A Very Simple Bird Feeder
Legal Mumbo Jumbo and Don't Blame Me
NOTE that this page describes a very simple bird feeder constructed by myself. If you choose to copy my design, any risk being taken is strictly yours. I do not promise any results for you in any way. If you follow my lead, I hope everything goes well for you. On the other hand, if you cut off a finger, somehow empty your bank account, poison your dog or your birds, wreck your car, or cause any other problems for you or others, do not blame me because I only allow you to read this for educational purposes. What you do with the information is your business alone.
A Bird Feeder That Is Easy To Make
A few months ago, I made a bird feeder. Now the ground has been covered by lots of snow and the birds are eager to find a source of food. When I put bird seed in my feeder, the birds spend much of their day eating there. Although there is really only room for one or two birds at a time, we often see more than 20 birds all around it waiting their turns in the feeder.
The feeder is constructed from the plastic container previously containing 20 pounds of Purina® TIDY CATS® brand Cat Litter. This is the clumping type litter that comes in a container that looks like this:
Starting with an empty container, the label is printed on soft plastic material that is easily removed. Remove the label.
Retain the container's lid and keep it tightly screwed on the top to prevent any rain or snow from entering the feeder through the opening at the top.
Use a marker and draw a pattern on the sides of the plastic container that looks like the following photos:
(See diagram below)
Cut the container plastic material along the marker lines. The portions marked with X are then removed and discarded.
Bend out the panel near the top on each side to serve as an awning. These help keep rain and snow off the bird seed as well as providing some shelter for the birds using the feeder.
The birds will need perches while eating and they can be made using two pencils. Make holes where shown and use hot glue to secure a pencil through the holes on each side. It is best to use unsharpened pencils. If you have some wooden dowel, you could get creative with making perches of a different design.
Make a hole at the top through the handle of the container so that wire or cord can be threaded through the hole to hang the feeder from a tree limb or other high place. In my case, I bent a wire coat hanger to serve this purpose.
One detail not shown in the photos is to punch a few very small holes in the bottom of the container, perhaps one near each of the four corners. This is to provide drainage if any precipitation does get into the seed.
Perhaps these photos can give a better of an idea of how things end up. (Please excuse the bird poop.)
Now here is a photo of the bird feeder in action:
Here is a pair of Cardinals that came to visit the feeder. When the photo was taken, the feeder was just out of view below and to the right of the Cardinals.
We are not avid bird watchers but we do know that if you choose to put a feeder out, you should always keep it stocked with seed. Once the birds find it, they will come to rely on it for food. In our experience, when the feeder is first present, an occasional bird will show up. With time, more and more birds discover the feeder and pretty soon there will be more varieties of birds and birds in much greater numbers. For the most fun, be sure to place your feeder where you can easily watch the activities. We have not had any problems with squirrels raiding our feeder and this is certainly not a squirrel proof feeder.
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Updated 20140209
