When it’s bitterly cold outside, birds are happy to have food that they don’t have to search under snow and ice. A bird feeder ensures that grains & co. stay dry even in bad weather. And it’s very easy to build yourself.
When “running” a bird feeder, there are a few important things to consider. Don’t hang it too low or the birds will be easy prey for cats. Since birds don’t go to the toilet, attach it where the “Schiet” on the ground doesn’t bother you.
Food leftovers are not suitable as birdseed! It is best to fill the house with grains, oatmeal or raisins . Once you start feeding, you should continue to do so throughout the winter, as the animals will memorize the food source and return to it again and again. If you put a bowl of water inside in the summer, the house doubles as a bird bath – so you can use it all year round!
You need for this:
- multifunction tool
- 120 and 80 grit sandpaper
- cordless drill
- Drill (matching the diameter of the thread of the eyebolts)
- meter stick
- carpenter’s angle
- screw clamps
- hammer
- general occupational safety equipment
- 1 wooden panel: approx. 50 x 50 x 1.5 cm (Multiplex is used here. It is heavier and not cheap, but it is robust.)
- Round rod or dowel rod, 10 cm long
- waterproof wood glue
- nails
- Clear coat for spraying (for exterior)
- waterproof rope: about 50 cm long
- 2 eyelets for screwing (ensure the right diameter for the rope))
1.Measure and mark
For the bird feeder you have to saw a total of seven parts and prepare a small approach pole.
Draw three squares as side pieces on the plate. For this you need an underside that is a bit narrower. You can use the thickness of the wood as a guide: the piece should be twice the thickness of the wood narrower than the sides. That would be 3 cm here.
Overview of the components:
- 3 parts for rear wall and roof 20 x 20 cm
- 1 shelf 17 x 17 cm
- 2 side walls 17 x 5 cm
- 1 side wall 20 x 5 cm
Where the back wall and roof meet, you need a 45-degree angle. Draw this on the side of the plate. So you only have to saw once and both parts have the right angle.
Measure about 3 cm from the pole and mark this on the log.
2.sawing components
Now saw along the lines you drew. First trace the pencil line and only then saw through the wood.
Since the multifunction tool vibrates relatively strongly, it is important that you clamp the parts with the screw clamps before sawing!
3.Saw the angle in the approach bar
A notch is now sawn into the log or the dowel rod. To do this, also force the wood to your worktop.
First saw at your mark to the middle of the rod diameter. Attention: You work from the shorter end of your marker, the longer end should later protrude above the ground.
Then brace the rod upright and saw from above again in the center of the rod until you hit the mark. This creates an angle with which you can later easily attach the rod to the bird feeder from below. The glue has a good contact surface and holds securely.
4.Sand edges and surfaces
Now sand all the sawn parts, the cuts as well as the wooden surfaces. Start with the coarser paper (80s), if necessary work up again with the finer one.
Tip: If you have a lot of small parts of roughly the same size, it goes faster if you hold them together next to each other with a screw clamp and then sand them.
5.glue parts
Now glue the parts together as shown in the opening picture. So that nothing slips, fix it with the clamps to allow it to dry, if necessary also secure it with nails.
Glue the landing pole to the bottom center of the house from below.
6.paint
Once the glue has dried, you can paint your DIY bird feeder – either colored or with clear paint. A simple method is to use spray paint. Choose a wind-protected corner, good ventilation is important. Leave to dry well.
Tip: In order to protect the roof surfaces in particular, you can simply nail on some cheap roofing felt.
7.hang up the feeder
Now it’s time to hang up the house and put it into operation. So that the tree bark is not damaged, we use a rope construction.
To do this, mark two points on the back on a line about 2 cm from the edge. Drill two holes here and screw in the eyebolts.
Thread the rope through one of the eyelets and secure with a knot here. Then you put the rope around the tree trunk and fasten the second end in the other eyelet. Make sure the house is hanging relatively straight and isn’t swinging too much. If necessary, cut off the protruding cable.
Tip: If you don’t have a suitable tree, you can also screw the house onto a post. Either you find a suitable place in your garden or you mount a round or square timber on the ground yourself. It is best to sharpen or bevel the lower end. This also makes it easier for you to install it on a balcony and put it in a flower pot or similar.
