attach the posts to the bottom, and attach the sides to the posts.

  • Step 5 The roof is attached with self-tapping screws.

Wooden feeder

A reliable and high-quality material for any crafts is wood.

Prepare:

  • for racks a block (4.5 by 2 cm);
  • for the bottom plywood (square 25 by 25 cm);
  • plywood for the roof (35 by 22 - two pieces);
  • glue, screws, nails.

Step 1 Frame base – assemble the bottom with the sides. Cut pieces of timber to fit the bottom and connect. Glue the ends with glue and tighten with self-tapping screws. It is recommended to make the sides (two parallel) 5 cm longer than the bottom.

Step 2 Nail the bottom to the base frame.

Step 3 Screw the racks (from 18 to 20 cm) to the inside of the box.

Step 4 Attach two bars at right angles. Secure the joints with another block. You need to make two parts in the form of a right angle.

Step 5 Attach the rafters to the posts using rafters and nail pieces of wood to them for the roof.

Step 6 Glue sticks-perches to the sides (extended).

Feeder made from a milk carton

This type of bird house is often made in kindergartens and primary schools. Prepare: milk/juice carton, scissors, wire, marker and adhesive tape.

  • Step 1 Cut holes on two opposite sides of the box.
  • Step 2 Glue the edges of the “windows” with adhesive tape.
  • Step 3 Punch a hole under the windows and insert a cardboard tube (from the cut holes).
  • Step 4 Make holes for the wire in the bent corners.

Feeder made from plastic bottles

  • Step 1 Cut holes on both sides of the bottle (leave bridges between them).
  • Step 2 Apply adhesive tape to the sides.
  • Step 3 Make holes at the bottom for the perch stick.

Feeder made from a five-liter plastic bottle

This type of feeder holds a lot of food, which is very convenient for feeding birds in winter. It is convenient for them to eat inside such a spacious product. You can involve the whole family to create. Prepare: bottles, knife (or stationery knife).

  • Step 1 Cut a hole vertically or horizontally, depending on the mounting method.
  • Step 2 If the holes are made horizontally, then you need to make two holes on the side (with a knife) and pass twine through them (to tie it up).
  • Step 3 Place a small stone on the bottom to avoid falling during strong winds.

Feeder out of the box

You can create a feeder from almost any cardboard box. It is better to choose thick and laminated cardboard so that it will last longer in winter moisture conditions.

Making this feeder is easy because it already has the desired shape, walls, bottom and roof. You just need to cut the holes. Prepare: tape, knife and nylon cord.

  • Step 1 Wrap the box with tape.
  • Step 2 Cut the side holes.
  • Step 3 Attach the fastening cord.
  • Step 4 Place pebbles on the bottom.

There is an alternative version of this design. The lid can be glued perpendicularly so that it serves as a stand for food.

Then the side and roof will be from the second part of the box.

This product must also be carefully taped. Next you need to make two small wire hooks and lay them on the “ceiling” (twist and bend). The hooks need to be connected to each other, and now it can be hung on a branch.

Photos of bird feeders

Birds are our smaller friends who delight us with their chirping and singing. And any garden in the presence of birds seems to come to life, filled with new life. Besides Birds help protect summer cottages from attacks by various insects in summer.. And in winter, when they have almost no food, man’s task is to help the birds survive the frosts by feeding them. A good attitude towards birds will pay off handsomely. for birds you can do it yourself quickly, without unnecessary manipulations, it will not only become a source of food for birds, but will also be able to decorate any area.

Many people made feeders for winged birds while studying at school, and some, together with their parents, managed to make more than one feeder while still attending kindergarten. At that time, tasks for making feeders were given at school with the goal of instilling in the child a desire to work and take care of our little brothers.

Now, in most cases, feeders are located in house areas with the aim of luring birds to live permanently in the garden or to take care of them in the winter. There are a great many variations of feeders, but we should not forget that if a person is pursuing a good goal, he must ensure that the feeder is not just beautiful, but comfortable and attractive to birds.

So what should it be like so that birds from all over the area will flock to peck at delicious delicacies?

  1. The feeder should not be bright. Do not forget that birds are inhabitants of the wild, in which bright colors often indicate the danger of any insect or animal. So it is unlikely that birds will fly to nuclear flower feeders. The best option is the color of the wood.
  2. The feeding area should be equipped with small sides so that the food does not fall out of it during the wind and at the moment when the bird lands on the feeder and swings it.

  3. It is important to make sure that the sides and other elements of the feeder are not sharp and do not pose a danger to birds.
  4. The best thing, so that the feeder has a small roof- then the food lying in it will not get wet in the rain, and it will not be covered with snow.
  5. It is recommended to place the feeder where cats and other predators cannot reach it.. Then the birds will happily fly to it. If the place is dangerous, then it is unlikely that you will be able to attract birds.

  6. All openings in the walls of the feeder should be spacious so as not to create the effect of a closed space. Otherwise the birds will be uncomfortable.
  7. It is best to make a feeding place that will withstand various weather conditions and will not collapse after the first season.
  8. The food in the feeder should be clearly visible- Birds use their vision more than other senses when looking for food.

Advice! In order to make the structure heavier and protect it from swaying in the wind, you can place pebbles in it, but so that they do not end up in the food.

Which is better: homemade or from the store?

You can make a bird eating area yourself, but stores now sell ready-made designs and products that you can simply purchase and hang in your garden or outside your window. Of course, this saves a lot of time, but it’s better to make the feeder yourself or order it from craftsmen. Only in this case can you be sure that the feeder is made of materials that are safe for flying inhabitants of nature and will perform its function correctly.

On a note! Undoubtedly, you need to pay attention to the design of the feeder, but if it is not just a decorative decoration for the garden, then, first of all, you should pay attention to its functionality.

It is also important to understand that a good feeder, but made in production or by craftsmen, will cost a lot of money. So it’s worth thinking about what to do - save money and do everything yourself, or spend money and buy a ready-made option.

Provided that in fact the feeding station can be made quite quickly and simply, the DIY option remains the best. The main thing is to decide and decide what and how to make the feeder from, how and where it will hang, and also take into account the availability of skills in making various products. You shouldn’t take on a complex project without proper experience; it’s easier to choose the simplest option. Fortunately, there are many types of feeders.

Table. Types of feeders.

ViewDescription

This category includes all types of feeders that are fixed in the right place by hanging. Such a design will most likely require weighting with something to prevent it from swaying in the wind and when birds land. This category also includes simple feeders with lard or grains molded into one lump. They are hung from trees with string.

The most familiar, familiar from childhood and widespread option. The roof of this product is made in the shape of a house; it protects the food from getting wet. It is best if the roof is installed on thin blocks so that there is as much free space for birds as possible.

Such a feeder is a board with sides, attached to something or suspended. It does not have a roof, and therefore the food will constantly get wet or be covered with snow. But this is the simplest option.

This feeder is a small container-hopper containing food inside. Birds, pecking the food that has spilled onto the tray, make room for new food, which gradually pours out of the bunker. Also, in some cases, birds can peck grain directly from the bin. The main advantage is good protection of feed from water and wind.

Feeder designed for shellers. Often sold in stores. It needs to be periodically cleaned of debris, as birds will leave behind large quantities of it and food.

On a note! The structure can be made simply from food, combining grains into a single lump using various nutrients and hanging such a “gingerbread” in a visible place. Suitable for small birds that will peck grain from the feeder by clinging to it with their claws.

What can you make a feeder from?

You can make your own feeder from a variety of objects and materials, from an ordinary board to a plastic bottle or even a Tetra Pak box. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you need to choose what the food supply will be made from based on the presence of certain skills in working with various tools, the availability of free time, funds, as well as the goals of creating a place for eating.

Wooden feeders

The best option for creating a platform for feeding birds was and remains natural, untreated wood. This design will be closest to nature, and its neutral color and smell will not scare away birds from feeding. It is ideal if the natural bark is preserved on the boards. So when choosing a material, you can choose cuts from birch, pine, etc. You can even make a feeder from branches!

Wooden feeder is the best option

But in order to make a wooden feeder, even the simplest one, you will need certain skills and tools for working with wood.

Advice! You should not decorate a wooden feeder with various bright objects, but it can be decorated with natural materials, for example, by camouflaging the roof with twigs, pine cones, and leaves.

How to make a wooden feeder?

Let's look at how you can make the simplest feeder from wooden materials. To do this, you need to buy wooden blocks, a small piece of fiberboard, a furniture stapler, a saw, drawing supplies and a tape measure.

Step 1. You need to cut a square or rectangle from a sheet of fiberboard. You should apply a pattern of a square or rectangle of the appropriate size onto a sheet of fiberboard, and then use a saw to cut off the excess.

Step 2. Now you need to make the sides for the pallet. You need to cut two pieces of the same length from the block, equal to the side of the square or the long side of the rectangle, as well as two shorter pieces, which will be equal to the width of the square or the narrow side of the rectangle minus the thickness of the block.

Step 3. The sides need to be attached to the bottom of the feeder, which was previously made of fiberboard. The easiest way to do this is with a stapler.

Step 4. Now you need to make 4 supports for the roof of the feeder, all from the same block. They must be the same height.

Step 6. The upper parts of the supports standing on one side must be connected by crossbars cut from the same block. You should also make cuts on them at an angle of 45 degrees.

Step 7 Next it is manufactured. It is required to connect two sheets of fiberboard at an angle of 90 degrees. The connection is made using a small “ridge” bar with a length equal to the length of the slope. It is worth remembering that the roof should hang slightly over the tray of the feeder, which means that the slopes should be made taking this factor into account.

Step 8 Next, the roof needs to be fixed to its racks using the same stapler or nails. The junction of two slopes can be glued using some material that does not allow water to pass through. The feeder is ready. If desired, you can steal it with pine cones and branches.

Advice! When fixing the sides at the bottom of the feeder, they can be additionally coated with PVA glue to ensure connection not only due to the stapler staples, but also due to the glue.

Feeders with sides are the favorite of shelling birds, but for the rest, you can make a feeder without sides. The main thing is that the side is not too high.

Similar structures can be made from plywood, refusing to use fiberboard. In this case, the feeder will be more reliable and durable.

Video - Wooden feeder

Simple hanging feeders

These are very simple feeders, they can be easily and simply made in just a few minutes. They are a delicacy placed on a ribbon or in a case and hung on a tree. Often, using this principle, pieces of lard for tits are fixed on trees. You can also make balls from seeds. You can use peanut butter or suet to bind the grains together. And such feeders just need to be fixed on the tape somewhere in a place visible to the birds. To attract attention, you can try tying a sprig of rowan to such a feeder. You need to form the balls outside so that they immediately harden in the cold.

Advice! It is best to make pendants in the shape of a ball, and not in some beautiful and exotic shape. The ball is the most convenient option for birds.

Making a feeder for lard

Let's see how you can make a simple structure for placing lard, the manufacture of which will require twine, wire and an ordinary hoop - an accessory for embroiderers.

Step 1. You need to buy regular plastic hoops in the store. They need to be separated into two halves, but in the lock area the hoops should remain connected.

Step 2. In the lock area, you need to wrap the hoop with wire on both sides.

Step 3. On the other hand, where the hoop is separated, you need to make a wire jumper and wrap it with a “tail” from the wire to approximately the middle.

Step 4. The remaining wire needs to be twisted and formed into a hook at an angle of 90 degrees, which is directed inside the hoop. Lard will be placed on it.

Step 6. After this, the hoop and wire need to be wrapped with regular twine. The feeder is ready. All you have to do is place it in the right place in the garden and put a treat for the birds on the pin.

Making a feeder from a plastic bottle

Of course, you can simply cut a hole in the side of a plastic bottle and hang it on a tree, filling it with grain. But you can get creative and make the feeder a little more complicated. To do this, you will need flower trays of different diameters and a plastic bottle of approximately 1.5 liters. A strong rope will also come in handy.

Step 1. In one of the pallets (which is smaller) you need to make a hole of the same diameter as the neck of the bottle. You can cut it either with a knife or with a special crown placed on a drill.

Step 2. Next, you need to remove the cap from the plastic bottle and screw the bottle itself into the tray with its neck, and screw the cap onto the neck from below. But for now, the structure can be temporarily dismantled. A small hole should be cut in the side of the bottle so that the food can pour out of it and be accessible to the birds.

Step 3. You need to cut off the bottom of the bottle using a sharp knife.

Step 4. Now on the pallet - both on the first and on the second - you need to mark and drill holes for the rope. First you need to make holes on the smaller one, and then, placing it on the larger one, mark it and also drill holes.

Step 5. The final assembly of the structure is underway. The bottle must be screwed to the bottom tray.

Step 6. You need to cut six pieces of rope of the same length. It is better to take a rope that is tight and thick enough. You can also use a synthetic version.

Step 7 Now you need to tie a knot on each rope at the same distance from the edge.

Step 8 You need to thread the ropes through the holes on the small pallet so that the short tails of the ropes are at the bottom.

Step 9 The second pallet will become an improvised roof for the feeder. Now you need to thread the ropes through the holes of the second pallet.

Step 10 The ropes need to be well tensioned. The result should be the same design as in the figure.

Step 11 Now you need to form “tails” from the bottom and top of the remnants of the rope. Don't forget to make a hanging loop on the top side.

Step 12 All that remains is to fill the feeder with seeds and fix it on tree branches using a hanging loop.

Video - Feeder made from a large plastic bottle

Video - Hopper feeder made from a glass bottle

You can make bird feeders from any materials. You can whip up a feeding place even from cardboard, but such a feeder will not last long. If you want to decorate your garden with beautiful and durable feeding places for birds, then it is better to spend your time and make a wooden feeder.