Bird feeder in the form of a cat. Original pumpkin ideas

In the cold season, it is difficult for birds to find food for themselves, especially when everything is covered with snow around. It often happens that a child needs to make a bird feeder at a labor lesson at school or for some project. If you have never had to do this, then some important tips on how to do everything yourself will not be superfluous.

It is difficult to imagine the world around us without these beautiful creatures, and some of them have wonderful singing. In order for them to please you more often, it is worth understanding the question of how to make a bird feeder.

In addition to the aesthetic pleasure of the sounds they make, it will be very interesting to observe at least a little how they live and behave. This also applies to how they behave with others like them, and how they react to people and even the weather. If you believe folk signs, then by the behavior of birds you can predict the weather.


Availability of bird food

Despite the fact that the materials can be very different, it is worth considering some interesting points. To begin with, it is worth understanding that we do not make the feeder for ourselves and our pleasure, but for the birds to use it. Therefore, it should not be difficult for them to get to the food that is placed inside.

protection from nature

You may have previously seen photos of homemade feeders that were completely open and looked like a simple shelf hanging from a tree.

So, it's better not to do that. It is better to make the roof a little larger so that rain and snow do not fall on the food, and the sides will not be superfluous so that the wind does not blow this very food.

Feeder material

As for the material, it is better to either immediately choose one that responds well to moisture, or simply additionally treat the parts with a primer, and then either varnish or paint the entire structure.

If you do not pay due attention to this issue, then in fact it may turn out that your feeder will not survive the fall and winter.

The shape and size of the feeders

In terms of the convenience of the design, it would be good to go over the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe feeder with sandpaper to remove all protruding and stabbing chips and the like. It will also be good to round the corners a little so that they do not interfere with the guests.

Placement of the feeder

The most common places for feeders were and are trees and buildings. As for the first option, then you can either hang it or attach it to the base of the plant.

This is also suitable in the case of a human building, because, as in the case of trees, it is enough to attach a feeder at a height of up to two meters, so that it would not be difficult for you to add food and check its condition, and animals like cats do not interfere with birds.


Plywood feeder

If you can’t decide what you can make a bird feeder from, then you just forgot about such a simple material as plywood. You can buy it in almost any building supermarket, despite the fact that for many it can simply fill up at home and lie idle.

Such material is perfect for a variety of feeders, in addition, it will be possible to cover it with paint or varnish without any problems.

Drawings of feeders

It is best to look for ready-made drawings on the Internet, since most often they come with step-by-step instructions describing how to make a feeder from start to finish.

As for the size, you need to think about what birds are most found in your area, and even better, roughly imagine what are near your house, or other location of the feeder.

Wooden feeder

A tree is one of the best solutions in this situation, because, with the right approach and processing, such a feeder will last a very long time without losing quality.

Again, you will need a drawing for it, all in order to save a huge amount of time that it can take to create them if you have never had to do this.

In addition, you will need fairly simple tools, including a hammer, sandpaper, a hacksaw and nails. With only this and the materials, you can make a simple but high-quality animal feeder, and it does not end with just birds, because squirrels can also be fed.

Creating the simplest wooden feeder from you will require a square piece for the bottom, four planks will go to the sides, two more are needed to support the roof, several sheets of plywood for the roof and three more planks under its horizontal racks.

All this can be knocked down with nails, you can add glue in some places, then it will be good to cover it all with varnish or paint, and that's it - you can hang it on a tree or mount it in any suitable place.


Juice bag feeder

There are also unusual options for feeders made from improvised materials, which are much more common in yards than those described above. These include a container that can be made from a bag that you have left over from dairy products or juice. You will only need the bag itself, wire or a thick lace and a knife.

First, let's cut out - we need holes from different sides. It is best to do this on the front and back sides. The lower parts of these holes can either be cleaned a little, or simply sealed with plaster or tape.

From above, we will need to make several additional holes through which the structure will be fastened. This is necessary in order to hang our feeder.

When there are the necessary holes, you need to thoroughly wash the bag from traces of juice and let it dry. Next, we glue a patch or adhesive tape on the lower parts of the large holes, and draw a string through the small ones at the top.

It is best if you attach it either very tightly to a branch or directly to the tree itself, as a very strong wind will easily carry the feeder in all directions. That's all - a fairly simple, but at the same time interesting and funny feeder is ready.

Plastic bottle feeder

A master class that describes how to make a do-it-yourself feeder cannot be called such, if you do not remember such a simple type of feeders as those made from banal plastic bottles. They are very easy to make, and there may be several options for such feeders. Depending on this, they may differ in their design and manufacturing complexity, although more on that later.

The first type of such a feeder is very similar to those made from a simple juice bag. They can be placed vertically or horizontally. In any case, you will need to make two large holes on opposite sides of the bottle. They need to be done in such a way that, in its normal position, it was convenient for the birds to get to the food, even if there is not much inside.

The edges of the holes obtained will also not be out of place, at least a little, but processed. After all, the cut plastic can turn out to be very sharp, which is not at all desirable.


If you are a more creative person, then you can not completely cut out the side faces of the bottle. You can make three cuts: from below, to the left and to the right, after which you simply bend the edge up, and then you can even fix it at a certain level. It can protect food and birds during rain or snow.

It is placed in exactly the same way as the version from the package, while in a horizontal position, and with sufficient food, it will not be swayed by the wind, which can play an important role in certain conditions.

In the second case, a bottle or eggplant feeder can be placed vertically. The creation takes place exactly the same as before, only you need to do everything with the expectation of the final position of the feeder. You also need to make holes, while the bottom should not be much lower than the bottom edge of the hole, and it will also be good to seal this edge with tape or tape.

There is a slightly more difficult option. To do this, you will need the same eggplant as before, only a simple bottle is added to it. Holes will be made in the same way, just inside there will be an inverted bottle, from which food will gradually spill out.

It will need to be placed tightly enough inside so that its cut bottom, which acts as a top in this case, reaches the top of the eggplant, through the neck of which the food will be poured.

The bottle will reach the bottom of the main container, and food will spill out of it, but this will happen until the food is at the level with the neck of the bottle.

Thus, the feed will be replenished only when there is much less of it in the feeder itself. This option is great for placement in places where you can not often refill bird food, but are worried that a large pile can simply be poured out or blown away by the wind. Thanks to the additional feed, the whole structure becomes heavier, and therefore it can be safely hung even on a branch.


Photo feeders

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

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

Making a bird feeder with your own hands will not only help the birds overcome this difficult period, but 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 the birds, which are difficult to get their own food;
  • decorative decoration of the yard;
  • the opportunity to instill in children a love for the world and birds.

Moreover, such a decision can be implemented not only by owners of private and country houses, but also by residents of city apartments.

Is it profitable to buy a ready-made bird feeder: advantages and disadvantages

If you want to install a standard feeder made at a professional level in the yard, you can order the product from specialists. Experienced craftsmen will independently select high-quality materials and produce a structure using special technologies.

Customers are invited to choose a bird feeder with their favorite design from the picture. Such structures can be of any size and shape. Buying a feeder to order, the consumer can be completely sure that it will meet his wishes and fit perfectly into the exterior of the yard.

Buying ready-made 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 arrival of birds. Therefore, many people prefer to create houses for feeding birds on their own in their yard or at the 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 should 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 rely mainly on their eyesight, so the spread of food must be visible to them from afar.

The design of the structure must be such that the grain is not covered with snow and not 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 spoil. It is desirable that protection against chipmunks and squirrels be present. At the same time, the birds should not experience any difficulties when retrieving food.

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

If the structure will be used for temporary top dressing in winter, it is better to hang it. Thus, the feeder will attract less sparrows, which are much easier to find food than other birds. Stationary structures are used for constant feeding. In this case, the presence of protection from predators is mandatory. It is desirable that the grain is on a flat area of ​​a 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;
  • playground;
  • 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: photo of hanging structures

The suspension structures are very simple. In this case, the food is suspended in a mesh case or on a thread. They are used primarily as feeders for titmouse. Although other species of insectivorous birds, with the exception of woodpeckers, can also use suspensions.

The most common version of top dressing - "antifreeze" - a piece of fat without spices and salt. There are also more nutritious mixtures that are designed for shelling birds. For them, a ball consisting of seeds is suitable. As a fastening component, peanut butter or lard (internal fat) is used.

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

A ball consisting of feed mass is most conveniently formed by hand. This must be done in the cold. Fat will harden very quickly, therefore, having formed a ball, it must be hung immediately.

Related article:


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

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

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

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

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

Paper cannot be used to create such structures, however, you can make a beautiful bird feeder with your own hands from a dense 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 do-it-yourself bird feeders: photos of tray structures and platforms

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

The fact is that sparrows keep in flocks. These sneaky birds, unlike pigeons and crows, can freely enter small feeders and empty them, not giving a chance to other birds, which are much more difficult to get food in winter. To eliminate this possibility, it is desirable to avoid the use of open structures.

Sparrows are very careful. In case of danger, they take off straight from the place steeply upwards. Therefore, the best option would be a birdhouse made of cardboard or wood with a steep roof that has more overhangs. It is desirable that the design has low windows that provide birds with access to food. In this case, the sparrows will first have to flutter to the side before flying away, so such feeders are unattractive for them.

Helpful advice! In winter, the birds will not interfere with vitamin supplementation. To do this, you can put pear and apple cores with seeds, viburnum berries, elderberries, mountain ash, the fibrous part of a pumpkin with seeds, dried rose hips, and grape seeds into the feeder. It is allowed to use cherry pits from compote.

For those birds that constantly live on the site, an original do-it-yourself tray-type bird feeder made by yourself is suitable. In front of the tray (a window that provides access to the feed), you can install a perch or a landing pad.

Tray feeders are of two types:

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

A bird feeder on a window with automatic feeding is much more practical than bunker structures. In this case, the food practically does not wake up. Tray structures are designed specifically for one type of bird. The possibility of using a feeder for several varieties of birds is allowed. However, to create such a structure, not only the appropriate skills and tools will be required, but also ornithological knowledge.

Do-it-yourself feeders-houses: photos of birdhouses and similar structures

Feeding troughs in the form of houses well protect food from snow. Equipping the structure with a roof, you can protect the inside from the wind and sparrows. But a beautiful bird feeder in the form of a house does not provide protection against spillage of food. 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 the grains that have woken up on the ground.

A design in the form of a house with a sloping roof can be made from a box. If possible, it is desirable to treat such a cardboard feeder with a diluted adhesive. For this, PVA is suitable, which is mixed with water in a ratio of 1: 3 or 1: 5. Supports are made of sticks, which are also attached with glue. If everything is done correctly, such a feeder will last several seasons. The design is nailed to the tree.

A beautiful pitched roof feeder is the best option for strong large birds. These include Nutcrackers, Waxwings, Jays and Pigeons. All of them can safely sit in a row while feeding, so it is better to equip the dining room with a long perch.

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

Note! A bird feeder from a shoe box is not suitable for feeding large birds. Cardboard in such designs is very thin. Strong birds will break the feeder very quickly during feeding.

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

Hopper type designs will be the best option if an anti-sparrow feeder is required. In this case, the feeding area is limited in size, so the entire flock will not be able to accommodate. Sparrows will have no choice but to eat in turn with the company of other birds.

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

To make a bottle feeder with your own hands, you will need a minimum set of tools and materials:

  • kapron 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.

Peeler feeders are less popular. They are designed for certain types of birds. In this case, the feed is held with a special metal mesh. The design can be improved by making it combined. For this, the feeder-sheller is combined with a tray option. Due to this, birds of different species can coexist in one area.

How to make bird feeders: the choice of materials for work

Having decided on the type of future design, you need to decide what the feeder will be made of. For these purposes, you can use a variety of materials. Everyone has many of them at 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 commonly used to make a bird canteen:

  • plastic;
  • paper and cardboard;
  • wood;
  • plywood;
  • improvised materials (bottles, boxes, milk or juice bags, etc.).

Each of these materials is suitable for creating certain types of structures and has both advantages and disadvantages.

Features of bird feeders from plastic bottles and trays

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

Advantages of feeders from plastic bottles and trays:

  1. Material availability.
  2. The transparent walls of the structure allow you to 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 from above and hit it.

A good way to create a small, eye-catching bird feeder out of scrap materials is to use old childhood toys like building blocks. They are made of polyethylene, so it is advisable to use superglue for fixing. Such designs have bright and rich colors, so it will be easy for birds to find food. Polyethylene lends itself well to processing. 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 could remain after repairs in the house. Such a feeder can be fixed on the window with the help of suction cups from the bathroom shelves.

Bird feeders from bottles and other unusable containers deserve special attention. The main thing is that the design is well thought out. To ensure the visibility of the feed, it is desirable 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 shy.

To make a do-it-yourself bird feeder from a plastic bottle, it is advisable to use a trough-shaped tray. In this case, spillage of feed will be negligible. If you bend up the cover of the hatch that provides access to the feed, the feeder will turn out to be anti-sparrow. In this case, the plane that forms at the top can be used to place vitamin supplements.

Features of making homemade feeders out of the box

  • milk;
  • kefir;
  • juice, etc.

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

Small packets left over from juice or milk are ideal as feeders for the following types of birds:

  • goldfinches;
  • tits;
  • granivorous.

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

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

From large packages, you can make universal canteens for birds. To do this, you need to cut a large opening so that the food can be seen from afar. If the feeder is suspended, it must be pierced with a perch. A construct from a package can be placed in a bush. In this case, the perch is not required, its function will be performed by branches.

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

Standard design options in the form of a house, with minor changes, can be improved and specialized for a certain type of bird. For example, a gable roof feeder without railings can be used as a public option. If, however, a small crate is built around the perimeter, such a dining room will be to the taste of 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 the food from the wind.

A low pitched roof design will also provide protection from forage bloat. Such a feeder will be used by sparrows only as a last resort.

An alternative option for a suspended structure made of wood is a do-it-yourself plywood bird feeder. To create it, you will also need wooden bars with a section size of 3x3 or 3x4 cm. To avoid the use of lumber, you can make bars from plywood strips by gluing. However, for stationary feeders on poles, it is preferable to use solid wood, since plywood will delaminate in outdoor conditions in a few seasons, regardless of the quality of the protective impregnation.

Helpful advice! If birch waterproof sheets are used to build a plywood bird feeder, you can get a reliable and durable construction. This material perfectly tolerates the conditions of street use.

DIY bird feeders from improvised materials

Unusual and original designs can be made from improvised materials, the creation of which can focus on design or functional features.

A cob of corn can be used as a feeder. To do this, a nail is passed through it. This version of the bird feeder from improvised materials can simply be hung or made part of a stationary structure. Corn should be hard, preferably oilseed or fodder varieties. The smaller the grains, the better.

It is better to refuse the use of table sugar cobs, as they are harmful to birds. Their grains contain a large amount of sugar and starch. The corn feeder is designed for large frugivorous and granivorous birds, as well as hullers.

Ice cream sticks can be used 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 design, you will need a rope and PVA glue. On each side of the feeder, you can install a stick of larger ice cream sticks. Thanks to this, 4 birds can use the dining room 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 that can be made from old newspapers. The weaving technology is rather complicated and time-consuming, so not everyone decides to take on the construction of such a feeder, but the result exceeds all expectations. To prevent paper straws from deoxidizing, they must be treated with a protective compound (glue and stain).

A large metal tin can is also suitable for building a feeder. It is suspended on a rope in a horizontal position. To prevent the feed from waking up on the ground, it is necessary to install a small damper. For this, the upper part of the lid, bent in half, is suitable. Be sure to install a perch.

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

Making bird feeders: drawings, descriptions and technologies

Having decided on the type of construction and material, you can proceed to the direct manufacture of the feeder. It should be noted that not all types of grains are suitable for feeding birds. The favorite food of birds that remain for the winter is the seeds of wild grasses. It is desirable that these were burdock plant species. Turnip seed 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 (not roasted);
  • hemp and flax seeds;
  • dried pods of acacias living in the middle latitudes (wisteria, honey locust, sophora, etc.);
  • pumpkin seeds;
  • dry pea pods (it must be ripe and firm);
  • pine nuts;
  • millet (in small doses);
  • seeds of such deciduous trees as ash, hornbeam, linden, maple, alder;
  • acorns and seeds of conifers, for example, beech nuts, ruffled cones (if the feeder is designed for stubblers).

Note! Rye, wheat and bread are not allowed. They are harmful to birds. Moreover, black bread is the most dangerous, because it causes inflammation of the goiter. Poorly perceived strongly swelling cereals during cooking, for example, buckwheat, pearl barley, rice. The peel of any tropical fruit and citrus is deadly 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.

To work, you will need the following materials:

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

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

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

At the next stage of making the feeder do-it-yourself racks are mounted from wood. In order to fasten the corresponding parts from the inside of the box. The optimal length is 18-20 cm.

A truss system is attached to the racks. To do this, you need to connect a pair of bars at a right angle. To strengthen the place of fixation, the joint is fixed with a piece of timber. The result is a right angle with equal sides. According to the drawing, it is necessary to make two such parts.

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

Then the rafters are attached to the racks with self-tapping screws. Next, the roof slopes are installed. To do this, two wooden elements are installed on the rafters. If a wooden corner is available, you can make a skate. A bird feeder made of wood needs a perch. To do this, sticks or a window glazing bead are glued between an elongated pair of sides.

This design can be both stationary and suspended. It can be mounted on a pole or, by making a couple of holes in the ridge, hang it on a wire.

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

An alternative option for a wooden feeder would be a construction made of plywood.

The material allows you to choose any modification:

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

Plywood is a wood-derived material that is much cheaper and lighter in weight. Before you make a bird feeder out of wood, you must definitely select the appropriate drawing. In this case, it is necessary 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.

To work, you will need the following tools and materials:

  • jigsaw;
  • sandpaper;

  • water-based adhesive;
  • nails and hammer;
  • plywood sheet;
  • timber with a section size of 2x2 cm.

In accordance with the drawing, markings are applied to the plywood sheet. After that, all the details are carefully cut out with a jigsaw. A square element 25x25 cm will be used as a flooring for the bottom. For the construction of the roof, you need to take larger parts, otherwise moisture will drain onto the feed. The edges of the resulting blanks must be sanded.

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

Helpful advice! If the wooden feeder will be varnished, it is recommended to use a water-based compound for this so as not to harm the birds.

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

Suspended grain structures are the easiest option. Such a design can be made in a few hours.

For 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 on the cardboard the figure you like, for example, a square, a circle, a triangle, a heart, etc.
  2. Cut out the shape according to the markup.
  3. Form a fastening by threading a needle and making a hole.
  4. Prepare the glue mixture. To do this, the following ingredients are mixed: 1 tsp. honey, egg, 2 tbsp. l. oatmeal and a small amount of flour.
  5. Leave the mixture for half an hour.
  6. Apply adhesive mass over the cardboard base.
  7. Mix grain feed with glue mass.
  8. Apply the resulting mixture to the cardboard base.

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

There is another technology for making edible feeders:

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

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

How to make a bird feeder from a plastic bottle

In every home there is an unnecessary plastic container. Therefore, many are thinking about creating a bottle feeder. The material is cut with scissors or a knife, and the design is transparent and very light. This option is especially convenient, as there are several ways to create plastic feeders.

How to make a plastic bottle feeder:

  1. A pair of holes are cut on both sides of the bottle. They should be symmetrical. The shape can be any: arch, square, circle, rectangle.
  2. Jumpers must be left between the holes.
  3. You can make a rain visor by making an inverted U-shaped slot and bending the plate up.
  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. At the bottom you need to make symmetrical holes.
  6. A perch stick is inserted into the holes obtained.

Such a feeder can be fixed on a tree. To do this, the jumper is wound with a rope, tape or other material.

Helpful advice! If you insert twine from a bottle through the birdhouse lid, 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 margin for several days. As the birds eat the grains, the additive will automatically flow onto the tray.

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

A pair of symmetrical holes is made in the upper part. They will be used to hang the feeder with ribbons or twine. The second bottle will store the food. In the narrowest part of this container, several holes should be made through which the grains will spill. Don't make the holes too big. If necessary, it is better to expand them later.

The corresponding bottle must be filled with the feed mixture, screw the stopper in it and place it inside the container, which is cut off by 1/3. After that, twine is pulled through the holes, and the structure is hung on a tree.

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

There is another version of the bunker design - a feeder with a spoon. For this, a bottle with a capacity of 1.5-2 liters is suitable. First you need to make a hole in the cork and stretch the twine through it. With it, the structure will be suspended on a branch. Then you need to make holes symmetrically (one on each side of the bottle). They should match the size of a wooden spoon.

On the side where the deep part of the spoon will be placed, the hole needs to be slightly expanded so that it is convenient for the birds to pick up food. It remains only to fill the feeder with the selected feed mixture and hang it in a convenient place.

Helpful advice! To prevent the hopper feeder from accumulating moisture, several holes must 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 5L bottle

Water bottles with a volume of 5 liters 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 feeder at the same time.

For work you will need:

  • wire or tape for hanging;
  • clean bottle;
  • birdseed;
  • a cutting tool, such as a pruner, scissors or a clerical 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 is made (one near the neck, the other - from the side of the bottom).
  2. Vertically - with an indent of 5-7 cm from the bottom of the bottle, it is necessary to cut 3 rectangular holes or several square ones.

It is most convenient to hang the bottle by the neck. If the structure is fixed in a horizontal position, two holes must be made in the wall and, after passing the twine through them, fix the feeder on the tree. Plastic structures are very light. To prevent the bottle from being swayed by the wind, before filling it with food, it is advisable to put ¼ of a brick on the bottom.

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 clerical knife, a rope and a marker. First, markings are applied to a large container. With the help of a marker near the bottom, a zone is marked where a hole will be placed that acts as a tap hole. It is best to make 2 small slots and one large one through which you can install a 1.5 liter bottle.

Then a U-shaped hole is cut upside down. The upper part should be bent to make a protective visor from the rain. The lower edge of the opening is sealed with adhesive plaster so that the birds do not get hurt during feeding.

In those areas where the bottle placed inside is in contact with the bottom of a large container, as well as in areas slightly higher, holes must be made. As the food is eaten, the grains will wake up 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, at the second bottle, you need to cut off the neck along with the top. The result should be a funnel. It should be put on the neck of the inner bottle and tighten the cork. The feeder is ready.

Helpful advice! It is advisable to install the feeder under the roof so that the birds are more comfortable. For this, a canopy or gazebo is suitable.

How to make a feeder out of a box: a description of the process

A homemade bird feeder can be made from the simplest materials at hand. Almost every home has boxes of food, shoes or electrical appliances. For work, it is desirable to select thick cardboard. An ideal option would be a bird feeder out of a box with a laminated coating, which will increase the 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 only need to cut holes in a rectangular or square shape on the sides.

To make a bird feeder with your own hands out of the box, you will need a clerical knife or scissors, cord and tape. Since cardboard is short-lived and vulnerable to moisture, it should be wrapped with tape for protection. This is done after the feeder is ready. When holes are cut in the side walls for access to the feed, you need to fasten the cord and hang the feeder. To prevent the structure from rocking from the wind, put a few pebbles or pour sand on the bottom.

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

Next, you need to organize a system of fasteners for hanging. To do this, a pair of hooks is made from wire. A piece of wire is bent in half and the end is pierced through the "ceiling" part of the feeder. After that, the wire is twisted and bent from the inside. Now the feeder can be hung on a branch.

How to make a feeder out of a juice or milk box

To create such a design, you will need a Tetra Pak bag from liquid foods, such as juice or milk.

List of necessary materials and tools for work:

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

The feeder should be comfortable for the birds, so markings are applied to the cardboard and a couple of holes of sufficient size are cut out on opposite sides. Through space will allow the birds to easily move and take food. For safety reasons, the window must be pasted over 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 perch. 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 a rope or wire will be stretched for hanging. A milk carton feeder can be tied to a branch or attached to a tree trunk.

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

The feeder can be made from two juice packs. The first tetrapak needs to be cut along the narrow side parts so that the top remains intact. 1/3 is cut off from the second package, and a hole should be cut on the front side. This area will be used as a stern board. The bottom of the second tetrapak must be combined with the first package. If everything is done correctly, you should get a triangle. To fix the parts, it is better to use glue, as well as winding 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 the imagination. The design of homemade dining rooms for birds is practically unlimited, the main thing is that all decor elements are environmentally friendly and safe for birds.

How to decorate the feeder with improvised materials:

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

On the net you can find many interesting ideas for decorating homemade feeders. If you approach this issue thoroughly, you can make a house of an unusual shape. After that, the paint left after the repair, various figures and colored paper are used for decoration. However, do not overdo it with rustling and shiny details, otherwise the birds will be scared. In addition, decorative elements should not create obstacles for food intake.

The use of paint will not only change the color of the structure, but also protect the material from the negative effects of atmospheric factors. Coloring can be monophonic or multi-colored. In this case, you can use various drawings. It is better if their theme is intertwined with winter motifs. On sale you can find many interesting stencils that will simplify the process of decorating.

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

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

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

A bird feeder has long become something more than just a device for feeding them. We admit that we want not only to make life easier for birds, but also to observe the behavior of wonderful birds, decorate our yard, realize ourselves in front of others and teach our children to love this world. If at the same time our wards help in protecting the garden from pests, it will turn out very well.

Bird feeders: what should they be?

When starting to make a feeder, it is useful to recall Exupery's remark: we are responsible for those we have tamed.

In other words, having accustomed the birds to easy prey, we must think about them all winter.

Otherwise, they will experience great problems, having lost food overnight, and may even die. Now we list a number of characteristics that a bird's dining room should correspond to:

  • the bird table should have sides that will not allow the wind to carry away the food;
  • the craft should not have sharp edges that birds can injure their legs on;
  • a roof over the table will protect food from rain and snow;
  • the feeder should be, if possible, inaccessible to cats;
  • the holes in the walls of the craft should be of sufficient size so that the birds are not afraid of closed spaces;
  • the product must be moisture resistant in order to last at least one season;
  • the craft should not sway much in the wind, that is, it is better to weight it with a piece of linoleum or pebbles.

Birds won't like this feeder

Bird feeders: what are they?

There are so many people who want to make an exclusive table for the birds that they have composed an innumerable number of handwritten works. Obviously, everyone's preferences and abilities are different. We intend to offer you a range of different products with a description of their features and designs. Of course, we will also discuss the wishes of the birds themselves. Putting it all together, you will be able to compose your own "symphony" called "bird feeder".

From wood - the most options

The picture shows feeders made from planks. Depending on the preferences and the availability of material, one or another execution can be chosen. The very first option has a twist: a gap on the side bar for water to drain. Any product will last longer if it is treated with impregnation, painted and varnished.

These products are a little more complicated - they are all made of bars and slats. Such material allows you to make quite interesting and exclusive options. Pieces of roofing material on the roof will significantly increase the durability of the craft. Bars and slats can be fixed with small nails or glue.

Using tree branches will bring your craft closer to nature. The product can be quite simple and unusual. The use of impregnation and varnish is also advisable in this case.

Feeders made of birch branches look very interesting. Given the availability of such material, I would choose this option. There are various ways of making a roof. Birch bark already has protective functions, but varnish will not hurt.

The photo shows several feeders for mounting on a wall or on a tree trunk. They all have a back plate with a hole for fasteners. You can independently make options of various complexity. Very simple and easy to use feeder with a glass jar.

The photo shows surprisingly simple and original designs made of wood. It is quite possible to make such feeders yourself. Treatment with protective impregnation benefited them.
Carved products are fraught with considerable possibilities. However, it is difficult to do without a jigsaw in this case. A piece of galvanizing on the roof is right. Blowtorch processing will give a special color to the product. It is simply necessary to protect a product from moisture, on which a lot of time has been spent.

The image above is a selection of products made by professionals. All parts of the feeders were first processed and painted, and then assembled into a single structure. As a result, we have an impeccable appearance and durability. Nothing stops you from repeating the same!

The photo shows feeders that will decorate a mansion of any level with their presence. Probably, such products are made by specialists in a workshop. I am sure, if you set a goal, it is quite possible to repeat the elite version yourself.

In the photo above, we have selected the most interesting ideas for wood feeders. They differ in materials and execution. At the same time, it is quite possible to make such products on your own.

From plywood - its features and capabilities

Before you are several designs of plywood feeders. There are a lot of products made using this technology. Details of such feeders are cut out on a machine and sold in stores in the form of sets. Crafts are assembled quickly and easily. A set from the store is interesting and useful to process and color to your taste.

These products are made in a workshop from thick plywood. The designs are assembled from simple parts and it is really possible to repeat them yourself with a jigsaw. Pure plywood obviously needs coating and decoration.


A plywood feeder is much easier to make using bars and slats. In this case, you can do without a jigsaw. The designs shown in the picture are different, but simple.

Plywood feeders using wood are quite popular. Let's take a look at a few more options. Ease of execution cannot create barriers to exclusive options if creative people get down to business.

The picture above shows evidence of the effectiveness of the use of paints in the manufacture of the feeder. In the hands of craftsmen, quite simple products easily turn into fabulous attributes. In this case, the desire is more important than the inclinations of the artist.

Especially for those who wish to make a feeder out of plywood and bars, we have prepared product drawings. All details are numbered for convenience. To assemble the feeder, you will need 4mm plywood, a bar with a section of 20x20mm and wood screws.

Here is a drawing of the details of the feeder. The number of the latter is given in the table. The cross section of the bar 20X20 is not shown in the drawing.

From bottles - simply and reliably

Very often, bird feeders are made from plastic bottles. This is due to the availability and durability of improvised means, ease of manufacture. Transparent plastic bottles allow you to freely observe the behavior of birds.

The sharp edges of the plastic must be treated with electrical tape or a tube cut along the PVC. Then the birds will not hurt their paws and plumage. Light bottle feeders should be weighted with pieces of linoleum or pebbles so that they do not sway in the wind. The image above shows the simplest options.

Containers from under automotive fluids allow you to get more reliable and voluminous designs. Unfortunately, they are not transparent. In feeders from any plastic containers, small holes should be made in the bottom for water to drain.

Five-liter eggplants can be decorated beyond recognition. Suitable burlap, twine, bast and small twigs. So that beauty does not fade quickly, it is necessary to use moisture-resistant improvised means and glue.

As you can see, there are plenty of options for decorating feeders from five-liter bottles. Show your imagination and make your own and unique. Do not forget about the reliability of the design.
In the photo above, there are a few more characteristic methods of using plastic bottles:

  1. In the first picture, two holes were made in the bottle opposite each other closer to the neck. A stick was inserted into the holes - a nast. Just below the perch, they made a hole for food. It should have optimal dimensions: the seeds do not wake up, but the bird is available. Then they poured the food, turned the container upside down and fixed it to the tree.
  2. In the next image, the role of dispensers and poles is played by the two upper parts of the bottles, tightly inserted with their necks into the holes on the sides of the main bottle. The lower edges of the specified parts are bent and wrapped inward so that the birds do not hurt their paws.
  3. The picture on the left below demonstrates the possibilities of using paints. A simple, tasteful design brings the technical transparency of plastic to life.
  4. The presence of wooden spoons helps to call the birds for dinner. They are simply threaded through the holes in the bottle. It is better to place the spoons at an angle so that two birds can eat at once. Holes for food above the spoon should not be unnecessarily large so that the latter does not get enough sleep all at once.

From cardboard and bags - cheap and cheerful

Bird feeders made of cardboard and cardboard boxes are the most unreliable. But you can make a large feeder and decorate as you wish. You can increase the lifespan of a cardboard bird canteen by covering it with tape or film.

Dairy and juice bags are a good way to make feeders. They cost nothing and have good moisture resistance. Of course, bottles are more durable, but bags are easier to work with. You have several options in front of you.

We decided to make a fun and simple feeder out of a two liter juice bag. There was an idea to feed the birds in a makeshift bus. The master class for assembling crafts is quite simple:


Unusual - bunker, transparent, designer, with a joke

Of particular interest to us are silo feeders, which provide automatic feed supply as it is used up. Thus, bird food is not carried away by the wind, and we do not have to constantly monitor the availability of grain. The design of such a feeder can be very different, but the essence is the same everywhere: through a hole of a certain size, food pours from above and replenishes the bird's table.

In the examples given, the dispenser is:

  • a gap between two glasses;
  • narrow neck of a glass bottle;
  • holes in the bottom of the plastic bottle.

We have already considered similar options in the description of plastic bottle feeders. Based on these principles, for sure, you can come up with something new.

Plexiglas feeders look elegant. The birds and food are amazing. The design approach makes you want to repeat a successful experiment.

The rest of the tea service does not want to be thrown away. Here are four options for using dishes as a feeder. Moisture resistance and appearance of the material are not in doubt. Fixing a cup or teapot in the garden is not difficult.

Particularly stubborn and talented do-it-yourselfers compose funny feeders - jokes. You have to be determined to repeat the best examples. It is especially nice to write something of your own.
For starters, you can try a simpler option from plastic bottles. Much depends on the materials you have at hand. The above examples are quite subject to female hands.

Here are four options for a “male” cool wooden feeder. The design of the crafts is quite obvious. Repetition of the proposed ideas is a very real task.

Here are images of several more options for unusual bird feeders. The main idea is obvious: don't be afraid to experiment. It's easier - not to torture yourself with the search for exactly the same materials, but to use the available ones.

Making a feeder together - a snowman from a plastic bottle

Of course, I want to make the bird feeder simpler and more interesting. It seems to us that a snowman with gifts from Santa Claus for birds is a suitable option. The master class for making crafts is as follows:


Master class for making a classic feeder

Made and written by hand.

At school, the youngest son was encouraged to make a bird feeder. The materials found were:

  • painted galvanized corner 50x50mm;
  • wooden lath with a section of 20x40mm;
  • a piece of plywood 4mm thick.

From which it was decided to compose his work. The sequence of the master class is as follows:


Cereal biscuits for birds

Sometimes you can do without creating a feeder to help the birds. You can hang special bird cookies on the branches of trees. Note that the grain birdie looks so tempting that I would have eaten it myself.

The first way to make a delicacy is as follows:

  • prepare molds for making cookies;
  • we place pieces of twine in molds that will serve as pendants;
  • dissolve a packet of gelatin in warm water;
  • we fall asleep in the prepared solution of grain feed;
  • pour the mixture into prepared forms;
  • put the food in the fridge to chill.
  • we hang ready-made cookies on tree branches: accessible to our eyes and inaccessible to cats.

In the absence of forms, beautiful food for birds can be made in a different way:

  • cut out figures of various shapes from cardboard;
  • we make holes in cardboard blanks, thread twine into them and tie rings for fastening on a tree;
  • to attach the food to the cardboard, we prepare a special glue, which consists of an egg, a spoonful of honey, 2 tablespoons of oatmeal and flour;
  • mix the mixture and leave to ripen for half an hour;
  • as the glue is ready, we grease the cartons with it and roll the latter in bird feed;
  • we send the semi-finished product to the refrigerator for solidification;
  • as soon as the cookies are ready, we hang them on a tree, and we ourselves go to the window to observe.

Bird food: "what is good and what is bad"?

Look closely at the birds that have stayed over the winter in our area. Hope froze in their eyes that we would not slip them an “expired product” or unhealthy food for them, from which the birds would suffer. Let's remember what it is impossible to treat our wards, what should never be included in their diet:

  • salted, as well as fried seeds;
  • cream cakes and cake;
  • fresh white bread;
  • Rye bread;
  • nuts;
  • chips;
  • oat flakes;
  • the remains of bananas and other citrus fruits;
  • fresh fruits.

Fortunately, the range of possible is noticeably wider. Feathers can be offered:

  • bread crumbs;
  • sunflower seeds, pumpkin and watermelon;
  • cereals: oats, wheat, millet, barley;
  • rice, buckwheat;
  • unsalted lard especially for titmouse;
  • viburnum and mountain ash, maple and ash seeds especially for bullfinches.

Egg shells, coarse sand, crushed chalk will serve as a seasoning for a bird's dinner, especially during the nest building period. Thus, we know almost everything about bird feeders and food. By the way, in spring and summer, observing the behavior of birds is no less exciting than in winter. We wish you good luck and offer a video to help.

(7 ratings, average: 4,86 out of 5)

DIY bird feeder - examples and ideas

You can make a beautiful bird feeder with your own hands from improvised materials. Consider a few ideas of original feeders made of wood, plastic bottles, cardboard, juice bags, as well as dimensions, drawings and photos of finished products.

Don't let the birds starve to death in winter - prepare a beautiful feeder with delicious treats for them. Enjoy the cheerful and joyful chirping of little titmouses or sparrows.

In the cold season, it becomes increasingly difficult for birds that remain to winter to get food. Heavy snowfalls, icing and frosts are a real threat to birds. Many birds, due to a lack of calories, freeze, without waiting for fine days. Man remains their only hope. Even a few bread crumbs from the table or a handful of cereals can save the life of funny little birds.

It is quite easy to please bullfinches, tits, sparrows with delicious delicacies. For this you need to make a simple feeder from wood or other improvised materials and periodically pour grain or bread crumbs into it. You can make an original feeder at home. A variety of improvised materials are suitable for this, for example, plastic bottles, cans, five-liter bottles, cardboard boxes, plywood scraps, and much more. A beautiful and reliable feeder can be built even from wood. To do this, you need to prepare a drawing and select suitable wood trimmings or wooden planks.

A homemade feeder can be made from various improvised materials. To do this, you can use wooden planks, plastic bottles, boxes, ceramic cups and many other suitable materials.

How to make a bird feeder in kindergarten with a child?

A children's bird feeder made with a child will be a great craft for kindergarten. This will allow from a young age to teach the child to take care of others, and will also be an entertaining and interesting activity. The original feeder, decorated on its own, will perfectly complement the garden plot. Just imagine how pleasant it is to watch small feathered friends who chirp merrily, helping themselves to a delicacy prepared for them.

If you want to make a feeder in kindergarten with your child Be sure to consider his age. For kids, it is better to choose simple options for home-made feeders so that the child can participate in the process as much as possible, developing their own imagination and hand motor skills. Older children can participate in the creation of more complex crafts, made for example from plywood or wooden planks.

Bird feeder from a plastic bottle

You can make a bird feeder out of plastic bottles in minutes. Suitable for this 1.5 or 2 liter plastic bottle for mineral water or lemonade. To make a feeder for tits and sparrows from a bottle, you need to mark a hole with a marker and carefully cut it out with sharp scissors. A soft wire or cord should be tied to the neck of the bottle, with which it will be possible to hang it on a tree branch.

Also for birds, a self-filling or bunker feeder from a bottle is suitable. To make a hopper feeder, you need to prepare two bottles of the same volume. On one of them, you should also mark a hole, cut it out, and then cut off the upper part along with the neck. In the second bottle, it is necessary to pour grain for birds, then put the first one on it and turn it over. After that, the grain from the second bottle will be poured into the first as the birds peck it out.

Bird feeder from a canister or mayonnaise bucket

You can make a bird feeder from improvised materials at home. For these purposes, you can use a plastic canister or mayonnaise buckets, as in the photo below. The shapes and configurations of feeders can vary greatly. Ideally, all of them should be covered so that in winter the grain is not covered with snow.

A plastic bottle feeder for birds should not have sharp edges so that the birds do not cut their paws during lunch. After cutting holes in the bottle, the edges can be pasted over with electrical tape or plaster. The windows in the bucket should be large enough. Mount such feeders should be higher on the branches of trees or in other places where the birds would not be in close proximity to cats.

Original feeder from improvised means with a photo

The onset of cold weather is a great excuse to hide at home and do needlework. Even making or making a simple feeder can be a fun and enjoyable activity for family members. There are many options for feeders. Here are a few ideas that can be easily implemented using simple improvised materials.

A simple bottle feeder with wooden spoons

Simple and convenient feeders can be made using plastic bottles and wooden spoons from kitchen sets. This design is quite convenient for birds, because spoons serve not only for additional grain collection, but also act as comfortable perches. To make such a feeder, it is necessary to prepare through holes in the bottle so that the spoon is located with a slight slope. Above the spoon, you need to make additional holes through which the food will be available to the birds. The level of grain should be higher than a spoon, therefore, as it is consumed, the feed must be added to the bottle.

Tin can feeder

To make such a feeder, you can use any tin can, preferably with a plastic lid. A can of coffee or cocoa is perfect for these purposes. How to make a feeder from a jar with your own hands, can be clearly seen in the photo. The plastic cover in this case acts as a barrier to the grain, preventing it from spilling. The bottom of the jar can also be removed. To fasten the jar, you can thread a thick cord or wire through both holes.

How to make a bird feeder from a juice box

Milk bags and juice well suited for creating a feeder. Such packaging is easily cut with an ordinary knife or scissors, and does not sag in rain or snow. To make a feeder out of a juice box, you just need to mark a hole with a marker and cut it out with a kitchen or clerical knife.

In a similar way, one can cardboard bird feeder, cutting out the necessary parts and gluing them with PVA glue. However, cardboard construction is not the best option. It quickly sags under the influence of moisture, so it is not used for long, and even then mainly under a canopy.

A bird feeder made of wood is a great solution for birds!

Homemade wood bird feeder- this is the most reliable and durable design option, which can also be done at home. Any person who has a hammer, a saw and, of course, a desire can make it with their own hands from wood. To make a wooden feeder, it is not necessary to buy materials. You can simply take scraps of plywood, wooden boards, lining or other materials remaining after the repair.

The dimensions of the feeder are shown in the drawing. If desired, you can make a feeder with a smaller bottom, for example, 250 x 200. If you have wood trimmings that can be used, be guided by their length.

So, the flooring for the roof and the bottom of the feeder is made of plywood. To do this, it is necessary to prepare three parts: the bottom - size 300 x 240 with a thickness of 3 mm, roof details - 280 x 212. Crossbars, racks and other structural elements can also be made from wooden slats. If necessary, parts should be sanded, and after assembly - varnished or painted.

The assembly of a wooden feeder is carried out in several stages:

  • Take a wooden piece for the bottom and use nails to attach four corner posts to it;
  • Fasten the sides with nails, nailing them to the bottom and corner posts;
  • Place the planks of the crossbars on top of the racks and nail;
  • Place the connecting rail and roof rails on the crossbars according to the drawing;
  • Build a roof deck;
  • Decorate the craft as desired, varnish or paint.

As a result of the work performed, a reliable and beautiful wooden feeder capable of lasting more than one year. To protect the product from rain, the remains of linoleum, waterproofing film or other moisture-resistant materials can be stuffed onto its roof.


The design and size of a wooden bird feeder can be different. Wooden products decorated with painting or woodcarving look very interesting. Each person who owns certain decor skills can decorate a wooden feeder with your own hands. Sometimes feeders are made in the form of a house, complementing it with windows and doors, constructing miniature fences and other decorative elements.

Bird feeder made by hand from improvised materials

A few more original ideas for making feeders.

Feeding trough from improvised materials. Easy to make and beautiful.


Ceramic cup feeder. Happy tea!


A 5 liter bottle feeder is beautifully decorated.

DIY bird feeders with a photo - original ideas

Coconut feeder. Everything is simple.

A simple feeder can be made with your own hands even from an ordinary coconut. Do not be afraid to show imagination to please the birds. Any materials at hand can be turned into a real masterpiece!

Wicker basket feeder.

Wooden feeder with a house. Two in one.

Do-it-yourself feeders from improvised materials

You can make a feeder from improvised means. You can make it from a piece of ordinary wood, a saucer and even a car headlight. The main rule is that the feeder should be comfortable. It should protect birds from rain and snow and be hung above the ground at a safe height.

Do-it-yourself feeder from a car headlight.

Don't know how to properly feed birds? Organize them a comfortable place, sheltered from rain or snow. For this, any materials are suitable. Look, for example, if you have an old car headlight lying around in your garage?

A feeder carved from a piece of wood. Unusual log crafts.

What can you feed the birds in winter?

When the first snow falls, it becomes quite difficult for the birds to get their own food. Because of hunger and cold, many of them die without waiting for fine days. Snow and ice hide all the remnants of edible food, while birds have to spend much more energy on natural warming than they get from food.

To save our feathered friends from death, you can build a feeder and periodically replenish it with edible treats. You can feed the birds in winter with breadcrumbs and cereals, such as oats, millet, wheat and barley. Birds also eat rice, pumpkin seeds and seeds well. Tits are very fond of eating pieces of bacon, which can be hung in a large piece directly on a tree branch.

Food for tits and other wintering birds

In winter, it replaces larvae and beetles that birds eat in natural conditions. However, when preparing such a delicacy, one should not forget that it should not contain salt and any spices. You can fix the pieces of fat by passing a strong cord through them or placing them in a citrus net. It is better not to give millet and fresh fruits to birds. Bananas, sour foods, black bread and citrus fruits are also contraindicated for them.

Since not only tits strive to feast on treats, universal feeds can also be poured into the feeder. Great for attracting birds raw sunflower seeds, nuts, white millet, seeds of watermelon, burdock seeds, swans, thistle, dried rowan, ash seeds and maple. The latter are very fond of bullfinches, which also need winter bait.

By the way, you can build a feeder not only for tits and sparrows, but also for squirrels, woodpeckers and jays. For them, you can save nuts and acorns, put cones in the feeder. During the nesting period, the birds can be added to the feed crushed egg shell, shell rock or crushed chalk. The supplement will also help digestion. river sand or eggshell.

Generally bird feeders- a fairly simple product that does not require any special skills in manufacturing. You can build it from various improvised materials, involving even the smallest children in the process. You can install the feeder near the window to watch the birds right from the house. However, it is better to hang it higher so that cats do not get to the birds.

Beautiful bird feeders

If you decide to build a beautiful and original feeder for birds, we suggest that you study designer products. Such bird feeders will not only please the birds, but will also be an excellent decor for the backyard.


By the way, if you have a desire, you can always make original feeders with your own hands.

If you are skilled in wood carving, you can make a carved feeder that will be a great decor item for your garden.


Ceramic bird feeders also look very original.



Forged bird feeders with original design.



What should be a bird feeder

There are no special requirements for feeders. However, consider the following points:

  1. A roofed feeder will be better protected from snow and rain. Such a design will withstand natural precipitation longer, and it will be easier for the birds themselves to eat in bad weather.
  2. Wood products are more practical and reliable. They are not afraid of moisture and can last for several years.
  3. By making a beautiful feeder with a decorative pattern, you can not only attract birds, but also decorate your own backyard profitably.
  4. When making a feeder from a plastic bottle, small openings and sharp edges should be avoided. Remember that a quality feeder should be comfortable and safe for birds.

Unusual feeders made of glass and metal.


Bird feeder - time for good deeds

Every time we brush crumbs off the table or sort through cereals, we don’t even think that we can do a good deed and feed hungry little birds. But it's so easy - to make a feeder and feed your feathered friends with simple and tasty delicacies.

In the winter season, the feeder with treats sometimes becomes the only source of food for tits and their brethren. When everything is covered with snow, it is not at all easy to get food.

Even a child can make a feeder on their own. For this, various improvised materials, packaging, beverage containers, wooden boards or cardboard are suitable. Even pieces of simple fat, suspended on a thread from a tree branch, will become an exquisite delicacy for tits. Having once found such a treat in your yard, feathered friends will definitely invite their fellows, and already with a whole flock they will delight you with their chirping, returning to you every day for new portions of lunch.

Simple and beautiful plastic feeders.


2017-06-25 lev

Bird feeders in winter help to save birds from hunger. However, this is not the only reason why you should start making them.

By themselves, beautiful and original feeders can become a unique decoration for your garden.

And the process of their creation instills in the younger generation a sense of responsibility and concern for weak creatures.

In addition, this is an invaluable time that allows parents to spend time with their children with interest and benefit.










Wooden bird feeders

There are several types of feeders that can be made from wood. Firstly, these are feeders that look like a base made of plywood or other similar material with sides around the edges that prevent treats for birds from crumbling.

Most often, such a design is suspended from a tree branch on thick ropes.

But such a feeder has a number of disadvantages. The most obvious is that such a design does not protect the feed poured into it from precipitation and bad weather. It is also quite light and can move or roll over with the wind.

The second version of wood feeders is more like a house and has a roof. In such feeders, the food is reliably protected from the weather. The base of the structure looks the same as in the first version, only there are supports on it that support the roof.

The roof can be either straight or pitched. Any child can make a straight roof, because in fact it is a rectangular piece of plywood, only slightly larger than the base.

A pitched roof has a slightly more complex design, but it is better because, unlike a straight roof, snow does not accumulate on it and it does not have to be periodically cleaned.

There are also original options for feeders made of wood. For example, a feeder can be made from an ordinary log. To do this, you will need a chainsaw, a chisel and a hammer, as well as a chain and rings for hanging.

To begin with, you need to saw off two round logs from the log on both sides of the future feeder. Then a wedge is cut along the entire log, and longitudinal and transverse cuts are made, not reaching the bark of about 5 centimeters.

This is necessary in order to subsequently make it easier to extract the middle from the workpiece with a chisel. After all the work is done, the previously cut rounds are nailed on both sides of the feeder.

It remains only to screw the rings and attach the chain on which you can hang the feeder.

Plastic bottle feeders

For bird feeding, plastic bottles are also used as feeders. It can be both containers of 5-6 liters, and small 1.5-2 liter bottles.

Most often, a plastic bottle is turned into a feeder by cutting out several windows in the body.

Then such feeders are hung horizontally or vertically, depending on the design. For the convenience of birds, cross perches are installed near the bottom of the feeder.

But sometimes you can find quite original feeders, which provide for the automatic addition of feed. These are the so-called bunker feeders.

Such a feeder can be two wooden spoons inserted at an angle into the through holes in the bottle. Thus, the food from the bottle will gradually spill onto the spoon.

A bunker feeder can be made from a 2-liter bottle. To do this, it is enough to cut the bottle in half, make round holes in the lower part, and turn the top upside down and put the neck down. The top can be covered with a lid or a disposable plate. In such a feeder for a long time it will not be necessary to add food.

Improvised materials in the creation of bird feeders

The simplest feeder you can think of is a garland of rowan, cone or berries. A treat for birds strung on a rope will decorate young trees in the garden. The only disadvantage of such a feeder is that as the feed is eaten, the garland loses its appearance.

An interesting solution would be to make a feeder in the form of lumps with grain or seeds. Such decorations can be placed on benches, tables, or simply hung on trees in nets, in which tangerines are usually sold in a store.

They are based on fat or gelatin. The lard is melted and the main food is added to it. Then the finished substance is poured into molds (it can be baking molds or an ordinary balloon) and placed in a cold place to solidify.

They also do it with dissolved gelatin mixed with grain.

If you have a coconut shell lying around, then it can also be used to make a feeder.

As a result, such a design will be invisible on the tree. Juice or milk boxes are also suitable for making feeders. Their very design will not differ much from simple feeders made from plastic bottles.

Photo of bird feeder ideas