6 DIY Hummingbird Feeders That Are Impossibly Easy To Make
Spotting a hummingbird in your yard can be exciting. These tiny iridescent birds are not only beautiful to look at but are crucial to pollinating gardens and wildflowers. In fact, hummingbirds can eat up to twice their body weight in nectar per day due to their high metabolism. Bird aficionados can help these unique visitors in their daily hunt for food with various types of hummingbird feeders and a homemade food recipe. A simple nectar can be made by dissolving sugar into boiling water and allowing it to cool before filling feeders. Most nectar recipes recommend a ratio of one part sugar to every four parts water.
But if you're budget-conscious or don't want to go out in search of one, a homemade feeder might be the better choice for you. You may even unknowingly have all the supplies you need already in your house. These DIY feeders are quick, effective, and super easy, whether you're looking to recycle household objects, searching for a fun craft to do with kids, or just hoping to make a feeder on the fly.
The SOLO cup method
YouTube channel Getawaymoments uses a SOLO cup, scissors, and string to fashion a hummingbird feeder in just a few steps. They use a razor to carefully start cutting two holes in the sides of the cup. Then, they expand the holes with scissors so that hummingbirds can access the nectar that will eventually be placed inside. Poking two smaller holes under the rim of the cup on opposite sides, they thread a string through for hanging. Voilà! The feeder is ready to go.
Why a SOLO cup? The iconic drinkware is commonly red in color, and there are decades of anecdotal evidence suggesting hummingbirds are attracted to the vibrant hue. Researchers note that they are also drawn to pink, yellow, and orange. However, most feeders on the market are red for a reason and many hobbyists have had success with them. If you're using a different color of plastic cup for this DIY, try painting the outside red to further signal to hummingbirds that food can be found within.
Make a Tupperware feeder
Another Tiktokker follows the red theory with a Tupperware hummingbird feeder. They create holes in the red lid of a dollar-store container, fill the tub with nectar, reattach the lid, and fashion a hanger out of twine. This DIYer uses a woodburning tool to make the holes. But, you can easily use a drill or even a handheld hole punch instead.
Interestingly, @tinascountrydoor also creates a more elaborate version with faux flowers attached. They also suggest attaching an additional Tupperware lid to the bottom of the feeder to create an ant moat to deter unwanted visitors. But if ants aren't a concern for you, the simplest version of this DIY could be the easiest to maintain. When it comes time to clean this feeder, you can simply disassemble it to wash it in the dishwasher.
Use a bottle or mason jar
This TikTok DIY could be modified to use whatever glassware is already available around the house. TikTok user @theyoberts empties a soda bottle, removes the label, cleans the bottle thoroughly, then drills a hole into a piece of cork and pushes a reusable straw through it. They fill up the bottle with nectar, put the cork-straw stopper in, and invert the feeder for hanging. If you don't have a soda bottle on hand, a wine or liquor bottle could do the trick. Or if you have a mason jar with a lid, you could drill a hole for the straw in the center of the lid and ensure that it's leakproof with a silicone grommet like these on Amazon.
If you're using a clear glass container for this DIY, it may be tempting to dye the nectar red with food dye to attract hummingbirds. But experts advise against this. Although it's not certain that the red dye will harm hummingbirds, it's also not certain that it's 100% safe for them. Plus, the natural nectar that hummingbirds collect from flowers is clear anyway. So, it's best to attract hummingbirds to a clear feeder by decorating it with red paint, or even colorful faux flowers, rather than altering the nectar formula.
The quick-and-easy soy sauce feeder
The shape and color of certain soy sauce bottles make for the easiest hummingbird DIY we've seen yet. TikTok user @swaygroup illustrates how to clean out an old Kikkoman soy sauce container, invert it, and hang it with a bit of string and duct tape. This allows hummingbirds to feed from the nectar inside using the holes already built into the red cap. You could elevate this DIY by using craft wire to create a more elegant holder for the bottle or you could macrame a hanger to custom-fit the soy sauce bottle. But if you're in a rush to attract hummingbirds and looking to recycle, it doesn't get much easier than this!
Make a spice-jar hand feeder
This clever DIY feeder is perfect for a patient hummingbird fan to get up close and personal with these beautiful birds. Just clean out an empty spice jar, fill it with nectar, and stay very still in an outdoor space where you've spotted hummingbirds. If you use a McCormick spice jar with its signature red lid, you may just be lucky like TikTok user @auntretta0, and get to feed a hummingbird by hand! The spice-jar hand feeder mimics a variety of hand feeders available in stores for a fraction of the cost. If you're looking to observe or photograph hummingbirds closer than ever before, a DIY handheld feeder might be a good fit.
Use a peanut butter jar
YouTuber Bill Rosener uses a peanut butter jar with a red lid in a similar fashion as the Tupperware and mason jar DIYs. Just clean out the jar, drill a few holes in the lid, and hang the feeder once you've filled it with nectar. As with the other DIYs, it's crucial to remove all of the food residue and labels from your peanut butter jar prior to making this feeder. And, don't forget to clean your new homemade feeder regularly. Rinse it with warm water and diluted vinegar twice a week in hot weather or once a week in cool weather.