Winter is a time when wild animals have limited access to various resources - including food. We humans are happy to help our little friends by feeding them. Additionally, building a birdhouse together with your loved ones will allow you to spend special time together. In this article, we will help you make a bird feeder to hang in your garden or on your balcony.
A wooden bird feeder - what will we need?
To start preparing a bird canteen, you need to equip yourself with the right materials:
- hammer,
- a handful of nails,
- saw,
- pencil,
- 2 boards measuring 45 cm x 24 cm,
- 2 wooden scantlings 24 cm long,
- 2 boards measuring 25 cm x 16 cm,
- 2 boards measuring 50 cm x 22 cm,
- sandpaper.
Bird feeder - STEP 1: FLOORING
The easiest way to start building is with the floor. To create it, prepare 2 boards measuring 45 cm by 24 cm. If the cut edges are rough and uneven, sand them down using sandpaper. Then join them together parallel with the longer side. The base will be formed by two boards, which will be joined on the underside with two slats using nails.
STEP 2: SIDEWALLS
In the next step we will try to make the side walls on which the canopy will be mounted. We take two boards measuring 25 cm by 16 cm. We apply a ruler to the shorter edge and measure the exact centre of it. Make a small section at this point with a pencil. Then measure 5 cm down from it and mark on both sides with a small line. Connect the 3 points you just drew with a pencil to make a triangle. Then cut out the drawn pattern with a saw so that the board resembles an arrow. Sand the cut sides again using sandpaper.
STEP 3: ROOF
The roof will be formed by two 50 cm x 22 cm boards. Leave an approx. 2.5 cm allowance so that an eave is formed. This protects the food from driving rain. Then we need to join everything together and nail it down. Mark out the points where the nails should be beforehand with a pencil.
STEP 4: ADDITIONAL DECORATIONS
If you want to build tit feeder, which will blend in with its surroundings, you can cover the canopy of the feeder with hot glue and pieces of bark. Spread the bark on one side of the glue and then stick them one by one to the canopy until it is completely covered.
STEP 5: ASSEMBLY OF THE FEEDER
If we are already in possession of feeder diy, we can consider where to hang it. The comfort of the birds should come first. It is important that they can use it without hindrance, but also that it provides us with easy and safe access. In this way, we will be able to replenish the grain without hindrance. The ideal place for a bird canteen should be away from a busy roadway in a calm and quiet location. This will ensure that the animals will be at ease while eating and will not feel threatened by predators.
If you live in a block of flats, it is a good idea to fix the feeder to the balcony railing or the outside window sill. The easiest way to do this is with screws. Be aware, however, that this will create holes in the windowsill. Attaching the house to the railing, on the other hand, will involve attaching two metal angles to the bottom of the feeder.
What to give to the feeder?
Sometimes we don't have enough motivation or tools to build a bird feeder. In this case, it is worth considering a ready-to-assemble feeder. The entire construction process is skipped and you are left with just choosing the right location. And, of course, choosing the right food. Feeding birds is not only fun, but also a responsibility. So what do you feed them to keep them healthy?
A simple and safe way to make bird food is to buy a ready-made mix from a pet shop. However, if we want to offer the animals something that is found in our home, it can be sunflower seeds, raw cereal seeds, linseed. Animal fats such as lard or tallow will also be good for the birds. However, care should be taken that the products are not salted and processed. Other products from the human larder will not serve our little friends. Bread or table scraps should certainly be excluded. By doing so, we can only do harm instead of helping.
