How to Make a Bird Feeder Out of a Coffee Can

This project is fun to make and the resulting bird feeder is great to have any time of year. However, with Winter quickly approaching many people will need activities to keep their children occupied during long stretches of time spent hiding from Jack Frost. The bird feeder is also quite useful in Winter for feeding birds that do not migrate south during this time. Food for these birds is quite scarce during Winter so if you like birds then its probably more important that you feed your avian friends during winter than it is in summer.

The following project will help you do that easily and inexpensively. You and your little ones will also have a good time working on this fun project. Few tools are required, however adult supervision is necessary since lids and rims of cans are usually very sharp and this project does require handling those items.

Begin the project by obtaining a large new can of coffee. You will also need wire, any tool that can punch holes through the can, and if you wish paint to decorate the bird feeder with.

After you have obtained the necessary materials and tools start by opening the top lid of the coffee can half way. You can bend the lid out a little bit so you can pour out the coffee; be careful the lid will be sharp and can easily cut you. Be sure to store the coffee in an airtight container or it will quickly lose its flavor. After you have stored the coffee, repeat the process you started with and open the bottom of the coffee can halfway.

Now both ends of the coffee can should be half way open. Taking care not to cut yourself, gently bend the open half of the top lid down inside the can. Repeat this process for the other end of the coffee can. If done properly the sharp edges of the lids will no longer be exposed. The bent lids on each end of the can will later make a nice perch for birds to rest on while they are eating.

Next either drill or punch two holes in the side of the can. Make one hole in each end and make sure that they line up. Now if you wish you may continue making the bird feeder as is or you can apply paint and make a unique bird feeder. When I make these I often paint the can white or another light color. I then cut sponges in various shapes and allow my children to sponge shapes, with different colors of paint, on to the can. This is also a great way to keep multiple children occupied if you make a can for each of them and allow them to go to work designing their own customized bird feeder.

If you elect to paint the can, allow it to dry for an hour or two. After the paint has dried thread the wire through the holes you made in the can. Then tie the ends of the wire together to form a large loop which you can use as a hanger. Now all that's left is to add birdseed and hang the birdfeeder from a sturdy tree branch.