Screw the hook into the center of the bottle's cap, making sure it is firm and tight. Attach the Hanger Hook. Oval-shaped holes that are taller than they are wide will be easier for birds to feed on. Each additional perch should be 2 to 3 inches higher than the last and rotated around the bottle from where the last perch was located. Hang your bird feeder on a branch, or outside your window and enjoy the chirping of the birds. /* AHC-Blog-White */ Cut the bottom off a large bottle and use the plastic disk to create a roof shelter for a small feeder. A small bit of glue can also be used to secure perches and keep the holes from widening or loosening. google_ad_client = "ca-pub-2184449379879985"; Make your own bird feeder with recycled materials and place it on your windowsill, porch or garden. This creates the most space for birds to perch. For more details, see our, The 8 Best Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeders of 2020, 20 Genius Ways to Reuse Empty Plastic Bottles, How to Get Birds to Use a New Bird Feeder, Brome SquirrelSolution 200 Bird Feeder Review, Perky-Pet Copper Panorama Bird Feeder Review. Cut holes large enough to fit the perches completely through the bottle, about 1 1/2 inches from the bottom of the bottle. The top perch should be 3 to 4 inches below the cap. //-->. Cut a single broad feeding window from one side of the bottle, 2 to 3 inches from the bottom. For perches, you can use woodworking dowels, unsharpened pencils, chopsticks, twigs, or any other similar stick. Clean and dry the bottle thoroughly, removing any labels. While this project is easy enough for children to do, proper adult supervision is always a good idea. Enjoy!! Cut feeding ports 1 to 2 inches above each perch, using a utility knife. Technorati Tags: plastic bottle crafts, recycle plastic bottles, crafts with plastic bottles, crafts for kids, water bottles, water bottle crafts, bird feeders, bird feeder crafts, bird feeder crafts for kids, recycled water bottles, recycled water bottle crafts. The most common bottles for this project are ordinary 2-liter beverage bottles, but just about any plastic bottle will work, including water bottles, sports drink bottles, or even plastic ketchup or jelly containers. Pierce holes (adult help) above the perches a little larger than the size of the seeds. Turn the bottle upside down to create a seed or nectar reservoir, and purchases ready-made feeder and perch attachments to convert the bottle into a nifty feeder. A great family project for bird lovers is turning an ordinary 2-liter plastic bottle into a functional bird feeder. Plus, it is super easy to refill your Bird Feeder by the cap of the top of the water bottle. If the feeding ports are too big, placing a piece of clear tape over them and recutting smaller holes in the tape can fix the problem. This is fast and easy but does require the extra purchase of attachments. When refilling your feeder, put any uneaten seed into a platform or. When inserting the perches, balance the length of the perch on each end to allow birds to feed comfortably. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Tie some twine on top of the bottle to hang it. Make 2 holes (adult help) opposite to each other near the bottom of the bottle to allow the pencil to … The birds can perch on the pencils and pull out seeds from the holes on the sides of the water bottle. Allow the bottle to air dry for several hours or overnight to ensure that no moisture remains inside, which could cause the seeds to spoil. And, there you have it….. your very own Plastic Bottle Bird Feeder. If desired, you can add crumpled paper, decorative marbles or gravel to fill the very bottom of the feeder, occupying the space below the feeding ports where the seeds are out of reach of the bids. Screw the hook into the center of the bottle's cap, making sure it is firm … After the hook is fully inserted, seal both sides (inside and out) with a drop of polyurethane glue to provide extra strength and to keep moisture out of the feeder. google_ad_slot = "2524599734"; Convert half a bottle into a simple ant moat to keep insects out of nectar feeders. If you have more excess plastic bottles, there are other bird feeder designs you can try: You can also use plastic water bottles or soda bottles in other ways to help birds: To keep your new bird feeder at its best for the birds: Melissa Mayntz has been a birder and wild bird enthusiast for 30+ years. Slowly fill the feeder with the desired seed. She has over 16 years experience writing about wild birds for magazines and websites. Use bottles to create a loose, movable baffle to keep squirrels from climbing poles or wires and getting into your bird feeder. If necessary, you can use an awl or nail to start the hole, which will make it easier to screw in the hook. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Welcome birds into your neighborhood this spring…. You can opt-out at any time. If desired, add additional perches higher on the bottle. This will limit the amount of seed the feeder can hold—you'll only be able to fill it up to the level of the window—but this design can be built and hung very quickly. Now go hang it up outside and enjoy watching the birds feed off of the bird feeder you made yourself.