What’s the idea?
Make a bird feeder from recycled household products – it’s super easy and a project both adults and kids will love!
What’s the story?
We have been thinking of making a bird feeder for a while and the kids especially have always been keen.
Our recycling bin has been fuller than usual because we’ve all been at home.
So I decided it was the perfect time to get crafty and make a bird feeder!
My daughter and I looked together online about the many ways to do this.
She chose to create a feeder from a simple plastic bottle and my son chose to use a loo roll.
We had some seeds and butter in the cupboard and left over string from another project – this really was easy!
My daughter was particularly keen as she was given some binoculars and a bird book for Christmas.
She can’t wait to see which birds she can spot!
People should do this because…?
It gives the birds a helping hand (especially during the colder months);
It can attract a variety of birds into your garden;
It’s easy to do and the kids will love getting involved;
There are many different ways to make one using household products you probably already have.
How do you do it?
Make a bird feeder from a plastic bottle:
Equipment
- Plastic bottle
- Knife/drawing pin to pierce holes
- Two strong garden sticks or kebab sticks or wooden skewers
- String
- Scissors
- Bird seed/seeds/sunflower seeds
Method
- Find a large plastic bottle – around 300ml is ideal. Make sure you have the lid;
- Take the lid off and create 2 holes opposite each other near the bottom of the bottle. (We used a knife or you could use a drawing pin. We recommend an adult does all of the steps which need a knife);
- Poke a stick or skewer through one of the holes and out the other side – this is where the birds will perch;
- Create 2 more holes opposite each other and poke the other stick through the bottle so it forms a ‘cross’;
- Make 2 or 3 larger holes around the middle of the bottle – this is where the birds will feed from. They should be about the diameter of a pencil;
- Put a few small holes in the bottom of the bottle so any rainwater can drain out;
- Create 2 holes opposite each other near the top of the bottle;
- Thread the string through the holes at the top and tie it in a knot, leaving enough length to hang it from something;
- Fill the bird feeder with bird seed up to about halfway (you can get this online or from your local garden centre) – about half way
- Put the bottle cap back on the bottle;
- Hang from a tree or elsewhere in the garden (high enough to keep the birds safely away from cats and other predators) and wait for the birds to come!
Make a bird feeder from an old loo roll tube
This is such an easy way to make a bird feeder you could make more than one.
Equipment
- An old loo roll tube
- Scissors
- String
- A wide tray or dish
- Butter or peanut butter
- Honey
- Birdseed
Method
- Find a tray or dish large enough to roll the loo roll tube all the way along it;
- Pour some birdseed into the tray;
- Mix some butter and a little bit of honey in a bowl;
- Spread the mixture over the loo roll tube with a cutlery knife or your finger;
- Roll the sticky loo roll tube along the tray until it is fully covered in the birdseed;
- Leave it to dry;
- Make a couple of holes in the top of the loo roll tube and thread a piece of string through it;
- Tie the string in a knot at the top, leaving enough length to hang it from somewhere;
- Hang your loo roll tube bird feeder in the garden and enjoy watching your feathered friends.
For some other ideas on how to create a bird feeder please click here.
Links to other Stuffer pages
Links to other articles on the web
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/make-a-bird-feeder-from-recycled-materials
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/makes/mr-blooms-nursery-bird-feeder
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/bird-feeders-for-kids-to-make-2764688
Links to other videos on the web
Links to apps
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.labs.merlinbirdid.app
