Introduction
Bird feeding is a playful and rewarding activity that the whole family can enjoy, and by making your own feeders you can attract more native birds to your backyard while saving money. Whether you want to hang feeders from trees or place them on the ground, there are many creative designs that require minimal materials and tools. Read on to discover five simple DIY bird feeder ideas that are perfect for kids, as well as tips for proper bird feeding and attracting more feathered friends to your yard.
DIY Wood Bird Feeder
What you’ll need:
- A small piece of scrap wood (pine or poplar works well)
- Drill or hammer and nail
- Rope, string, or wire for hanging
Instructions:
- Choose a piece of wood that is roughly 6-10 inches long. Wooden dowels or branches also work well for this feeder.
- Use a drill or hammer and nail to make holes just larger than the seed you’ll be using throughout the board, spacing them about 1-2 inches apart.
- Cut or break off any bark remaining on the wood. Sand or file any rough edges for safety.
- Tie a length of strong rope, string, or wire to the top of the board for hanging. Knot it securely.
- Fill with seeds and hang your feeder from a tree branch. Replenish seeds as needed.
Benefits:
- Inexpensive and quick to make with easy-to-find materials
- Holds plenty of seeds for multiple bird visits
- Lasts for years with basic maintenance
DIY Bird Feeder for Kids
What you’ll need:
- Empty plastic water or milk bottle
- Scrap fabric, felt, or feathers
- Googly eyes, glitter, stickers (optional decorations)
- Glue gun (adult use only), glue sticks
- Scissors
- String or ribbon for hanging
Instructions:
- Wash and dry the plastic bottle. Cut off the top 1/3 to create a base and seed container portion.
- Lay out the fabric, felt, or feathers on a table. Use the glue gun (with adult supervision) to adhere decorative materials to the outside of the bottle base, leaving space for seed ports.
- Cut small slits or holes in the fabric above where seeds will be poured to create seed ports. You can also use hot glue, glitter, or stickers on googly eyes.
- Cut a 10-12 inch piece of string or ribbon and tie it securely around the bottleneck for hanging. Knot well.
- Fill with seeds and hang your kid-friendly feeder in the yard. Their creativity will attract feathered friends!
Benefits:
- Educational craft for children to learn bird identification
- The colorful, whimsical design draws birds near for close views
- Engages kids’ abilities while instilling environmental values
DIY Plastic Bottle Bird Feeder
What you’ll need:
- Empty 2-liter plastic soda bottle
- Scissors or utility knife
- Seed
- Twine, string, or fishing line
Instructions:
- Wash and dry the plastic bottle thoroughly.
- Use scissors to carefully cut the bottle in half horizontally. This will create a base and tube portion.
- Flip the tube portion upside down and cut small slits or holes around where the neck meets the tube. These will be the seed ports.
- Fill the base with seed. Place the tube portion upside down over the base so the seed ports align near the seed inside.
- Cut a 10-12 inch piece of strong twine, string, or fishing line and tie it securely around the bottleneck. Knot well.
- Hang your recycled bird feeder from a tree branch or fence and watch the birds flock in!
Benefits:
- Reuses an item that would otherwise be trash
- Simple design attracts common backyard birds
- Inexpensive and easy for adults or kids to make independently
DIY Household Bird Feeder
What you’ll need:
- Scrap wood (dowel or branch)
- Nut/seed assortment from the pantry
- Coconut shell halves (optional)
- String, twine, or fishing line
Instructions:
- Take a clean wooden stick or dowel rod roughly 6-10 inches in length.
- Thread various nuts, seeds, and dried foods directly onto the stick. Common items to use include sunflower seeds, peanuts, millet, unsalted nuts, and dried fruit pieces.
- Optionally, hollow out coconut shell halves and glue securely to each end of the stick to form feeder cups that contain seeds. Allow to dry.
- Tie a 10-12 inch length of strong string or twine securely around the center of the stick to create a hanging loop. Knot well.
- Hang your simple feeder filled with assorted seeds near trees or brush where birds gather. Change out food as needed.
Benefits:
- Completely free method using foods already in your pantry
- Versatile, mobile design appeals to different types of small birds
- Low mess solution perfect for beginning bird lovers
DIY School Project Bird Feeder
What you’ll need:
- Empty paper towels or toilet paper rolls
- Scrap fabric, felt, cardboard or paper
- Glue, tape, glue gun (optional)
- Googly eyes, feathers, markers (optional decorating)
- String, yarn, or ribbons for hanging
- Bird seed or nuts
Instructions:
- Clean and air-dry empty cardboard rolls. Scraps are used to cut out decorative shapes and patterns for the outside using fabric, felt, cardboard, or paper.
- Adhere cutouts to the rolls using glue, tape, or a glue gun. Add googly eyes and feathers or draw designs with markers.
- Suspend rolls above a flat plate, pie tin, or basket filled with seeds by tying string, yarn, or ribbons across the top in a hanging loop. Knot securely.
- Place your homemade creations outside in trees or shrubs. Replenish food as birds gobble it up!
Benefits:
- Fun, creative project for kids to participate in independently
- Develops fine motor skills cutting and gluing decorations
- Kids learn while contributing to bird and environmental studies
FAQs
How do you make a bird feeder shape?
Bird feeders come in a variety of shapes that appeal to different types of birds. Common feeder shapes include tube or cylinder (plastic bottles, cardboard rolls), tray or platform (wood slats, flat stones), and specialty designs like mesh bags or coconut shell halves. Consider the size and feeding behaviors of the birds in your area when choosing a shape. Hang or place feeders in shrubs, trees or on posts for easy access.
How do you make a bird feeder out of a coconut shell?
St sturdy coconut halves work well as a coconut shell bird feeder. Start by cleaning the shell interior thoroughly. Hollow out some of the inner flesh to create a small well or divot to hold seeds. Drill drainage holes in the bottom so excess seeds and water can escape. Use wood glue to securely attach half shells to a strong wooden dowel or stake for hanging. Fill the seed well and display where birds gather. Replenish seeds and rinse shells occasionally.
How do you make a bird feeder out of a toilet roll?
Toilet paper and paper towel rolls make fun, customizable feeders. Clean and air dry rolls completely. Cut shapes from construction paper, fabric scraps, or felt to create patterns and designs. Glue decorations securely around the roll, leaving seed portholes near the top. Attach string, yarn, or twine to the roll with tape in a hanging loop. Fill the inside with seed, securing both cut ends. Hang and watch birds flock to the colorful, homespun feeders. Refresh seeds as needed.
How do you make a bird feeder out of a 2-liter Coke bottle?
Making a bird feeder from a 2-liter soda bottle is simple. Wash and dry the empty bottle thoroughly. Cut it in half horizontally with scissors, creating a base and hanging portion. Invert the hanging portion and cut small circular seed ports along the sides, about 1-2 inches below the cut top. Fill the base with seeds, then place the hanging portion upside-down over the seeds so the ports align near the seed level. Securely tie strong twine or string around the bottleneck and hang it from a tree or post. Refill seeds as birds visit.
How do you make a glass bottle bird feeder?
Glass bottles produce colorful feeders and work much like plastic bottles. Thoroughly clean old glass jars or bottles to remove labels. Make sure they are fully dry before use. Cut the bottle approximately 1/3 from the bottom to separate the base and hanging portions. In the hanging section, cut small circular seed ports along the sides below the cut edge. Securely hang the portion with a string tied around the neck area above the base of the seeds.
