Then using a table saw rip two pieces to 7″ in width and four pieces to 1 1/2″ in width. Step 2 – Cut Boards for the TrayĪgain take a 1×12 board and cut two more pieces to 16″ in length. The ripped edges will be connected together, later on, to make the roof slope at 30 degrees. Do this for both roof boards on the 20″ side. Then with a table saw, rip one side of the roof board to 30 degrees. Take 1×12 and cut two roof boards to 20″ in length using a miter saw. Start by cutting the largest pieces first. All of the pieces for this project will fit on an 8 foot long 1×12. You could build it from scrap pieces that you might have laying around or just buy one 1×12 board. This bird feeder project doesn’t require much wood. See lumber sizes for actual dimensions vs nominal.ĭisclosure: Some of the links on this page as well as links in “tools for this project” and “material list” sections are affiliate links. This took about 20 minutes to build and could easily be a family project if you cut the wood for the kids first.Ī DIY bird feeder: a simple way to add colour and life to your winter garden.Note: Lumber dimensions are listed as nominal size. Our winter buffet (aka cat television) is open for business! By having a taller lip, the bird seed is more protected from the weather. The lip on this DIY bird feeder may seem high, and feel free to lower it if you like, but my reasoning was that I know some squirrel is going to try to sneak in and I didn’t want its weight tipping all the food out of the feeder. Sand it smooth if you like, but no other finish necessary cedar will age beautifully and is meant for the outdoor elements.įill with a premium bird seed (the dollar store stuff doesn’t attract birds and will only grow weeds in your lawn, trust me) and hang. Insert your rope from the outside into the inside of your bird feeder and tie a knot. Don’t make the holes too big though, you don’t want your bird seed pouring out either. This will help any water that does manage to find its way in, also find its way out again. Glue and screw into place.īefore filling your DIY bird feeder, you’ll want to drill a couple of small holes in the base of it. Line up the second roof board so that it overlaps both the peak and the first roof board. You don’t have to do this, the roof overlap should keep the bird seed pretty protected, but it’s a ‘nice to have’ if you have caulking around the house. This part is optional, but I decided to run a bead of all-weather caulking along the inside of the roof line to help keep some of the water out of the feeder. There will be a slight overhang on either side of your bird feeder as well as a long overhang over the lip to protect from the elements. Using wood glue and wood screws line up your first roof board with the peak of your DIY bird feeder and screw into place. Using wood glue and 1 1/4″ wood screws, attach the ‘lip’ of your feeder between the two side boards and flush with the edge of your base. Using wood glue and 1 1/4″ wood screws attach these two side pieces to the base of your DIY bird feeder. 2 pieces of 1×6 cut to 10″ long (and then cut in half length-wise to 2 1/8″ x 10″)įind the centre point of your 9″ boards and cut a 45 degree angle from that point outwards to either side of the board’s long side to create your peak.ĭrill a hole in both boards, centred and near the top, just slightly larger than the thickness of your rope.There are very few cuts for this easy DIY bird feeder DIY Bird FeederĪ six-foot 1×6 cedar board will run you about $4 – depending on where you live – and the rest of the supplies you can ‘make do’ with whatever you have lying around the house – maybe nails instead of screws, or chain instead of rope? Last year I showed you how to make a super-simple bird house to help keep our feathered friends warm, this year I’m adding to my garden with this easy ($4) DIY bird feeder. It seems every February I get the ‘feels’ for the poor birds.
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