Sadly, on average, out of 10 birds, only two manage to survive the winter and greet spring with their cheerful singing. The rest die from hunger and cold, since the lack of food reduces the birds’ ability to fight frosts. However, feeding birds is important not only in winter, but also at any other time of the year, especially if you do it in your garden or summer cottage. The fact is that our feathered brothers effectively fight midges and insects, thereby protecting the crop from pests. In addition, a DIY bird feeder will allow you to show your imagination and decorate your area with an exclusive accessory. How fun it is to do this with children!
Selecting the material and suitable location for the feeder
Many people associate a bird feeder with a wooden birdhouse that resembles a miniature house. This form is ideal for organizing a bird feeding area:
- firstly, the birdhouse has a roof that protects food from precipitation and wind;
- secondly, a wooden feeder is usually durable and reliable;
- thirdly, a wooden birdhouse fits harmoniously into any landscape.
However, you should not limit your imagination, because a bird feeder can be implemented in almost any form, the main thing is that it meets the following criteria:
- reliability and durability. When choosing material and fasteners for the feeder, keep in mind that they must withstand the weight of feathered guests;
- durability of the material. To ensure that the bird feeder pleases the birds and you for a long time, make it from materials that are not deformed by precipitation. Of course, a small birdhouse can be made from cardboard or food packaging, but keep in mind that such a feeder will last until the first rain or snowfall, then it will have to be replaced;
- safety. When making bird houses, you will have to cut out entrances, windows and other openings into them. To prevent guests arriving for the meal from getting hurt on the edges of the product, treat them with protective materials - electrical tape, polymer clay, resin, etc.
In addition, it is very important that feeders and birdhouses are located in places convenient for birds. There is no need to place them in the thick of branches, in a heavily blown area, or in places where cats can reach. To attract the birds' attention, hang the birdhouse in an open, easily visible area.
Examples of beautiful birdhouses made by yourself
And now the most interesting thing is a selection of beautiful bird feeders that are not so difficult to make with your own hands.
Wooden house
To build a birdhouse out of wood, you do not need to be a carpenter. You can make a wooden birdhouse from planks, beams, small logs or even wine corks, the main thing is to securely fasten all the elements and install them on a solid base. To make it convenient for birds to dine, take care of a wide entrance.
Alternatively, a wooden feeder can be made from an old one. To do this, you need to cut out and clean its core, and also come up with a durable pendant. Such feeders are often used for poultry, installed, for example, in chicken coops.
Bottle feeder
Even a child can make a bird feeder from a plastic bottle. To create it, you just need to cut a wide entrance into the container, process its edges and select a suitable pendant. However, to ensure that the plastic feeder not only serves as a dining room for birds, but also decorates your garden, complement it with bright drawings, inscriptions and decorations.
You can cover the bottle with rope, wrapping it very tightly, and decorate it with natural materials - tree bark, dry leaves, rowan, etc.
You can also make a feeder with automatic feed from an ordinary plastic bottle. To do this, you need to cut paired holes on both sides of the container and insert wide wooden spoons into them. If the bottle is filled to the top with food, the grains will pour out into the spoon in small portions. And the bird will sit comfortably on it.
A similar feeder can also be made using a product in the form of a hollow tunnel instead of spoons. You can also use food containers instead of a bottle.
Feeder made from old dishes
A dish feeder is unlikely to accustom your feathered guests to table etiquette, but it will certainly become an original garden decoration. Glue the cup to the saucer using super glue, select a reliable suspension (chain, rope, wire) and install the resulting feeder, for example, on a tree branch.
If you want to make a structure that will simultaneously serve as both a bird feeder and a water bowl, make a hanging item using a cup, saucer and deep plate, fastening them with strong decorative chains.
These feeders look very nice in which the cup is turned on its side. In this case, it also needs to be glued.
You can also use a ceramic teapot as a feeder, the hole of which will become an entrance for birds. The teapot needs to be turned to its side, make a hole for a rope or wire on the side wall, as well as on the lid, and hang the structure as shown in the photo.
You can make an original feeder right on your site, in which saucers with cups are attached to the legs of an old table, and the legs themselves stand in a bucket of sand. It would seem simple, but at the same time original and not like everyone else.
Here's another interesting idea for a bird feeder, which you can make from a saucer and attach a roof to it. And there can be a lot of such ideas using old dishes.
Saucer feeder with roof photo
A very beautiful feeder can be made from an old wine bottle turned upside down. You just need to choose the right holder for it. But such a feeder is only suitable for small food; if the grains are larger, it is better to use a glass bottle with a wide neck, for example, for dairy products or juices.
Pumpkin feeders
From a round pumpkin you can make not only vases, as we have already told you about in autumn and Halloween decorations, but also bird feeders. It is enough to cut a through hole in the pumpkin, clear it of seeds and hang it from a branch by a rope.
Mesh feeders
A simple and original bird feeder can be made from mesh, which is used in supermarkets for packaging fruits and vegetables. To do this, you just need to fill the net with food, tie it firmly in a knot and hang it in any suitable place. From such a feeder, birds will freely get grains, crumbs, porridge, and even the strongest wind will not be able to scatter them. If you are decorating an area for the holiday, a net with food can become an element of any other accessory. Essentially, these are disposable feeders, and when they run out of food, you just need to make new knots. By the way, such nodules are often filled with ready-made porridge for birds rather than with dry food.
Using exactly the same principle, you can make a feeder from a metal mesh. It is best to use flexible material, since in this case it will not be difficult to give it any shape.
Hanging bird feed
If you want to make life easier for birds, but at the same time you have absolutely no time to build a birdhouse, you should not give up your good goal. Nowadays you can find hanging pressed bird food on sale, which is very convenient as a homemade feeder. Since this food is intended for parrots and other caged birds, it comes with a convenient hanger. If there is no pendant on the stern, you can make one using strong thread or thin wire. Often this food is made in the form of a variety of intricate figures, so it will become another decoration in your garden for a while (until it is eaten). In principle, you can make this food yourself; there are many master classes with step-by-step photos and detailed instructions.
Make sure that your DIY bird feeder is always filled with grains, bread crumbs and other bird treats. Very soon this accessory will bring many guests to your yard, who will thank you with loud singing and the absence of annoying insects.
We offer you a selection of different options for making a bird feeder with your own hands. Here we have collected the best master classes and step-by-step lessons, as well as dozens of original ideas and photos for inspiration. In this article you will find crafts of varying degrees of complexity: from those that will take no more than 5 minutes to create, to those that will require a lot of tinkering.
Creating feeders is one of the best ways to organize excellent leisure time and at the same time help feathered creatures survive the cold. This is a really useful and very kind thing - by hanging a feeder, you will prevent the birds from dying of hunger (in urban conditions, this, unfortunately, is quite possible).
What should you pay attention to?
We have previously told you about how to choose the right wood for creating birdhouses. If you are planning to make a wooden feeder, check out our tips. However, feeders can be made from other materials. Here are some general important tips before starting the creative process.
- If you want to make your feeder colorful, paint only the outside to prevent birds from accidentally pecking and ingesting harmful chemicals.
- When creating feeders, make sure that the hole into which the bird flies is smooth on all sides (this is especially true for bottle feeders, the edges of which can get scratched if not carefully cut). This will help protect birds from accidental injury.
- If you use glue or varnish in your work, carefully study their composition. They should not contain toxic elements.
- Do not make paper feeders too large - if a bird sits on it, the craft may tear and harm the bird.
- Remember that wooden feeders can develop dangerous mold, and metal feeders can develop rust. Therefore, it is better to protect them with a special coating (without harmful chemicals).
- It is important to check the cleanliness of the feeder from time to time and examine it for damage.
Made of wood
Let's move on to the manufacturing process. A standard wooden feeder is made in the form of a birdhouse or house. They can also be made in several variations. We offer you the most popular of them.
House with vertical posts
Please use this drawing with dimensions. The picture is clickable, and it contains step-by-step instructions for assembling the feeder with your own hands.
Please note that vertical posts can be replaced with thick branches.
The hut can be made of plywood, but it will need to be varnished.
Vary the size and height of the sides.
House with side walls
An approximate assembly diagram for this hut looks like this. Please note that dimensions can be changed and adjusted proportionally.
The side walls can be made solid. Interesting decor will add attractiveness to the house.
You can cut neat round holes in the side edges. Don't forget to sand them down so the birds don't pick up the splinter.
If the design turns out to be small, it is better to fill it with cereals and seeds, glued together into a special treat. More on this below.
Edible feeder
To feed the birds, you can do without a traditional feeder. Let's prepare special "cookies" for the birds and simply hang them on the branches.
We will need:
- 2 packs of gelatin;
- 2/3 glass of water;
- 2 cups of food (seeds, cereal);
- skewers;
- cookie cutters.
Pour hot water over the gelatin and wait for it to swell. Then mix it with cereal and seeds. Mix the mixture thoroughly and fill the cookie or muffin molds. Insert a skewer to make a hole.
When the mixture has cooled and “set”, carefully remove it from the mold and remove the skewer. Insert thread into the hole.
If you don't have molds, spread the gelatin mixture onto a toilet paper roll and roll it over the food until it sticks. Let it dry, then attach it to the branch.
You can also roll the mixture into lumps and place them in large mesh bags.
Birds really like this treat.
Bonus
Didn't find a suitable option? This video presents 50 more original ideas and a variety of ways to make a bird feeder from wood or bottles.
Choose any of the presented feeders, decorate it, fill it with seeds and cereals. This will give you a wonderful opportunity to observe the life of birds and do a good deed!
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A bird feeder performs several functions at once. Firstly, it is a place to save birds from starvation. Secondly, the feeder decorates the exterior of gardens, parks or simply streets. Thirdly, making a feeder is quite an entertaining process that unites parents and children and teaches the younger generation norms of behavior and human qualities. Therefore, whenever possible, we recommend building feeders, and we will learn how to do this further.
How to make a bird feeder with your own hands
We invite you to familiarize yourself with the main variations of bird feeders, which are most often used to feed them in the winter.
The first and simplest option is to make a roofless forest canteen. It has a flat shape with sides that prevent feed from spilling out. Such a bird canteen is good because it attracts birds, as they do not like enclosed areas. The disadvantage of the feeder is that the food quickly gets wet and spoils under atmospheric influences, and the wind easily overturns such a feeder. To construct this variation of the feeder, one piece of plywood and bars that serve as a frame are enough. The feeder is fixed using a regular rope; in order for the feeder to attract birds, paint it in a bright shade.
A DIY bird feeder made of wood with a roof is a more sustainable option. Four support posts are installed on a regular base, and the roof of the feeder is fixed on them. The top part for the roof should be slightly larger than the bottom to protect the feed from rain and snow. This version of the feeder is also simple and does not require special experience in working with wood. Among the disadvantages of this design, we note that snow accumulates on the flat roof, the feeder becomes heavy in weight, and can fall from the tree. Therefore, it is recommended to periodically clean such a feeder from snow or install a pitched roof.
If you have sunflowers or large berries at home that birds can eat, it is enough to treat the birds with them. A variation in the production of rowan beads or beads from cones is possible. You can build such a feeder from scrap materials. For example, you can put treats in a regular net, in which tangerines or oranges are sold. You need to hang such a gift on a regular rope. Another method is to add wheat or another grain delicacy to unsalted melted lard; after hardening, you need to make a small ball from this mixture, which is placed in any place accessible to the birds. The congealed fat holds the grain, which is gradually eaten by the birds.
To protect the food in the tangerine net, you can additionally build a roof. This way, the food will not be exposed to moisture and snow. Periodically, such a feeder needs to be filled with new food. It is possible to supplement the main feeder with additional mesh feeders containing a variety of delicacies. Such feeders will be an excellent place for feeding small birds.
If you have coconut shells at home, you can also use them to build a small feeder. It will be a natural addition to any tree and will not stand out particularly against its background. It is necessary to cut two round holes in the shell. We also recommend placing grain mixed with melted fat inside the feeder. This variation of the feeder has an unusual and original design. If you have a steel mesh with a small cross-section of cells at home, you can also build a feeder from it. Select the diameter of the feeder individually; try not to make it too large, as too much feed will make the structure heavier. Make a protective cover on such a feeder to prevent food spoilage.
There are many ideas for DIY bird feeders, all you have to do is get creative and get the necessary materials. A feeder can even be built from cutting a branch. It is enough to connect several of these parts together to form the bottom of the feeder. The roof is made in the same way.
Some craftsmen make feeders from ordinary glass jars. They set them at a certain angle and pour food inside. You can paint such a feeder using special paints for glass surfaces. In the same way, you can make a feeder from the old part. It is better to put gelatinized food in it, previously poured with melted gelatin. In the same way, you can make attractive bird feeder decorations. For example, a solution of gelatin and various seeds is poured into a silicone mold; after hardening, it is possible to obtain beautiful shapes: heart-shaped, star-shaped, semicircular, etc.
Beautiful DIY bird feeder
We offer a variation of creating a cereal canteen for birds with your own hands. For this product, it is enough to use food, while the feeder perfectly complements the exterior of the garden and becomes its decoration. When performing the workflow, you will need the following accessories:
- a variety of small-sized food, most often grains or cereals are used;
- eggs;
- oatmeal;
- flour;
- gelatin composition;
- pencil;
- thick cardboard base;
- scissors and thread.
Using a pencil and cardboard, come up with a shape for the future product. It is possible to make a bird canteen in the shape of a star, polyhedron, oval, circle or heart. Using scissors, cut out the previously prepared drawing.
Prepare materials that act as bird food. It is possible to use various grains or bread crumbs. Using a needle, attach a thread to the future sketch, which will later secure the feeder to the trees. In order to firmly hold the grains on the feeder, it is necessary to connect them with a natural adhesive composition.
To prepare it, combine the ingredients in the form:
- two tablespoons of oatmeal, ground into flour;
- one egg;
- one teaspoon of honey;
- a few spoons of flour.
After combining all the components, leave them for half an hour and only after this time, combine them with the previously prepared food.
First, the base of the workpiece is coated with adhesive. In a separate container, all ingredients for the food are combined with glue. Roll the workpiece in the resulting mixture on both sides. To make the feeders harden faster, place them in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
In the absence of any of the ingredients of the adhesive composition. You can prepare natural glue in another way. To do this, just take one pack of gelatin and soak it in warm water, according to the instructions on the package. Small grain products are combined with the solution and placed in a refrigerator to harden.
This composition can be placed in an old cup or glass; they are also fixed to trees using a rope. This bird canteen is quite easy to make, but at the same time it is an excellent place to feed birds in the winter.
We also suggest that when performing the work process, prepare materials in the form of:
- three flat-shaped boxes of sweets;
- glue;
- tape;
- ropes.
In order to build this feeder, it is enough to connect two candy boxes together with an adhesive solution. At the same time, they should form a roof. The third box is used as the bottom of the feeder. This variation of the feeder is quite easy to make, but at the same time it is an excellent place to feed birds. To protect the cardboard from moisture, the feeder is covered with tape on all sides. In order to fix the feeder on the tree, an additional rope is attached to it. You can decorate the feeder with colored paper in accordance with the chosen design. The only drawback of this feeder is its light weight. It is unstable and does not hold weight well.
Make a bird feeder with your own hands photo:
We offer another easy option for creating a bird canteen. To do this, you need to use a box from any drink. The upper part of the box is fixed to the tree with a cord, and a hole is cut out on the lower part for feeding and eating food. It is recommended to additionally seal the box with tape to avoid its destruction under the influence of water.
DIY bird feeder - original ideas
There are many creative ideas for creating bird canteens. Most often, these exterior elements are made of wood or plastic. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the variation in the construction of a PVC feeder.
When executing the workflow, you will need to have:
- scissors or knife;
- plastic tank with a volume of five liters;
- wire.
In addition, you should prepare food for birds, which will be located in the forest dining room. Using a utility knife or scissors, cut a circular hole in the bottom of the container. The diameter of the opening should be such that a bird can easily fly into it. It is possible to construct several windows at once through which feed will be supplied. The upper part of the container is wrapped with wire and installed on a branch. To weight the finished product, use plywood or similar material that is placed at the bottom. This bird canteen has a roof, so the birds' food will not be wet. In addition, the presence of large diameter holes is the key to ensuring that there will always be a lot of birds in your feeder.
It is possible to design a do-it-yourself bird feeder using PVC bottles. When working on a dining room for birds, you will need to prepare the following materials:
- PVC bottles;
- wires;
- two spoons made of wood.
Using a knife or scissors, make an opening in the container so that a wooden spoon can be inserted through it. 5 cm higher, make another identical hole. Set the spoons and pour food into the bottle. On one side of the spoon, which is adjacent to the bottle with a wide edge, build a hole of a larger diameter. Thus, as the birds eat it, food will spill out of the bottle. The upper part of the container is fixed to the tree most often using wire or rope.
DIY bird feeders photo:
An easier variation of making a bird canteen is to cut out a small door in a PVC bottle. In order to avoid injury to birds as they enter the feeder, all edges of the opening are sealed with electrical tape. Food is poured directly into the container.
Original DIY bird feeder
In the process of creating a wooden forest canteen for birds, you need to stock up on tools in the form of:
- wood or plywood;
- hammer with nails;
- timber;
- screwdriver;
- compositions to protect wood from high humidity.
Using plywood and a board, use a screwdriver to cut out the base for the feeder. The second part should be the same shape, only slightly larger. Thus, it will protect the feeder from moisture. Saw the timber into several parts, from which you need to make sides for the feeder.
To fix the beam, use fasteners and a hammer. A wire or cord should be fixed to the roof, which will hold the roof on the branches. To connect the roof and the bottom of the forest canteen, additional supports are used, installed in the corners, or two in the center. Open the feeder with an antiseptic, which prevents its destruction under atmospheric influence; it is additionally recommended to varnish the feeder.
Please note that it is strictly forbidden to feed birds fresh bread, rye bread and flour, citrus fruits, salty foods, toasted seeds, and oatmeal. These products will not bring any benefit to the birds, but will only harm them.
Various types of grain, wheat, nuts, fruits, dried foods, lard, rowan and viburnum, etc. are used as food for birds. A beautiful homemade bird feeder will decorate any interior; children will enjoy watching the birds eat food and rejoice in the fact that they are taken care of.
DIY bird feeder video:
Winter time is a serious test for birds. Every day it becomes more and more difficult to find food. Take care of the birds - hang a feeder made with your own hands from the simplest materials at hand, which we usually throw in a landfill. We have selected photos and original ideas for making feeders that do not require special skills or complex drawings.
Having accustomed the birds to the feeder, you will be able to observe the entertaining avian bustle and the secret life of birds.
Some of them defend their rights in fights with relatives, others enter into competition with other species, but without exception, all of them carefully look around so as not to miss the attack of a small hawk, which is very interested in visitors to the feeder.
A simple bird feeder will bring great benefits to birds Materials for making a feeder can be very diverse, but there are some general design rules:
- the feeder should, first of all, be convenient for the birds; there should be no difficulty in removing food;
- The roof and sides will help protect the food from snow, rain and wind. Exposure to moisture can cause food to deteriorate and become moldy, which means it will turn into poison for birds;
- It is desirable that the material from which the feeder will be made be resistant to moisture, otherwise such a design will not last long and a new one will need to be made;
The feeder must be safe: have no sharp sides and be located high enough above the ground - walls and corners should not be sharp or prickly;
- feeders for small birds are made small in size so that larger and more aggressive species do not encroach on their food;
- It is better to place feeders on tree branches or attach them to the walls of outbuildings at a height of about one and a half meters, so that cats do not offend the birds, and it is convenient to sprinkle food on your feathered friends.
Advice. Birds get used to a permanent feeding place and are ready to travel many kilometers to the feeder. Therefore, feeding must be constant, otherwise the birds may die.
Plywood bird feeder
You can buy a feeder in a hypermarket, or you can make it yourself in a few hours. A plywood feeder can be made open, with a flat or gable roof, and a bunker compartment can be provided if you cannot constantly monitor the amount of feed in the feeder. Of course, you will need drawings, fortunately, there are plenty of them on the Internet with ready-made dimensions of parts for cutting. Choose a design that you like, the drawing will make the work easier and guarantee that in the end you will get exactly what is shown in the photo.
Lightweight and durable feeder made from plywood sheets When choosing a design for a future feeder, consider the bird population in your region. Jays, pigeons and magpies can eat all the food, leaving little titmice hungry. To prevent this from happening, make the size of the feeder openings such that large birds cannot reach the feed.
So, you will need a hammer, an electric jigsaw, nails of a suitable length, water-based glue, sandpaper, plywood, 20 x 20 mm timber. Let's look at a simple feeder.
Ideas and drawings of a bird feeder made of wood
Wooden feeders are attractive because they last a long time and keep their shape well - this is due to the properties and reliability of wood. To make such a feeder you will need at least minimal skills in working with tools and a drawing. The board for production should be 18 - 20 mm thick. Let's consider the option of making a feeder, which you can do yourself or take a photo as a basis for a drawing. We will need a beam measuring 4.5 x 2 cm for the racks, a square of plywood 25 x 25 cm for the bottom, two pieces measuring 35 x 22 cm for the roof, nails, screws and glue.
Feeder made of wooden beams 
Such a feeder can be installed permanently on a dug-in post or drill two holes in the ridge, screw in a screw with a hook and hang it on a wire. Several birds can fly up to the feeder at the same time, the food is protected from the wind by the sides and roof, the feathered friends of the garden will love such a cozy dining room.
Finished wooden feeder If you have a gazebo on your site, hang a simple feeder there without a roof. It is enough to make a side and a bottom. If you want to paint the feeder or open it with varnish, then use water-based compounds so as not to harm the birds.
Advice. To prevent the wood from splitting, you need to make the tip of the nail blunt, and drill a hole for the screw before screwing it in.
Making a feeder out of cardboard (suitable for children)
One of the simplest feeders. The cardboard version is interesting because it can be made in a place with children and at the same time have a great time with them. This would be a great craft for kindergarten or elementary school. There is a lot of room for creativity here. Cardboard is an excellent option; it is only afraid of direct water. But if you want to play it safe and make the feeder more resistant to moisture, then you can glue the external elements of the feeder with wide tape, especially its upper and lower parts. In a forest or park, such a feeder can easily last all winter and part of spring.
Collage of a cardboard feeder. Photo livemaster.ru/topic/179659-delaem-kormushku-iz-kartona The set of tools and materials is minimal, and if you don’t have something from this list, you can always find a replacement. So we will need these materials and tools:
- A couple of sheets of cardboard (A4 format or more);
- Ruler;
- Scotch tape (for structural reliability);
- Stationery knife;
- A rope or piece of nylon rope to hang the feeder;
- Pencil or felt-tip pen;
- Cardboard glue or glue gun;
- Hole puncher.
If such a feeder is going to take the prize as the best craft in your kindergarten, then you will have to work a little in terms of external design. Here our cardboard will give a head start to any Tetra-Pak (this is a milk or juice carton), you can beautifully draw on it and decorate it in every possible way. Undoubtedly, the prize from kindergarten will be yours!
Pumpkin feeder
But here, as they say, words are unnecessary - everything is visible in the photo collage. I would like to add that such a feeder looks very attractive and unusual and will be a real decoration of your garden, this is due to the shape of the feeder and its color, which looks great against the background of white snow. 
This option is also suitable for making with children. And such a beautiful, bright craft will definitely not go unnoticed in kindergarten.
Bird feeder from a box (package) Tetra Pak) from juice or milk
You can make a feeder from a milk carton or a tetra pack of juice, like this. Even a child can do this. For this you will need:
- clean juice box;
- a piece of nylon rope or wire to hang the feeder;
- adhesive plaster;
- marker;
- scissors or stationery knife.
Milk carton bird feeder First of all, mark and cut holes on opposite sides of the tetra pack. To make it convenient for the birds to take food and fly out. We cover the bottom side of the window with adhesive tape for the convenience and safety of the birds. We poke a hole under the holes with scissors and insert the cardboard rolled up into a tube, which is left over from cutting the holes above. In the bent corners we make small holes for wire or rope. And we tie it to a branch.
The feeder can be attached to a tree trunk. Such a feeder will not sway in the wind. To do this, feeding slots are made not on opposite sides of the bag, but on adjacent ones. On the opposite side we fix the wire in the slot and screw it to the tree.
Horizontal feeder made of tetro pack You can make a feeder out of two juice bags. We cut the first package along the narrow sides, leaving the top uncut. From the second tetra pack we cut off the third part and cut a hole on the front side of the bag - this will be the feeding board or the bottom of the feeder. We combine the bottom with the first package so that we get a triangle. The parts can be connected with glue, wrapped with tape, or by piercing the bottom of the sides and inserting straws for cocktails.
Bird feeder made from plastic bottles 1.5 - 2 liters
Let's look at some variations of making a do-it-yourself feeder made from plastic containers.
Option #1. The simplest feeder
Symmetrically, on both sides of the bottle we cut out two holes: round, square, rectangular or in the form of an arch. There should be bridges between the holes. If you make a slot in the form of an inverted letter “P” and bend the plate upward, you will get a rain canopy. You can stick an adhesive plaster or fabric tape to the bottom edge of the hole - the edges will not be sharp and the birds will sit comfortably. We make symmetrical holes in the lower part and insert a stick - the result is a feeder with a perch.
A simple feeder made from a plastic bottle You can attach such a dining room for birds to a tree by wrapping the jumper with tape, rope or other suitable material, as seen in the photo. If you make a hole in the bottle cap and insert the ends of the twine, and then tie them in a knot, you will get a loop that can be thrown over the branches of garden trees.
Be sure to make the edges of the plastic feeder safe - cover the cut areas with electrical tape Option #2. Bunker feeder.
This design is rational to use because the feed can be poured in for several days. As the birds eat it, the food will automatically be added to the feeding area itself.
Hopper feeder made from plastic bottles You will need two bottles of the same volume. We mark one bottle with a marker before cutting. We make holes at the bottom, as in feeder No. 1, and remove the top third of the bottle. We make two symmetrical holes at the top - a ribbon or twine will later be tied to them for hanging the feeder. In the second bottle we cut several holes at the narrowest part - food will spill out of them. Do not make large holes right away; it is better to expand them later. We pour food into the bottle, tighten the cap and insert the bottle into the first bottle, cut by a third.
Option #3. Feeder with spoon
We make a hole in the cork and insert twine for hanging. Then we make two holes symmetrically the size of the spoon. We cut a hole in the bottle above the bowl-shaped deep part of the spoon, slightly widening it so that the birds can take the food. Fill the feeder and hang it up.
Feeder with spoon Advice. Using a hot needle or small nail, make several holes in the bottom of the feeder to drain moisture that gets inside.
Bird feeder made from a plastic bottle 5 liters
Probably in every home there is an empty five-liter plastic water bottle. Making a feeder in one evening to feed birds in winter from this material is very simple. Such a container will hold much more food than a smaller plastic bottle, as can be seen in the photo. Several holes will allow several birds to feed comfortably at once.
Feeder made from a five-liter plastic bottle This is a very simple and quick option, invite your children or other family members to take part in the manufacturing process: find a ribbon or wire to tie the finished feeder to a tree branch, prepare a treat for the birds. Prepare a clean bottle, a sharp knife, pruning shears or a utility knife.
We cut the hole based on how we plan to secure the container to the tree:
- horizontally - cut a wide hole from the bottom of the bottle and the same from the neck;
- vertically - at a height of 5-7 cm from the bottom of the container, cut several square holes or three rectangular ones.
Materials needed to make a feeder It is convenient to tie the bottle by the neck to a branch with wire or twine. If the feeder is made in a horizontal version, then use a knife to make two holes on the wall through which you pass the twine for tying. To prevent the feeder from swaying in the wind, place a quarter of a brick on the bottom to weigh it down, and load a treat on top.
You can also build a bunker feeder from a five-liter bottle. To do this you will need a five-liter bottle and two 1.5-liter bottles, a marker, a stationery knife and a rope.
You can place the feeder under the roof to make the birds more comfortable 
With a little ingenuity, you can use the simplest plastic bottles to create unusual dining rooms for birds that will decorate your area.
Shoebox bird feeder
Everything is simple here. Take a thick shoe box with a lid. We make a round hole in the lid. The hole needs to be moved slightly from the center to the bottom edge of the box (a little different in the photo), this is necessary so that the birds can reach the food, which will lie at the bottom of the box.
We make a small hole in the top of the box and insert a tourniquet or rope through it. We tie an old pencil or stick to the end of this rope. We will then tie the other end of the rope to the branch of the tree on which we plan to hang the feeder. Then you can wrap the box with wrapping paper, but this is for aesthetic purposes, you don’t have to do this.
We make a roof out of ordinary cardboard and put it on glue. Next, we glue the lid to the box itself with tape, as in Figure 3, 4, and also thread a rope through the lid.
At the moment when we hang the finished feeder on a tree, the roof may come unstuck from the box, but this is not scary, it won’t be able to get away anywhere, because it will be held in place by a rope.
And in the picture below is an even simpler version of a shoebox feeder. But there is no need to explain anything here, everything is already visible in the photo. The entire box is simply wrapped with tape, which, by the way, is very practical. And in our opinion, it turned out to be original and unusual.
Cardboard bird feeder
To make a bird canteen with your own hands, the simplest material will do, which is stored in abundance on the balconies of most families: boxes of electrical goods, cardboard packaging of food products. Choose thicker cardboard with a laminated coating; laminate will slightly increase the service life of the feeder. Although, as written above, wide tape can be used for these purposes. The advantage of this design is that there is already a bottom, walls and roof of the future feeder, which needs to be slightly modified by cutting square or rectangular holes on the sides.
Even a schoolchild can make a cozy feeder from a mailbox with his own hands You will need a nylon cord, scissors or a stationery knife and tape. Since cardboard is a very short-lived material and is afraid of moisture, a finished feeder wrapped with tape will last until the next season. Having cut the side holes and secured the cord, you can hang the feeder and fill it with treats for the birds, which will not keep you waiting long. Place sand or some pebbles at the bottom so that the structure does not sway too much in the wind.
If you cover a cardboard feeder with paints, it will last longer You can do it a little differently. We glue the lid of the box perpendicularly so that the lid serves as a stern stand, and the second part of the box serves as a side and a roof. We glue the structure with tape. We make two hooks from wire: we bend a piece of wire in half and pierce the “ceiling” of the feeder with the ends, twist it and bend it from the inside. By connecting the hooks, you can hang the feeder on a branch. As you can see in the photo. Now pour in the food and wait for the guests.
Window bird feeder (with suction cups)
Such feeders are a very interesting option for the general development of children, and adults too :). The feeder is attached to the window, or rather to the glass, using suction cups. Usually such feeders are also made transparent in order to fully enjoy watching the birds. If you have suction cups, you can make such a feeder yourself, for example, from the same plastic bottle, but you must agree that it will still not be as aesthetically pleasing as the ready-made version from the store. Children will probably start taking pictures of all this, and photos with yellowed, cloudy bottles will, to put it mildly, not be so hot. The purchased options look very nice.
Bird feeders in winter help save birds from hunger. However, this is not the only reason why it is worth making them.
The beautiful and original feeders themselves can become a unique decoration for your garden.
And the process of their creation instills in the younger generation a sense of responsibility and care for weak creatures.
In addition, this is invaluable time, which 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 falling apart.
Most often, such a structure is suspended from a tree branch on thick ropes.
But such a feeder has a number of disadvantages. The most obvious thing is that this design does not in any way protect the food poured into it from precipitation and bad weather. It is also quite light and can move or tip over in the wind.
The second version of wooden feeders looks more like a house and has a roof. In such feeders, the food is reliably protected from bad 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 essentially 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 in that, unlike a straight roof, snow does not accumulate on it and does not have to be cleaned periodically.
There are also original versions of feeders made of wood. For example, a feeder can be made from ordinary logs. 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 pieces of wood 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 by about 5 centimeters.
This is necessary so that later it will be easier to remove the middle from the workpiece with a chisel. After all the work is done, the previously cut round pieces are nailed on both sides of the feeder.
All that remains is to screw in the rings and attach a chain on which you can hang the feeder.
Feeders made from plastic bottles
Plastic bottles are also used as feeders to feed birds. These can be either 5-6 liter containers or 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 the birds, cross perches are installed near the bottom of the feeder.
But sometimes you can find quite original feeders that provide automatic addition of feed. These are the so-called bunker feeders.
Such a feeder can consist of two wooden spoons inserted at an angle into through holes in the bottle. Thus, food from the bottle will gradually pour out onto the spoon.
A bunker feeder can be made from a 2-liter bottle. To do this, just cut the bottle in half, make round holes in the bottom, and turn the top over and place the neck down. The top can be covered with a lid or a disposable plate. You won’t need to add food to this feeder for a long time.
Useful materials for making bird feeders
The simplest feeder you can come up with is a garland of rowan, pine 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 food is eaten, the garland loses its appearance.
An interesting solution would be to make a feeder in the form of lumps of 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 stores.
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 (this can be baking molds or a regular balloon) and placed in a cold place to harden.
The same goes for dissolved gelatin mixed with grain.
If you have coconut shells lying around idle, then they 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 design itself will not differ much from simple feeders made from plastic bottles.
Photos of bird feeder ideas
