How to make a bird feeder with your own hands?
Surely you know that in the winter season it is quite difficult for birds to get their own food. Therefore, the best solution is to make a small feeder that will help them throughout the season. In addition, this is a great activity for the whole family, and especially for children. Read on and today you will learn how to make a feeder with your own hands and what kind of food is worth using.
Bird feeder: simple workshops
Of course, feeders made of wood are considered the most practical. But to make it with your own hands you need to have certain knowledge and tools. Therefore, for those who first decided on such an experiment, we suggest paying attention to simpler options.
Ice feeder
Perhaps the easiest option is to make an ice feeder.
To do this, you will need:
- cupcake mold;
- water;
- dried or frozen berries;
- bird feed;
- tape or rope.
First, fill the silicone mold with various berries, as well as grains and seeds.
Fill it with plain water and put in the freezer for half an hour.
We take out the ice feeder from the mold. Tie it to a ribbon or rope. Do-it-yourself feeder is ready!
Improvised feeder
If you want to make a feeder, but don’t want to buy too expensive materials, then just use what is in your house. In this case, it will be sleeves from toilet paper.
Necessary materials:
- bushings;
- knife;
- strong thread or tape;
- peanut butter;
- bird feed;
- branches
- bowl and plate;
- hot glue.
In the sleeve we make holes opposite each other. We insert sticks into them and fix them together with hot glue.
Pour bird food into a bowl. Using a knife, apply peanut butter to the bushing.
Sprinkle the sleeve with bird food. Repeat the same with the rest of the blanks.
We put bushings with feed on sticks. We tie a rope on a branch and hang the feeder on a tree.
Plastic bottle feeder
In fact, it is this option that is considered the most popular. This is not surprising, because for this you do not need to purchase expensive materials.
In the process you will need the following:
- plastic bottle;
- plastic plate;
- stationery knife;
- nut and bolt;
- an awl (in this case a drill is used);
- ribbon or rope;
- feed.
We begin to prepare a plastic bottle. To do this, remove the label, wash it and leave to dry. In the central part of the plate and in the middle of the lid we make a small hole. We connect them with a nut and a bolt.
At the bottom of the bottle we make a small hole. Fold the ribbon or rope in half and tie it to a knot. Pass it through the bottom of the bottle. We also make several holes on the side of the neck. This is necessary so that the food gets enough sleep.
The result is such a simple, but at the same time convenient feeder.
Unusual feeder
If the street is cold enough, we recommend that you make just this version of the bird feeder.
Necessary materials:
- large plastic bottle;
- small bottle or plastic container;
- feed and berries;
- knife and scissors;
- coniferous branches;
- water;
- rope.
From the big bottle, cut the bottom with a knife and scissors. This must be done very carefully so that the edge is at the same level.
In the central part we put a plastic container or a cut bottom from a small bottle. We fill the empty space with branches of spruce, berries and seeds as desired.
Fill the container with bird food.
We tie a rope to the feeder and hang it on a tree or on a balcony. If desired, you can fill it with water and put in the freezer. Then the plastic parts can be removed, and the result is an ice feeder.
Star feeder
In this case, you will need:
- feed;
- water;
- cookie cutter;
- gelatin;
- foil;
- twine or ribbon.
First, mix water with gelatin and bring to a boil. It is very important that the gelatin is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and leave to cool.
We put foil on the working surface, and cookie cutters on top. Evenly fill them with half the feed.
Tie a twine or ribbon. Put the edge on top of the mold and add another part of the feed on top. Fill the previously prepared solution and leave it to harden.
We take the blanks from the molds and just hang them on a tree. Such feeders are a great solution for the winter season.
Can feeders
Even tin cans can be used to create feeders. Due to this, they will be more functional and durable.
Prepare the following:
- tin cans;
- hot glue;
- ribbons or rope;
- paints and brushes (optional);
- branches
- feed.
We paint cans in different colors. To do this is not necessary. Glue a branch to the bottom so that the birds can land on the feeder.
We wrap each jar with a rope or ribbon and tie it to a strong knot. Fill the jars with food and hang on a tree.
What food to choose for a feeding trough?
As you can see, making a feeder with your own hands is quite easy. Nevertheless, many are faced with the question of which food is better to choose.
First of all, we note that a variety of seeds are best suited, such as: sunflower, pumpkin, watermelon, melon, etc. They saturate well, so the birds remain fed for a longer time. But it is very important that the seeds are raw and not fried. You can also safely add berries of mountain ash, viburnum and elderberry to the feeder.
If you have not prepared all these ingredients in advance, then you should not be upset. After all, they can be purchased at almost any store. Also a great alternative would be a simple food for parrots and decorative birds. It has everything you need.
Unusual ideas of bird feeders
In the process of creating a bird feeder, pay attention to some nuances. First of all, such designs must be reliable and fairly durable. In addition, special attention should be paid to the processing of the edges and windows. After all, birds should never be injured. And of course, they must be comfortable. Therefore, observe how the birds eat from the feeder and, if necessary, adjust it.