3 Bird Feeders to Make from Recycled Bottles

At least three different types of bird feeders can be made from an empty, clean Coffee-mate, 32 oz bottle. Here are directions to make a seed holder/feeder, an oriole feeder and a hummingbird feeder.

Material:

Empty, clean Coffee-mate bottle, 32 oz

Scissors

Craft knife with a sharp, pointed cutting blade

Permanent marker(s) and/or acrylic paint, optional

Pencil top erasers

Flex/bendable plastic drinking straws

Sealant (optional)

Wire or coat hangar

Pliers with wire cutters

Bird Feeder:

Step 1:

Thoroughly clean, dry and remove the label from the Coffee-mate bottle. Mark points to create holes for wire to go through on the cap. Place the marks for the wire holes approximately ¼ inch from the edge of the cap bottom and equidistant from each other to balance the bottle when it is hanging. Use the point of the craft knife to carefully press into the mark while turning the cap; the knife point will "drill" a small hole through the cap lid. Repeat the process to make another hole in the mark on the opposite side of the cap. Measure and cut 10 inches of wire; place one end of the wire into one of the holes in the cap and use the pliers to turn up the end of the wire to form a hook to hold the bottle. Repeat on the other side of the cap. Set the cap aside.

Step 2:

Use the marker to draw an opening for the bird to use to reach the seed. Draw a straight line across the bottom of the bottom approximately 1 ½ inches from the bottom of the bottle and then draw an arch from one end of the line up and across to the other end of the line. Repeat the drawing on the other side of the bottle if desired. Use the craft knife to cut along one edge of the line and then slip the point of the scissors into the cut area and cut along the line to create an opening. Repeat the process to create another opening on the other side if desired.

Step 3:

Use the craft knife to make small draining holes in the bottom of the feeder to keep the seed dry.

Oriole Feeder

The process for making the Oriole Feeder is very similar to the steps for making the Bird Feeder as outlined above. Repeat Step 1. Modify Step 2 by drawing the bottom line only an inch above the bottom of the bottle and then complete Step 2. Complete Step 3. The Oriole Feeder will hold an orange slice or jelly instead of seed.

Hummingbird Feeder

Step 1

Complete as outlined in making a Bird Feeder to complete the cap and wire holder.

Step 2

Create holes for 1, 2 or 3 feeding tubes. Make feeding tubes by cutting ¼ inch off the pointed end of the eraser top and using the craft knife to cut a small hole to extend the present tube to insert the straw. Make the feeling tube by cutting four inches off of the long end of the drinking straw. Insert the long end of the cut straw into the stopper you made. Make the holes slightly small and fit and adjust the holes as needed. Insert the stopper with the feeding tube into the holes. Bend the straw so that the feeding tube is angled up. If the stopper is not water tight use a non-toxic sealant to create a water tight seal.

Fill each feeder with the appropriate seed, fruit or syrup. Hang the feeder from a tree branch or holder where the birds/feeders will not be in direct sun or too close to the ground. Clean the feeders between fillings.

If the feeder needs to be replaced the cap may most likely be reused and the bottle/feeder cut and connected to the existing cap.