D.I.Y. bird feeder

[woodenwookie]

Bird feeders made from Pine boards treated with linseed oil and Rust-Oleum gloss.

• The project
• More inspiration for your bird feeder project

The project

At end of 2022 Mrs Wookie asked me to make some bird feeders she'd found online for Little Wookie's teachers. I was able to find the time to make six. Then Mrs Wookie remembered two more teachers, so I've made eight in total for teachers. I've just about finished my ninth for our neighbour who looked after our cat while we were on holiday. The neighbour's one is the best so far but also not quite as good which I'll get into a little later.

I can make one of these from one 1200 x 140 x 18mm Pine board from Bunnings. They're pretty simple to construct but the first one I made differs immensely from the one I'm currently making. The first one I had the front butt up to the sides on the inside. With the subsequent ones, I had the front covering the sides, thus hiding the end grains. This also gives the tray a little extra room while making it shallower for the smaller birds to easily get at.

For the first eight, I used screws to hold everything together. I do however regret this look which is why for the current one I am using 6mm dowels. As you can see from the photos below, this makes everything look so much nicer. Little Wookie and Mrs Wookie painted the first six I made. The last ones I used linseed oil for a more natural look. 

Here are the parts laid out.

The tray.

The tray with the front on.

Back attached. The height of the back is 350mm so add 18mm for the roof.

The bottles are held in using a Kinetic 46 - 70mm 316 Stainless Steel Hose Clamp which I cut to size and drilled a hole in the centre. They work great and can be loosened using either a 7mm socket (the driver end of a bit driver is 7mm so you can use that) or a screwdriver. 

With the roof on. 

Bottle attached.

I used dowels instead of screws for the neighbour's one. I purchased a pack of the PG Professional 6mm Dowel Jointing Kits which gave me the dowel centres that made doing this so much easier. I also purchased a PG Professional Dowel Fluted 6mm 60pk for stock because I'm at a point where I think I've nailed the construction of these.

I used Linseed Oil to bring out the grain. All of them I covered with Rust-Oleum 298g Clear Gloss 2X Ultra Cover to protect them from the rain. 

More inspiration for your bird feeder project

Workshop member Poppop made this indoor/outdoor bird feeder out of a Pine tree trunk.

Community member Joe recycled old wooden drawers he collected from the roadside to build this bird house for his garden.

For more creative and clever ideas, check out our Top 10 most popular outdoor projects.