With cooler weather fast approaching, many people are filling their time with indoor activities. Crafts are a fall favorite, and one of my favorites is a handmade bird feeder.
It allows the whole family to watch beautiful local birds visit our home, providing hours of entertainment. If you’ve just become interested in making bird feeders, there are tons of tutorials online to choose from.
How do you choose the best one to make? What materials will bring the most birds to your yard?
I’m here to answer these questions with this list of the top 24 most popular DIY bird feeders, along with instructions to make each one.
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1. Whimsical Teacup and Saucer Bird Feeder
This adorable bird feeder from Mommy Moment brings a touch of whimsy to any garden or yard. All you need is a teacup, saucer, super glue, and a string to hang your creation.
Place a pile of glue in the center of the saucer, then tip the teacup on its side and secure it in the glue. Wait at least 24 hours for it to dry, then fill with birdseed and hang outside. Your feathered friends will gather around for a tea party in no time!
2. Youthful Cookie Cutter Bird Feeders
Get your kids involved with this fun craft to give your yard a unique look. Heat gelatin and water on the stove, then add your birdseed to create a thick, jelly-like mixture.
Then press the mixture into cookie cutters on wax paper, inserting a string halfway through. Follow this tutorial from Eighteen25 for full instructions.
3. Citrus Rind Bird Feeders
Add a splash of citrus to your yard with these miniature feeders. Re-use your orange and lemon rinds from juicing by thoroughly cleaning them out. Then use an embroidery needle and baker’s twine to create loops to hang each feeder.
Fill them with birdseed and display them in your yard! This tutorial from MamaPapaBubba adds a bit of natural peanut butter to the birdseed to make it stick.
Related: 24 Simple Chicken Coops You Can Build in Your Backyard
4. Up-cycled Egg Carton Bird Feeder
Make the most of your recyclables with this eco-friendly bird feeder from The Creative Cubby. Cut a cardboard egg carton in half and poke a hole in each corner to attach a string.
Then hang near a window, fill it with birdseed, and watch the birds flock from all over for a taste.
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5. Classic Peanut Butter Pine Cone Feeders
Reminisce on your elementary school days, or introduce this classic to your own kids. Simply cover a pine cone with natural peanut butter, then roll in birdseed to cover.
String up your bird feeders, and pick a spot in the yard to display them. This simple standard is a favorite for birds–who can resist peanut butter?
6. Natural Gourd Bird Feeder
Using natural elements in your garden can create a wonderful atmosphere. This tutorial from the Kitchen Counter Chronicle shows you how to convert a dried gourd into a beautiful bird feeder.
Cut the gourd in half and drill 3-4 holes at equal intervals along the top. String in some thin wire to hang, and fill with birdseed for a natural addition to any garden!
7. Recycled Milk Carton Bird Feeders
This is a great craft that your kids can do mostly on their own. Wash and dry paper milk cartons before beginning this craft. Then cut two large holes near the bottom of the feeder to allow birds to reach the birdseed.
Punch a small hole beneath each “window” and insert a stick to give birds a place to stand while they munch. Paint the outside of your bird feeder however you like before filling with seed and hanging outside.
8. Dried Apple Treats for the Birds
This natural treat looks good enough to eat! Dry some apple slices in the oven, then string them onto a decorative ribbon. Coat in some nut butter and dip into birdseed for extra crunch.
Then just hang them outside and wait for the birds to enjoy. This treat can be made with the whole family.
9. Colorful Tin Can Feeders
Utilize the growing pile of tin cans in your recycling pile by up-cycling some of them into these vibrant bird feeders. Paint your clean cans any color or design you like, then let dry.
Tie a thick ribbon around them to hang horizontally, then fill with birdseed. This tutorial from Mom Endeavors shows you how to create these playful feeders for your garden.
10. Mason Jar Bird Feeder
Bring a bit of the kitchen outside with this mason jar feeder from DIY Enthusiasts. Simply wrap a mason jar in your favorite fabric and tie the remainder in a knot.
Use super glue or hot glue to attach a wooden spoon to allow the birds to rest while they feed. Then use twine or string to attach the jar and fabric to a tree so that the jar hangs horizontally. Fill with birdseed and enjoy!
Related: 11 Reasons Why You Need to Help Us Save The Bees
11. Fruit and Grain Garland
Use up leftover fruits and cereal to make these decorative strands to adorn your yard. CBC Parents has a great tutorial for this project. String small fruits such as grapes, blueberries, and dried fruit onto a pipe cleaner.
Alternate with plain popcorn and Cheerios for added variety. Loop the pipe cleaners into a circle and hang on a low branch for a snack the birds will love.
12. Sturdy Mason Jar Feeder
This upside down mason jar feeder comes from the Garden-roof Coop. Simply fill a mason jar with birdseed and attach a small chick-feeder as a lid.
There are several ways to hang it (outlined in the tutorial), but my favorite involves twisting wire to make a decorative cage around the mason jar. This is a beautiful and functional piece of garden art that you’re sure to love!
13. Stale Bread Bird Feeder
This is a great way to use up stale bread and bring some colorful friends to your yard as well. Simply poke a hole in slices of stale bread and tie a piece of string or yarn through the hole.
Then spread some natural peanut butter on each slice and cover with birdseed. String these up around your yard for a great bird treat that’s made from otherwise wasted food. Click here for a full tutorial from CBC Parents.
14. Rustic Wine Bottle Feeders
Bring a taste of the wine country to your garden with these beautiful glass bird feeders from the Garden-roof Coop. Start by drilling several holes large enough to dispense birdseed around the base of each wine bottle.
Then use hot glue to attach a small plate as a base. This bird feeder can be placed on a table, or strung up with wire to hang from an awning or tree branch.
15. Plate and Bowl Bird Feeder
A few dollar store materials and some basic hardware come together beautifully for a piece of garden art. Erin’s Creative Energy shared this tutorial with us.
Start by drilling a hole in the center of a bowl and a plate, then use 3 nuts and 3 washers to attach them securely to a carriage bolt. This gives the birds a place to seek shelter from rain while they feed, and adds a colorful touch to your home.
16. Recycled Bottle Bird Feeder
This tutorial from One Good Thing shows you how to transform an empty plastic bottle and a couple of wooden spoons into a great area for birds to rest and eat during the winter. Turn your bottle upside down and wrap twine around the base to create a way to hang the feeder.
Then use a sharp knife to create small holes for the wooden spoons to rest by the handles. Create the holes slightly larger than the spoon handles, and the birds will have an easy time finding their food.
17. If the Shoes Fits…Feed It!
This simple feeder uses an old shoe of any style, and is great for that one that you just can’t find the match for. Nail the sole of the shoes to a tree and fill with birdseed.
It’s as simple as that! The birds will have a place to perch on the tongue of the shoe while they dig inside to find some seeds.
18. Dainty Teacup Towers
This guide from Rockies Crafts shows us how to create these adorable teacup bird feeders using recycled materials from around the house.
Paint an old table leg and attach a saucer and teacup to the top, then plant the whole thing in the yard. Fill the cup with birdseed and the saucer with water for a complete meal for the birds near you.
19. Window Close-Up Bird Feeder
Get an in depth view at the birds with this feeder from Ana White. Use scrap wood to create a flat bird feeder, or use part of a bird house kit for easy assembly.
Then attach suction cups to the back of the feeder and stick it on your window. The birds will come right up to your house to feed, and you’ll get a front row seat!
20. Flower Pot Bird Feeder
This gorgeous, elegant feeder comes from All Things House and Home. It requires a bit of technical work with a masonry drill bit, so make sure to read the full instructions before you begin.
You’ll drill decorative holes into the side of a wet terracotta flower pot, attach a plastic bottle reservoir to store the birdseed, and then attach a saucer for the top and another for the bottom. This video from Carrie Mullins shows you how to safely put holes in a terracotta pot.
21. Bagel Bird Feeders
This one is great for kids to get messy with! The tutorial from Mama Papa Bubba shows us how to make them.
Simply tie some yarn around a stale bagel, spread some peanut butter on each side, and dip into birdseed to coat. Hang them around the yard for a tasty treat with little effort!
22. Icy Ornaments
These winter bird feeders from Hello Glow create a beautiful addition to your winter yard. Place a glass in the bottom of a bowl, and fill it 1/4 with water.
Add birdseed and cranberries, and freeze to create a ring. Then string them up around the yard for added beauty in the winter months.
23. Lego Bird Feeder
This great idea from Fun Crafts Kids allows you and your family to get creative and build a Lego creation to feed your birds.
24. Colorful Ice Orb Feeders
These stunning colorful feeders from Twig and Toadstool are made up water and food coloring. Freeze colored water in a balloon outside, and use cake tins to freeze flats disks to go on top.
Combine the two once they both freeze, and then add birdseed for a colorful work of garden art!
Time to Start Feeding The Birds
These are all great bird feeder ideas you can make at home, but don’t get overwhelmed looking at them! Start with a simple feeder from recycled materials, and you’ll see how easy it is to create beautiful bird feeders on your own.
Remember that the whole point of these bird feeders is to enjoy making them and then enjoy watching the birds come visit your creations. Happy crafting!