How to Build Bird Seed Feeders

If you are a bird enthusiast or just enjoy hearing chirping outside your window, bird feeders are an easy way to attract birds to your yard. Feeders come in all shapes and sizes. You can purchase bird feeders at home or garden supply stores, but they can be expensive. To save money, you can make your own with everyday household supplies. With a little concentration and effort, you can make your own feeder that will rival any store-bought counterpart.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 liter plastic soda bottle
  • Marker
  • Utility knife
  • Wooden spoons
  • Birdseed
  • Eye screw
  • String
  • Hole punch
  • Disposable pie plate
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Instructions

  1. Method One

    • 1

      Clean an empty one liter plastic soda bottle. Allow the bottle to dry completely. If the bottle has a label on it, remove it.

    • 2

      Use a marker to draw an asterisk on the side of the bottle. The asterisk should be 1/2 inch in size and located approximately four inches from the bottom of the bottle. Draw a circle on the bottle directly opposite of the asterisks that is one inch in size.

    • 3

      Turn your bottle a quarter of a turn. Repeat Step 2, except instead of placing the asterisk and hole at 4 inches from the bottom, place them at two inches from the bottom.

    • 4

      Use a utility or craft knife to cut out the lines of both asterisks and both circles.

    • 5

      Insert the handle of a wooden spoon through each hole. Press the end of the handle out the asterisk opposite the hole. Press the spoon all the way through so that the spoon end is flush with the bottle.

    • 6

      Remove the lid from your bottle and fill it will the birdseed of your choice. Food will feed out of the holes and into the spoons for your birds to eat from.

    • 7

      Twist the screw end of an eye screw through the bottles lid. Replace the lid onto the bottle.

    • 8

      Tie a piece of string or twine through the eye hook and hang your feeder from a tree.

    Method Two

    • 9

      Use a hole punch to make three holes in the side of a disposable pie plate. The holes should be equal distance apart, equivalent to four, eight and twelve on a clock.

    • 10

      Feed a 12 inch piece of heavy string through each hole in the pie plate and tie them into place. Gather the loose ends of the strings and tie them together with a secure knot. Tie another length of string to this knot. The length of string will depend on how low you want your feeder to hang.

    • 11

      Hang your bird feeder from a tree and fill it with the bird seed of your choice.