Do you want to try making a bird feeder but you don’t want to work with wood or power tools? You don’t have to work with wood or special tools to make a fantastic bird feeder that will keep your feathered friends happy and well fed all year long. Almost anyone can make a bird feeder using an empty milk jug, and before you say a bird feeder made from an empty milk jug wouldn’t look attractive in your back yard, read all of the instructions. A milk jug bird feeder barely resembles a milk jug when decorated and equipped with perches. This is a great way to use empty milk jugs while keeping the birds well fed. Making feeders instead of buying them is a resourceful way to use empty milk jugs that might otherwise end up in the trash.
Necessary Supplies
To make a milk jug bird feeder you’ll need an empty plastic milk jug, a fine-tip marker, a 1/8 inch diameter dowel rod cut into 2 – 12-inch sections, natural twine or a sheppard’s hook for hanging, and a small utility knife. Don’t forget the birdseed!
Procedure
Begin by washing out a plastic milk jug, and dry the exterior thoroughly. Draw the outline for two large openings on opposite sides using a fine-tip marker, making sure to leave the sides intact approximately 3-inches above the bottom. Just below the lip of the two large openings, make holes opposite each other to accommodate two narrow dowel rods. The dowel rods will cross inside of the milk jug, so be sure to make one set of holes below or above the others so they don’t interfere with each other. Next, poke several small drainage holes in the bottom of the container. Tie a section of natural twine to the handle, or mount it on a sheppard’s hook. Alternately you can decorate the bird feeder before hanging.
Decorating Your Milk Jug Bird Feeder
Although humans prefer fancy yard décor and accessories, birds prefer natural looking homes and feeding stations. If you want a fancier feeder you can cover your milk jug bird feeder with pinecone pieces, acorn caps, moss, strips of bark, or any other natural materials. Use a hot glue gun along with your imagination to create a bird feeder that will attract birds of many different varieties. After it’s decorated it will barely resemble the milk jug it once was.
Hanging and Feeding Suggestions
Cats and other predators hide in bushes and other concealed areas. To avoiding creating a deathtrap for your feathered friends, hang your milk jug bird feeder in an open area away from bushes and trees. In addition, make sure the bird feeder is high enough off the ground to avoid an ambush from below.
Keep the bird feeder filled with a mixture of wild bird seed, especially during the cold months of winter when food is scarce. Clean the bird feeder often to avoid moldy seed, and reopen the drainage holes as necessary. With regular care and cleaning, your milk jug bird feeder will keep the birds that visit your yard happy, healthy, and very well fed.
