For many people, helping feathered friends in winter is an annual tradition from childhood. Moreover, it is no longer necessary to be limited only to milk cartons - there are much more interesting and original options. And most importantly, all these bird feeders can be made by hand. Just look!
1. Cardboard feeders
It is not at all necessary to make boring identical boxes out of cardboard. For example, you can assemble a neat hanging feeder using this template. The main thing is to choose durable packaging cardboard so that it does not get wet and keep its shape. Even unnecessary boxes from household appliances will do, which you can then simply paint over.
For even cuts, use a sharp clerical knife, but to make the folds neat too, you need a screwdriver or a ballpoint pen with a cap. You need to push the cardboard under the ruler at the folds, but do not tear it. And then you get straight lines without creases, curvatures and unexpected angles.
2. Feeder from ice cream sticks
The same ice cream sticks make a very interesting bird feeder. Moreover, assembling it is a truly meditative process, under which you can relax no worse than assembling jigsaw puzzles. Just paint the sticks first and let them dry completely.
Lay out the future bottom of the feeder on a flat flat base and fix it with tape so that nothing moves and does not part. On a regular PVA, glue several perpendicular sticks to secure the shape. For reliability, do it above and below the bottom - you will get both support and the beginning of future walls.
Lay out the sides in pairs, like a well - and so on about 10-15 rows, at your discretion. On both sides, glue two vertical sticks to the walls - this will be a support for the future roof. The roof of the feeder itself is assembled from two of the same parts as the bottom - all that remains is to glue them in the center and install them on the supports.
3. Feeders made of wood
If you are not afraid to work with wood and self-tapping screws, you can make a real house out of plywood. It's very simple - you just need to choose a nice drawing or draw your own, cut the sheet and connect all the details. It's no more difficult than with cardboard, only the tools are different! But such a feeder looks much neater and will last much longer!
New Year's stencils 2021 for cutting on windows (60 photos)
4. Feeders from tetrapacks
Even from a tetrapak, you can make a beautiful bird feeder, if you approach the issue with imagination. The main work is for a few minutes: cut a hole and bend a small nut so that the birds can sit there. And only then you can paint the bag and decorate it with leaves, branches, cones, artificial snow, ribbons and any other little things. This is a good option to do something useful with your child!
5. Feeders from cans
You can make an interesting feeder out of several tin or glass jars. Take a thick piece of wood or plywood under the base and screw the pre-painted overturned cans onto it with self-tapping screws. You will have an excellent shelter for a large number of birds at once.
To fix the glass, take a glue gun or make hangers from fabric tapes and bolts with a hook. By the same principle, you can make a feeder from small old cups and gravy boats - you get an almost fabulous tea party.
6. Suspension feeders
Hanging feeders for small birds, such as titmice or sparrows, can be made from an ordinary decorative net, an old eco-bag or a small metal chain-link. Of the advantages - the food will not scatter from the wind, and if you also make a lid, it will not get wet under the snow. Such feeders in the form of lanterns look spectacular and neat - you can even decorate your own plot with them.
7.Feeders out of the box
An interesting feeder can also be made from an old shoebox. To do this, you just need wrapping paper, paint or any other decor and strong thread. Color the box, decorate it with applique or decoupage - to your taste. Connect the cover and base with threads - this will be a suspended structure. All that remains is to pull the threads through the top for fastening - and you're done!
8. Bunker bottle feeder
Simple slotted bottle feeders are not very good - the thin, scratching edges are uncomfortable for birds. But on the other hand, you can make an interesting design with feed - the so-called bunker type.
Punch a few holes in the bottle and stretch out the wooden spoons so that there is still a small gap at the top. Birds will get grains from it, and food will gradually spill out as they are eaten. Insert a screw with a ring into the cork and attach a rope - for it you will hang the structure.
Of the advantages - the grain does not swell and does not damp, although the birds, of course, will have to follow the queue. Such a feeder looks interesting even without additional decor, despite the fact that it is just a plastic bottle.
9. Walnut board
If you have stocks of walnuts or even just even halves of the shell, in just a few minutes they can be turned into an unusual feeder. All you need is a wooden base or an unnecessary cutting board and glue.
Glue the halves firmly and wait until they dry firmly. Perhaps it seems to you that this is too one-time option - but we hasten to assure you otherwise! When the birds peck out the remaining nuts, the shell can be filled with any grain mixture by stirring it with a little water and gelatin or any other sticky mass.
10. Edible bird feeders
Natural eco-feeders can be made from any available products. For example, use a pumpkin, orange peel, ice cream cone, or a loaf of bread. Of course, this design is short-lived and not very elegant, but it's a great way to use foods that you don't need, and the birds will have time to eat them.
11. Biscuit feeder
Edible bird feeders in the form of cookies look beautiful and unusual, with which you can decorate trees in the yard. In essence, these are practically the same cereal sticks that are bought for pets. You will need bird food, cookie cutters, a bag of gelatin, and hot water.
Dilute gelatin in water according to the instructions and stir until completely dissolved. Pour the food into it until the mass is no longer liquid. Then fill the cookie cutters (for ice or any other) with the mixture and tamp well. Wait a couple of hours until they harden, and then pull the thread through with a thin needle. You can hang the ready-made delicacy cookies!
12. Lego feeders
If you have lego connoisseurs at home who have a whole collection of scattered unnecessary parts left, you can make a convenient and beautiful bird feeder out of them. Add different holes, make a lid and a large stand, use parts in different colors. This design will delight both children and adults, and will certainly add bright colors to winter weekdays!
