How to Build a Bird Feeder [Tutorial]

The Cottage Peach is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are our own.

Like many young people, I thought my grandpa might have some kind of magic. You see, he was one of those people who seemed to be friends with the birds in a way not many of us are. He could merely step out into his yard and with a few quick whistles summon all varieties of backyard birds to his palm or his shirt pocket, where they would enter into a conversation of chirps and intense eye contact that fascinated me. To be honest, looking back I’m still fairly certain that it was some sort of magic. Even through the rose colored glasses of childhood, I know deep in my bones that he understood something of nature that many people do not. Could he have known that these moments he spent with me and the birds, carving whistles from fallen horse chestnuts, would become a part of my own origin story as a naturalist? Far from an expert though I might be, he showed me what it meant to be a student of nature long before I grew my own garden or made my own companions in the rabbits and toads that keep me company as I sow, weed and water. I learned from him that all wildlife has value, no matter how small. That bird song deserves our attention. And of course, I learned that feeding birds is just plain fun.

Why have a bird feeder? Here’s some of the benefits of backyard birds in your yard:

Pollination

Backyard birds do much of the same work as the insect pollinators we are all familiar with when it comes to spreading seed and supporting plant growth - both good and bad. For example, the reason you almost exclusively find poison ivy along fences and underneath trees is because birds eat the berries, digest them and then “plant” them while sitting on branches or fence posts.

Pest control

Birds eat bugs - the largest ones eat rodents too. Aside from the beloved garden worm, they also eat flies, ants, moths, aphids and ticks…and if you’re luckier than me, they’ll even help with your cabbage moth problem by eating the larvae before they have a chance to totally decimate your kale crop (ask me how I know)

Weed control

Birds eat seeds, including weed seeds! Birds can help manage invasive species that you do not want growing on the land with their snacking. This is also why it is so important not to completely clear-cut your dead garden for the fall and winter - leave it up as a vital food source for the local wildlife and cut back in the spring before new growth forms instead.

Conservation

Creating an environment that is inviting and safe for backyard birds offers us the chance to give back through conservation of these important species. The more trees and shelter your can provide throughout the land, the better for all your neighborhood birds (and other wildlife!)

Education

What better way to teach your children the importance of wildlife than to observe it in your own backyard, as I did as a child with my grandfather.

Bird song

I have yet to meet a person who doesn’t enjoy the warbling, chirping, sing-songing symphony of bird song in the summertime.

What is a bird feeder?

A bird feeder is some type of container hung from a high up spot and filled with bird food that allows birds to land and eat safely. A bird feeder can be made of many different things - read on for some of my favorite DIY bird feeder ideas!

So you want to know how to build a bird feeder. Thanks to decades of experience, I’ve made my fair share of zero waste bird feeders for free, with repurposed materials you probably have in your house right now. Here are some of my favorite DIY bird feeders you can make today:

• Fruit string garlands: This is a simple bird feeder. Pop some popcorn the night before and leave it out so it gets a bit stale since it’s easier to thread this way. The next day, cut up various fruits (apples, oranges and blueberries work well) With a needle and thread, pierce through your fruit chunks and popcorn in an alternating pattern until you have a good length of garland. Simply drape your finished garland over a couple of branches and you’re done.

• Empty can on its side: Create a bird feeder station by piercing a hole in the bottom of your empty tin can and thread a piece of sturdy twine all the way through the inside of the can, through the opening and the hole you created, making a large loop over the top. Secure the twine so that the can can lay on it’s side when hung and add a layer of birdseed to the “floor” of the can.

• TP roll covered in peanut butter + seeds: Kids love this easy bird feeder! It’s a little bit messier, but easy and fun. Spread a thin layer of peanut butter over the exterior of the toilet paper roll. Pour your birdseed into a tray or baking sheet and then slowly roll the tube in the seeds to coat the outside with seed. Thread a piece of sturdy twine through the interior of the tube and secure, making a big loop from which to hang your TP roll!

• Cookie cutter ornament bird feeder: Combine 2 envelopes of gelatin with ⅔ cups boiling water. Stir 2 cups of birdseed into this and press firmly into your cookie cutters. Use a toothpick to form a small hole that you can pass twine through to hang your ornament outside. Allow to dry overnight.

• Pinecone bird feeder: Similar to the TP roll craft above, you’re going to spread a thin layer of peanut butter over the pine cone and roll in seeds on a tray. Securing a piece of twine may be a little trickier on this one - but just try and wrap it around the top of the pinecone and form a loop for hanging.

• Hollowed out orange with toothpick ledges: Cut your orange in half and scoop out the inside. Save for a snack for later, or incorporate into the fruit garland idea above. Poke 8 holes evenly around the cut edge of the orange. Thread twine through 4 of these holes and have them meet at the top to form a hanging basket. Poke toothpicks in the remaining 4 holes to serve as ledges the birds can stand on. Fill the empty orange with seed and hang.

• Egg carton: Take the lid off of an egg carton and poke holes in the four corners of the bottom piece. Thread twine through the four holes you just made to create hanging loops. Pour bird seed into the divots that the eggs would normally rest in and hang! I think this is the best bird feeder you can make with minimal effort.

It’s important to be mindful about choosing a bird seed blend that is meant for birds in your area when considering a bird feeder DIY. If possible, choose an organic variety to avoid exposing your bird neighbors to unwanted pesticides or other chemicals. Bird seed is the safest thing to feed your backyard birds. Here are some foods that aren’t safe for backyard birds:

• Bread

• Spoiled seed

• Chips

• Anything with sugar

• Honey

• Salt

• Milk

How to keep squirrels away from bird feeders

Let’s be honest; you’re going to have a tough time finding any bird feeder that is completely squirrel-proof, and DIY bird feeders do not have any extra cages or protection on them to help in that regard. I accept that squirrels will probably take more than their fair share from the snack I create, but you can try a couple of things to deter squirrels from investigating your bird feeder: Switch up your seed to see if there’s a variety they aren’t interested in (squirrels do not like safflower seed, nyjer seed, and white proso millet), try mixing cayenne powder into your bird seed (birds are not sensitive to the heat of capsaicin but squirrels are!) keep the ground clean of spilled seed underneath the bird feeder and place your bird feeders away from trees.

Where to place a bird feeder

According to Yard Envy, you should hang your finished DIY bird feeder in a place where your visiting birds feel safe from predators. Avoid open and noisy areas and hang your bird feeders at eye level or a little above. Do not hang feeders too close to any place where squirrels can jump on them, or so low that they are within a cat's reach.

How to attract birds to your feeder

According to Wild Birds Unlimited, birds generally find their food by sight. Placing your feeder where it will be visible to them should decrease the time it takes for birds to start feeding. Sometimes sprinkling some seed on the ground or on top of the feeder will let the birds know that you are open for business.