Building your own bird feeder is both fun and rewarding. Here are some easy craft ideas for attracting more feathered friends while adding a personalized touch to your outdoor space.

Sometimes, the best birdwatching opportunities are from the comfort of your own home. This is especially true if you set up a bird feeder to draw the local flock to your yard. Not only is it satisfying to build something with your own hands, but you’ll get to enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of the birds it attracts. While buying a bird feeder is certainly an option, making your own simple version is quick, easy, cheap, and a great project to invite the kids on.

Pinecone Feeder

This classic DIY bird feeder is an enduring favourite because it is super simple to make and easy for little hands to help with. First, you’ll need to find a large, open pinecone. Then, spread peanut butter (or a nut-free alternative) all over the scales and roll the pinecone in a shallow dish filled with bird seed. Tie some twine around the top, hang it from a tree branch, and you’re all done.

Seed Cookie Feeder

Another easy option, this feeder simply requires you to combine birdseed with unflavored gelatin and a bit of warm water, stirring until everything is well mixed. Then, place your choice of cookie cutters down on a parchment-lined tray and spoon the mixture into them, pressing down firmly. Near the top of each shape, insert a straw to create a hole you can later put a string through. Allow the mixture to set, insert the string, and hang from a branch for a colourful, edible ornament.

Milk Carton Feeder

With just a few snips and a bit of paint, an empty milk or juice carton can become a charming bird feeder. Start by rinsing and drying the container, then cut a window about halfway up one of the sides to serve as the feeding area. Poke a hole below the window and insert a stick or a dowel through it for a perch. Then, just decorate it with some weather-resistant paint, tie a string to the top, fill the inside with a mix of birdseed, and hang it up!

Wine Bottle Feeder

A wine bottle turned upside down can make a surprisingly elegant feeder! First, wash and dry the bottle, then fill it with birdseed. Next, grab two pieces of scrap wood, one for the base and the other for the backboard. Attach the two pieces in an “L” shape with screws or nails so the base sits at a right angle to the back. Secure the bottle upside down to the backboard with wire or twine so the opening rests just above the base, allowing the seed to slowly spill out as birds eat.

Teacup Feeder

If you have a teacup and a saucer that are just sitting and collecting dust, you can turn them into a lovely vintage-style feeder instead. Attach the cup sideways onto the saucer using strong, outdoor-safe glue. Once the glue sets, thread a chain or ribbon through the handle for hanging outside and fill it with seeds. It will look like the seeds are spilling out of the cup and onto the plate, adding a whimsical touch to your garden.

Whether you go with a super simple pinecone feeder or a customized milk-carton masterpiece, you’ll be sure to notice more feathery neighbours hanging around in no time.