Bird feeder made from a small plastic bucket. Let's make a feeder together - a snowman from a plastic bottle. Cardboard bird feeder


Bird feeders- a functional children's craft that will teach children to take care of nature and its inhabitants. At any time of the year, while walking in the park, children always with great pleasure feed the birds with seeds or bread crumbs, watch them and shower their mother with questions about what kind of birds they are and what else they like to eat. When winter comes, it is not easy for birds, because it becomes more difficult to find food under the thick snow, and at this time it is especially important to feed them. The kids will be very enthusiastic about the idea of ​​creating a feeding trough.

DIY bird feeder

For example, wooden DIY bird feeder- this is a task for a real master carpenter who knows how to work with wood and special tools, but, fortunately, there are simpler materials that will help you make a very useful craft - a bird feeder. You can make it using an empty tetra pack, cardboard box or plastic bottle; as you can see, these materials can easily be found in every home. You may not really like the idea of ​​cardboard, because under the influence of weather conditions this material will quickly deteriorate, so plastic is rightfully considered the most affordable and practical material. You can use two-liter bottles or five-liter eggplants.

In a harsh snowy winter, the birds that stay with you for the winter especially need support, because now they do not have the opportunity to get food for themselves in the fields, pick up crumbs on the ground - everything is covered with snow. The feeder consists of two parts: a lower container where seeds are poured, and a roof so that snowflakes do not fly inside and rainwater does not accumulate.

If you are lost in options, which one is better? bird feeder, photo you can look on our website. By the way, with the help of such crafts made from waste material, you can expand your child’s horizons, because by hanging a feeder in the yard of your house, you and your children can watch and study their feathered guests.

Remember that you cannot use metal elements for the structure; it is not recommended to make gratings from them, because when low temperatures they will become dangerous for feathered guests. If you do it from wood, then make sure that there are no nails sticking out anywhere or any sharp points.

If you decide how to make a bird feeder from tetrapack, then first you need to wash and dry it, then cut out holes, but it is not recommended to make holes opposite each other, because the wind can blow away the seeds. Holes can be cut on two adjacent sides. To make the structure stronger, you can insert wooden sticks into the corners. You can hang the feeder on a tree using a wire or thick thread, which must be threaded from above. Using wire, you can fix the structure on a tree trunk.

How to make a bird feeder

We looked at how simple the options may be DIY bird feeder photo, and now we need to dwell on the question of what can be offered to feathered guests for dinner. After all, some food can be harmful to birds, for example, you cannot treat them with spicy or salty food, you know that tits love to eat lard, but you can only offer them fresh lard. It is also not recommended to give birds black or Rye bread, since in winter it can ferment, but crumbs of white bread will perfectly complement the diet of birds in winter.

The birds will also be happy with the cereals; you can mix a variety of them: oatmeal, corn and wheat chaff, millet. Rowan berries will be a real treat for birds. If you decide to sprinkle sunflower seeds on them, they should be raw, not fried or salted; you can crush the seeds a little first.

You can also worry about the health of the birds, and to prevent them from experiencing calcium deficiency, you can add crushed eggshells or crushed chalk to the food. You can also use parrot food, which is sold in pet stores, its cost is affordable, so you can sometimes pamper your birds with this balanced diet.

Original bird feeders, will certainly become a real decoration for your garden plot, or you can make ordinary beads, string berries, nuts, bagels, slices of dry bread on a thread and hang such garlands on a tree in the yard. You can make these together with your children; the children will be happy to string rowan berries onto a thread.

If the weather outside is frosty, then you can prepare a “pie” for the feathered gluttons: to do this, melt margarine in a bowl, mix it with grains, seeds, berries and other cereals, and then let the mixture harden in any mold. This “pie” can be hung on a branch or attached to the wall of a feeder. Sometimes seeds, berries and dried fruits are mixed with a little water and frozen in a mold, and then the finished “ice” is hung in the garden. You can also make sticks, like those sold in pet stores; the seeds can be fixed on any stick using flour glue. Necessary calories Birds can also get it from a piece of lard, but the lard must be fresh.


Bottle bird feeder

The simplest option is bottle bird feeder, even a schoolchild can do it, and one of the parents can help a preschooler with this task. You need to cut out the side of the bottle and hang it from a tree. You can also use milk or juice cartons; they are made of cardboard, which is resistant to moisture. In addition, such bags have the optimal shape for the simplest feeder; it just needs to be slightly modified.

In addition to the juice bag, which must first be washed and dried, you will also need twine and a sharp utility knife. To make a bright and original feeder from such a bag, you can also use self-adhesive film or multi-colored printed tape. Using these materials, you can paste over the bag, and then proceed to the next step. The original design can also be applied using a stencil and paint.

A wooden feeder will fit perfectly into the landscape of your garden, but you can either buy it or make it yourself from sheets of plywood using special tools - and this is a task for a real master, so you can use small thin twigs that can be used to cover the surface of the bag and make them decorative roof. You can involve children in this process; they will be happy to participate in the creation, and when the birds fly in for a treat, the children will be able to watch them.

After you cut a hole on one side, you can cover it with self-adhesive or electrical tape to strengthen the edges; thanks to this move, the edges will no longer be sharp, and the bird will not be able to get hurt. The hole can be square, cut on one of the sides, or you can cut it on the corner. To maintain the strength of the bag, you can make a triangular hole. The holes should be on both sides. You can insert twigs or Chinese chopsticks through the bag, securing them with tape. Finally, you need to thread a string through the upper part and hang the structure on it

Bird feeders

You can use the master class if you have any cardboard box on hand; all you need to do first is cover its walls with tape or self-adhesive film. But the cardboard should be thick enough, for example, you can use a shoe box. You will also need a lid: it must be raised above the main box, where you will pour the food. You can use pieces of wire to lift the lid. You need to make a hole in the middle of the lid, thread the string and make a loop. This loop can be used to hang the feeder.

You also need to resort to another tricky move: put a duplicate sheet of cardboard on the bottom, which can be wrapped in cling film. You can also use a plastic tray, thanks to which your craft will last a long time and the bottom will not soften.

They must be not only functional, but also beautiful, because they will be a real decoration for the playground. Even if you are making them with waste material, it would be useful to decorate it with paints, jute cord, buttons, ribbons and stickers, or you can use various natural materials.

Original bird feeders

Plastic bird feeder containers are the most affordable option; besides, using a small plastic bottle you can create a system for uninterrupted feed supply, so even if you forget to add seeds, your feathered guests will not remain hungry.

This is done bird feeder made from a plastic bottle and two plastic spoons, you will also need some lace and scissors. It is advisable to choose a container with a wide neck and a wide lid, for example, for juices. You need to make two holes in the lid with the tip of scissors. Thread a string through the holes and tie it in a knot. This design can be easily hung from any branch or on the porch of the house.

Also, this design allows you not to worry that the birds will remain hungry, because as soon as they peck the food offered to them, the stand will automatically be filled with seeds. To replenish supplies, you just need to unscrew the lid and pour more cereal mixtures into the plastic container.

At the bottom of the bottle you need to make two holes opposite each other, one a little larger, the second small. You need to insert a spoon into these holes; it should be located slightly at an angle, so that the wide spoon itself is located slightly lower than its edge. To fix the spoon in this position, you can use plasticine, which can be attached with outside to the bottle, seal the hole where the edge of the spoon comes from.

A little higher, you can make two more holes opposite according to the same pattern, and insert a spoon into them. Original DIY bird feeder is already ready, and the spoon must be inserted into it so that the food from the bottle spills onto its base.

After watching the birds, you can do various crafts with children - or with felt.

In warm weather, the birds will also be grateful to you for the opportunity to refresh themselves. How much can you get? positive emotions, if you watch the birds when they fly to the feeder! You can give yourself the pleasure of enjoying the singing of birds, and at the same time take care of the little brothers and make your own bird feeder with your own hands.

Homemade bird feeders

Of course, you can spend a minimum of time, go to the store and choose the model of feeder you like. Now you can see on sale various devices for feeding birds made from natural materials - wood, plywood and even straw. You can find specimens made of plastic, plexiglass and even metal. All devices look almost the same and are made in the form of a stand with a roof - this option is considered traditional, it allows the birds to linger at the feeder and “do some chores”.

Round and round models are also very popular. oval shape with holes. Such a bird feeder is considered less convenient, but the grain will remain intact inside and will not get wet from snow and rain.

You can save money and make your own feeder. With the onset of cold weather, most of us wonder how to make a bird feeder? There are a lot various options, starting from the simplest models that even a child can handle, and ending complex structures, where skills in working with carpentry tools are required. Let's look at several options for making bird feeders with your own hands.

Look at this image - such an unusual approach to feeding birds looks more original and decorates the view from the window. For birds, appearance is not so important - the main thing for them is that they have the opportunity to fly to a certain place and enjoy a treat. The main goal in making a feeder is to protect the feed from bad weather.

To make such a treat, you have to try.

What to prepare:

  • food for birds (grain, millet, buckwheat, pearl barley, raw sunflower and pumpkin seeds);
  • thick cardboard or sheet of plywood;
  • scissors; pencil;
  • rope;
  • flour, egg, honey, oatmeal.

How to make a grain feeder:

  1. Make a sample of the future feeder on a regular sheet of paper. Cut with scissors and attach to a sheet of plywood or thick cardboard. Trace with a pencil.
  2. Using scissors or a sharp knife, cut the base to the desired size (square, rectangle, circle or heart).
  3. If the edges of the plywood are sharp, it is advisable to clean them with fine-grained sandpaper.
  4. Prepare the food in advance - the grain should be dry and clean, and the seeds should not be salted and raw. Birds should not be given roasted seeds. If you have crackers, you can break them into small pieces.
  5. Immediately make a hole in the base with a sharp knife or awl and stretch the rope.
  6. Now we need to make a natural “glue” to secure our food. Take one egg (you can use a quail egg if the size of the feeder is small), add 1 teaspoon of liquid honey and 2 tablespoons to the egg. oatmeal(just not cereal!). The ingredients are mixed, flour is added for viscosity. The mass is left for half an hour to infuse.
  7. The crucial point: we apply our “glue” to the base, sprinkle grains on top (you need to press them in well), seeds and other delicacies. You can mix all the ingredients and simply roll the base well in the grains, or you can get a little creative and make a feeder with a pattern.
  8. The finished bird treat should be placed in the refrigerator in a dry place for several hours, after which the bird feeders should be placed on tree branches.

Or you can make “glue” for grain using a different recipe - based on gelatin. You need to take a bag of instant gelatin, add water and pour the grain into the warm mixture. The result is a thick mass that can be placed in cookie molds (just insert a string first) or “stick” to the base, and then put in the refrigerator so that the delicacy hardens.

When you don’t have time to cut out the base and fuss with molds, you can fill an old cup with the mixture, wait for it to harden and then hang it on a tree branch by a string.

When making a feeder, you need to consider the following:

  1. Be sure to make a roof - it will protect the food from precipitation. If the grain starts to get wet, it will quickly disappear.
  2. If you are making a feeder from a plastic bottle, then the hole should be wide so that the bird can freely get inside and also freely get out of the feeder.
  3. Choose weather-resistant material so that your feeder will last not only through the winter, but also for several more seasons.

Bottle bird feeder

Having a lot of empty plastic bottles gives us opportunities to get creative. Good idea-use a plastic water container to create a feeder.

How to make a simple feeder:

  1. Since this option is considered one of the fastest, invite your family to participate in this process: someone will prepare the food, someone will find a beautiful ribbon to tie the feeder to the tree.
  2. You need to prepare an empty, clean plastic container with a capacity of 5-6 liters, scissors or a sharp construction knife, ribbon or rope and a treat for the birds.
  3. Using a sharp knife or scissors, cut a hole for the bird slightly higher than the bottom. Since birds do not tolerate confined spaces, the hole must be made large, almost the entire width of the container.
  4. If your bottle is square and 15 centimeters high, then make several “entrances” - 2 or 3.
  5. The container must be well secured on a tree branch in such a place that street cats cannot hunt birds. Tie the bottle with a rope in the neck area and hang it on a branch.
  6. Before loading bird treats into the finished feeder, it should be weighted down so that it does not sway from a gust of wind and all the food does not spill out. Place a sheet of plywood, a board, or cover the bottom with linoleum at the bottom of the bottle. Place directly on top of the improvised floor required quantity grains

Another simple option for creating a bird feeder with your own hands from a plastic bottle with a capacity of 1.5-2 liters.

Making your own feeder:

  1. Take a sharp knife, a 2-liter plastic bottle, flexible wire and electrical tape.
  2. Using a knife, cut a wide hole in the bottle, stepping back 5-7 centimeters from the bottom.
  3. Treat the sharp edges of the hole with electrical tape or adhesive tape (you don’t have to do this, but this will make the feeder look neater and more beautiful).
  4. Wind a wire around the neck of the bottle and secure it to a tree branch.
  5. Place bird treats in the feeder.

Let's make a bottle feeder differently, using old wooden spoons - they will serve as a support for the birds. You can put large supplies of food in such a feeder, without fear that it will become saturated with moisture and become soggy.

Prepare the following materials:

  • plastic bottle (2 liter capacity);
  • wooden spoons – 2 pcs.;
  • sharp knife;
  • wire;
  • a treat for birds.

How to make a bottle feeder:

  1. Step back 15 centimeters from the bottom of the bottle and make two through holes for the spoon.
  2. Make two more holes approximately in the middle of the bottle. Insert wooden spoons into the holes. On the side where the wide part of the spoon is, make a notch bigger size so that the grain fills the hollow.
  3. Wrap the wire around the neck of the bottle, tie it in a strong knot and make a loop. You can drill a hole in the cork and insert a hook, and then fix the wire on it.
  4. Fill the bottle with grain and hang it on a tree.

You will get this cute feeder:

Bird feeder out of the box

Every week we throw away a certain number of juice and milk boxes. They can be used to build an excellent bird feeder. The work will not take much time, and in the process of creating a feeder you will receive only positive emotions.

Before starting work, you must make sure that all items used for the feeder are dry and clean. Look for boxes in tan or green colors. The brighter the feeder, the more attractive it will be to birds.

It is necessary to cut a wide hole in the box with a sharp knife, pour food inside and attach it to a branch.

Cardboard bird feeder

We suggest making a bird feeder from an ordinary cardboard box. You can take a box of any size - from a small shoe box to more impressive sizes, for example, from a small household appliances. It is advisable that the cardboard be thick and covered with a protective layer (laminated), this will extend the life of the bird feeder.

The most beautiful feeder will come from a bright box, for example, from a candy box. You need to prepare a box and two bright laces. Make holes for the strings and attach the feeder to the tree. It is advisable to also make a roof so that the food does not get wet. Pour grain into the tray.

You will get this simple feeder:

And from a large mailbox you can make this spacious feeder. It is advisable to additionally glue the roof with adhesive tape or wrap it in cellophane so that it does not get wet from rain and snow.

Inside the box, put not only grain, but also pieces of dry bread and lard - in severe frosts, birds need such a nutritious treat.

Wooden bird feeder

A bird feeder made of wood is considered the most reliable. This design made from natural material will last for decades, of course, if you care for it properly. But first, let's select the material and make a bird feeder design. Traditionally, boards and plywood are used for wooden feeders. Since we have looked at simple models of devices for feeding birds, where you do not need to make a drawing, in this case, arm yourself with a ruler and a pencil and do not be lazy to make a drawing of a bird feeder. On a piece of paper, draw what kind of feeder you want to make and think through everything down to the smallest detail.

A bird feeder should consist of the following elements:

  1. Grounds.
  2. Roofs.
  3. Stoeck.

The dimensions of the device for feeding birds are 40 centimeters in length, 30 centimeters in width and height. It is necessary to prepare two identical elements - for the roof and base, and a rack for fastening. According to the drawing, make the most accurate markings so that in the future it will be easy to assemble the parts.

For work you will need carpentry tool for cutting out the necessary parts from wood and plywood. To prevent the feeder from being heavy, it is better to make it a combined one - the base is made of solid wood, and the remaining parts are made of thin timber and plywood.

How to make a wooden feeder:

  1. First, cut out the base from a board of the required size. In our case it is 40x30 centimeters.
  2. We cut out the second blank of the same size, but only from plywood. This will be the roof.
  3. The length of the racks is 30 centimeters. We cut a thin beam (diameter 2x2 centimeters). We make two racks 30 centimeters each, and the next two - 3 centimeters less, so that the roof turns out to have a slight slope. This is necessary to prevent moisture from accumulating on the roof.
  4. We attach the posts to the base using self-tapping screws, but not strictly in the corners, but stepping back a little inside the base. The inside should be a rectangle.
  5. We install short racks on the same line and secure the roof with self-tapping screws.

You cannot open the feeder with varnish or paint it, as the strong chemical smell will scare away the birds.

The feeder should be installed away from windows and roadways. It is necessary to calculate the height so that the space near the feeder is free, and the birds can notice the approach of predators. The permissible height for placing the feeder is 1.5 meters; cats will not be able to offend birds, and children will not spill grain.

What can you feed birds and what should you not feed them?

Only food that is suitable for birds should be poured into the feeder. To avoid harm, add some seeds (not fried), oats, millet, dry fruits and pieces of dry wheat bread. A fresh bun will harm the bird and it may even freeze.

Banana and citrus peels should not be used. It is undesirable to give rye bread, it can harm birds. You should also not treat birds with pastries and cakes with cream, nuts and chips.

For sparrows, prepare a grain mixture consisting of millet, millet and oats. But titmouses will happily enjoy a piece of unsalted lard. For bullfinches, add rowan and viburnum berries.

Take care of the birds and they will thank you with cheerful chirps!

How nice it is to enjoy the sounds of nature and listen to the lively chirping of the bird family in your countryside. To attract these little helpers to your site, who destroy all kinds of pests, you should prepare a small “gift” for them - a feeder. Winter is a real test for birds. Under a layer of snow it is quite difficult for them to find food to maintain vitality. The feeder will become a salvation for birds in the winter months, when they are forced to escape not only from frost, but also from hunger. There are many options for how to make a feeder with your own hands, allowing you to make original designs from scrap materials.

The range of ready-made feeders is quite wide. But it’s still much more interesting to use your imagination and build an original and cute structure from unnecessary scrap materials. In addition, you can involve the whole family in a useful and exciting activity.

Regardless of what design the product will have, and what will act as the material of manufacture, a good bird feeder should have:

  • A roof that allows you to protect food from precipitation. Food wetted by snow or rain quickly becomes unfit for consumption.
  • A wide opening that allows the bird to easily enter and exit the feeder.
  • The material is resistant to high humidity and temperature changes, the use of which will allow you to create a feeder that is ready to serve for more than one season.

Thus, you are not limited only to wooden building materials; in fact, the feeder can be made from anything.

An outdoor bird feeder can be made from wood, a juice or dairy carton, a plastic bottle, or any unnecessary box

Making a classic wooden feeder

Wooden bird feeders in the form of miniature houses are made from boards and moisture-resistant plywood. The presented option refers to a type of bunker feeder, in which food is supplied to the bird’s “dining room” in portions, which makes it much easier for the owner to look after the birds.

Construction details are cut from boards 20cm wide and plywood 16mm thick

The given drawing of a bird feeder, made in exact proportions, will make it easier to manufacture the side walls of the structure

Instead of moisture-resistant plywood, you can use plexiglass, for fastening which grooves 4 mm deep should be cut into the side walls using a milling machine. The optimal size of the side wall made of plexiglass will be 160x260 mm. You can also use screws to secure the side panels to the end of the walls.

To connect the parts of a wooden bird feeder, you can use either wooden edges and glue, or ordinary self-tapping screws. The corners of the product must be sanded. To arrange the perch, a round bar (el. 8) is used, which is attached to the edges of the side in drilled 10 mm holes.

Now you can attach the roof. To do this, the left half of the roof is firmly fixed to the side walls. The right half of the roof and the ridge are separately fastened together. Only after this, with the help of furniture hinges, both halves of the roof are assembled into a single structure. The gap formed in the assembled product between the plexiglass and the bottom of the structure allows you to regulate the feed supply: one refill of the feeder can last for 2-3 weeks. The transparency of the plexiglass makes it easy to monitor the amount of food for the birds.

The beautiful and functional design is almost ready. As a finishing touch, the product can be coated with a layer of drying oil or painted.

Other original ideas

There are many variations in the manufacture of hanging “dining rooms” for birds. The most common and easiest to create option for building a feeder is from a plastic bottle or juice carton.

It is preferable to use containers with a volume of at least 1-2 liters, which will allow not only small sparrows and titmice, but pigeons and other relatively large birds to visit the feeders and treat themselves to “goodies.”

Holes are cut in the upper part of the package for threading fishing line or lace. The length of the fastener should be 25-40 cm. On both sides of the container, using scissors or a knife, two spacious entrances are made opposite each other, allowing the birds to unhinderedly enjoy their meal. It takes no more than 15-20 minutes to make a simple design. The finished product is easily secured with a cord in a convenient place near the house and filled with your favorite bird treats.

From this article you can learn how to make bird feeders with your own hands: an overview of existing types of designs and general recommendations on 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 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 in the yard, made on professional level, 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 visual material to create 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 time, it's better to hang it up. 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 (gutter fat) is used as a binding component.

Note! You should not cast feed mass in beautiful shape or a plastic cup and then freeze. 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. That's why the best option There will 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 inner part 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 put 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. She is hanging from a rope in 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 must be 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. wild herbs. 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 is 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 on a tree branch.

Do-it-yourself bunker feeder from a plastic bottle

The bunker design is very rational. It allows you to fill up 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: a simple 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 taphole. It is best to make 2 small slots and one large one through which you can install a 1.5 liter bottle.

Then a hole is cut U-shaped 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 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 move and feed easily. 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.

You can find a lot on the net interesting ideas on 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 negative influence atmospheric factors of influence. 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.

Birds in winter experience enormous difficulties in finding food. The ground is covered with snow and the tree branches are frozen, so the birds are desperately short of food. Because of this, most birds die. Everyone can help our little brothers and make a feeder that will be their salvation during the cold weather. Feeding birds in winter has been customary for a very long time and caring people do it every year.

Making your own feeder

Before you make a bird feeder with your own hands, you need to take into account that you will have to fill it regularly as the food runs out, since the birds will hope to be fed. You can use such a bird canteen not only in winter, especially if it is located in a garden plot. The food will attract birds, which, in turn, will partially rid the area around the house of midges and other harmful insects. This article has selected various ways making a bird feeder.

Selecting location and material

Usually, when talking about bird feeders, many people imagine a wooden house with a hole. This is the most successful form, as it will reliably protect the birds inside from bad weather, and will also not become unusable due to precipitation and strong wind, because it is very reliable and strong. But still, it is not necessary to make a wooden feeder, since now there are a huge number of options that can be brought to life. It can be made from any material and any shape, the main thing is that the finished product meets the following requirements:

  • It was strong and durable enough to support the weight of several birds.
  • It was resistant to precipitation. You can often see small feeders made from juice bags or shoe boxes, but such a product will not last long, as rain or snow will soon render it unusable. If, however, there is no other material other than cardboard, you need to cover the constructed structure with tape, so it will be a little stronger and will withstand adverse weather conditions.
  • It was safe for birds. After cutting out the openings, especially for feeders made from bottles, very sharp edges remain, which, before hanging the feeder, need to be treated with electrical tape, polymer clay or other materials so that the birds cannot get hurt.

In order for the birds to see the dining room for them and constantly fly to it, you need to place it in a place convenient for them. This is usually a well-visited area. There is no need to place it where there are a lot of branches or where cats can reach.

Feeder options

Nowadays, a bird feeder with your own hands can be made as your imagination requires, but if it’s difficult to come up with a convenient design yourself, then you can use the following step by step instructions for the manufacture of.

Plywood feeder

If you have several pieces of plywood at home left over after renovations, then why not make an excellent feeder out of them. They are various types with a flat or gable roof. But in order to feed only small birds that cannot get food for themselves, you need to make holes for them of such a size that larger birds do not eat all the food. For such a feeder, you will definitely need to make a drawing in advance so that the finished structure is as originally intended, and you do not make a mistake with the dimensions.

After the drawing is ready, you need to prepare the tools necessary for the work:

  • Jigsaw
  • Sandpaper
  • Nails of the right size
  • Water based adhesive
  • Plywood
  • Small bars measuring 4.5 * 2 cm

The simplest plywood feeder is made according to the following algorithm:

The details of the future product are marked on plywood and cut out with a jigsaw. The roof should be slightly larger than the bottom so that moisture does not drain from it onto the food.

To prevent the occurrence of burrs and sharp edges, the cut areas must be treated with sandpaper.

Racks with a height of about 30 cm are cut out of 4.5 * 2 timber. If you plan to make a feeder with a flat roof on a slope, then 2 timbers are made a few centimeters lower.

We assemble the structure:

  1. We glue the racks to the bottom, and the sides to them.
  2. We drive nails or screw screws into the joints.
  3. We attach the roof on top.

The feeder is ready, now you can pour food inside and hang it in a convenient place. It is in no way inferior in quality to a wooden product.

Another simple plywood structure is shown in the video:

Wooden feeder

Products for birds made of wood are the most common and convenient, so let’s look at the process of making such feeders. To make a wooden feeder, you will need knowledge of the basics of carpentry, as well as material - boards no thicker than 2 cm.

To create the lightest model, you need to stock up on timber for racks measuring 4.5 * 2 cm, plywood 25 * 25 for the bottom and two sheets 35 * 22 for a gable roof, self-tapping screws, nails and wood glue.

The manufacturing technology is as follows:

  1. We connect 4.5 * 2 cm bars together to form a rectangle, and attach it to the bottom using glue and self-tapping screws.

    Advice! Two sides can be made a little longer. This will allow you to place the perches on them.

  2. We attach racks in the corners.
  3. We lay the rafters to the posts at right angles.
  4. We fasten the finished rafters to the racks with self-tapping screws.
  5. We attach two pieces of wood in the form of a triangle to the rafters - this will be the roof slope.
  6. You can make a ridge by attaching a window corner.
  7. If at the stage of manufacturing the sides, two of them were lengthened, then a perch was attached between them.

Advice ! To avoid splitting the wooden parts in the feeder, the tip of the nail must be made blunt, and special holes must be drilled for self-tapping screws.

It is installed permanently on a wooden rail or suspended from a branch using wire. Its design is such that up to 5 birds can feed at once, the food will not fly away from the wind, as it is protected by sides, and will not get wet, since the feeder has a roof.

If the local area has a gazebo, then inside it you can place a feeding trough without a roof. If desired, a wooden feeder can be coated with paint or varnish, but only water-based, to prevent poisoning of the birds.

Simple bottle feeder

A bird feeder made from a plastic bottle is made very quickly and you don’t need any special tools to make it. It is enough to take a five-liter bottle and cut holes in the form of a rectangle or arch on the parallel walls. If you cut out only three sides of the hole, and lift the cut out part up and fix it, you will get a beautiful visor.

All edges must be covered with adhesive tape or tape so that the birds do not injure their paws when eating the grains. You can make holes in the bottom of the bottle and thread them through round stick, so the roost will come out.

You can attach such a feeder using a thick rope to a tree branch.

Bottle feeders with food supply

The first option would be a bunker-type product. Its design is interesting in that the food will pour out on its own as the birds eat it.

To make such a feeder you need to take two bottles of the same volume. We mark one bottle with a marker before cutting. You need to cut holes near the bottom so that the birds can peck food. Mentally divide the bottle into three parts and one top part We cut it off completely, and just below we make holes parallel to each other for the rope.

The second bottle, in the narrowest part near the neck, is equipped with several holes so that food can then spill out of them.

Important ! There is no need to make too large holes for the feed to pour out.

The final part of creating this feeder is pouring the food into bottle number 2, screwing on its cap and inserting this bottle into the first bottle with the neck cut off. The manufacturing technology is clearly presented in the video

A bottle feeder with spoons is also a great option for those who will not be able to add food regularly and who have several wooden spoons in the kitchen. You need to make a hole in the lid and thread a rope there for hanging. Then you need to make 2 symmetrical holes corresponding to the size of the spoon. Where the wide part of the spoon will be, the hole should be wider so that the birds can take the food. A spoon is inserted into the holes and food is poured in. You can make a bird table with one spoon, or you can use several so that two birds can eat at once.