How to Make a Recycled Bird Feeder

Placing a bird feeder will entice wild birds to your yard. However, choosing a bird feeder from your local garden supply store can be overwhelming with the number of choices available to you. Instead of sifting through the premade bird feeders, make your own using items from around your home. Using things you have allows you to recycle and repurpose trash into treasures, saving your money while helping the environment.

Things You'll Need

  • 1/2-gallon plastic milk carton
  • Soap
  • Utility knife
  • 10-inch dowel rod
  • 72 inches of twine
  • Birdseed
  • Metal coffee can
  • Acrylic paint
  • Paintbrush
  • 2 eyehooks
  • Plastic coffee can lid
  • Hot glue
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Instructions

  1. Milk Carton

    • 1

      Clean an empty 1/2-gallon plastic milk carton using soap and water. Turn the carton upside down and let it dry overnight.

    • 2

      Use a utility knife to cut a 2-inch hole in the side of the milk carton. If the carton has circular indentations on the side, cut around one of those. Discard the cut-out piece.

    • 3

      Make a 1/4-inch X in the side of the carton 1 inch below the 2-inch hole. Make a second X on the opposite side of the carton, parallel to the first X. Insert a 10-inch dowel rod through the X's to create a bird perch. Position the perch so it goes through both X's and sticks out 2 inches from the X under the hole.

    • 4

      Tie a 24-inch piece of twine around the neck of the milk carton. Tie the other end of the twine to a tree. Fill the inside with birdseed.

    Coffee Can

    • 5

      Remove the label from a large metal coffee can. Clean the inside of the can with soap and water. Turn the can over and allow it to dry overnight.

    • 6

      Paint the outside of the can with acrylic paint. Use a paintbrush to decorate the can with any color or pattern you desire.

    • 7

      Use a drill to place two holes in the side of the can. Space the holes 4 inches apart in a parallel line the length of the can. Insert an eyehook into each hole. This allows you a place to hang the completed birdfeeder.

    • 8

      Cut a 2-inch hole in the plastic lid of the coffee can lid. Position the hole 1 inch above the edge of the lid. Cut the hole with a utility knife and discard the cut-out piece. Cut a 1/4-inch X below the cutout using the utility knife. Insert a 3-inch-long dowel rod into the X, so that 1inch is inside the lid and 2 inches outside the lid. Apply hot glue around the dowel rod to hold it in place. Let the hot glue cool for three to five minutes.

    • 9

      Tie a 24-inch piece of twine to each of the two eyehooks in the can. Tie the other end of the twine to a tree branch. Fill the inside of the can with birdseed. Place the lid on the can with the hole down.