Don't Toss An Old Or Broken Bird Feeder When There Are 10 Fun Ways To Repurpose Them

Bird feeders are designed with durability in mind. Whether it's standing up to the seasonal elements or squirrels who climb up for a snack, these structures can usually hold their own for some time. However, what does one do when their bird feeder becomes damaged and is unable to hang outside? It might be easy to toss it out or let it sit in the back of your garage, but there are numerous ways to repurpose an old bird feeder to give it a new purpose. There are simple DIYs, like using the dish to hold jewelry, to more complex projects like making mosaic art from broken materials.

One major advantage of finding ways to repurpose a bird feeder is that there are so many different variations available. For example, there are hummingbird feeders that dispense liquid, platform-style bird feeders, which can be anything from a simple hanging dish to more complex setups, and even squirrel-proof models that can mimic the look of a traditional bird cage in an effort to protect the seed. Feeders are dependent on the type of bird you're looking to attract, but nearly all can be repurposed into something new if needed.

A DIY that's suitable for most types of hanging feeders, but especially hummingbird feeders, is adding a solar light to make it a piece of yard decor. You can approach this repurposing project in numerous ways, but one simple method is to replace the cap of your hummingbird feeder with a solar light cover, like the National Arcraft Mason Jar Lid with Solar Powered LED Light. This will allow birds to use the feeder during the day while it illuminates your yard at night.

Are you looking for a simple way to attract more birds to your yard while also giving your flowers a space to thrive? If you have some old hummingbird feeders taking up space in the back of your storage area, you can put them to good use. The main bulk of this DIY is to use old hanging feeders in conjunction with hanging flowers or a hanging bird bath as a way to give your backyard friends a safe place to rest and refuel. 

If you've got some old cage-style bird feeders, you can create your own visually stunning piece of functional decor for the yard. Clean out the feeders and spray paint them if you wish before adding a coir liner to the base to prevent soil from spilling out. Fill the liners with soil or compost and your choice of flowers or plants before hanging them in the garden. Trailing plants work well, as these can spill out from between the feeder wires.

For those who have simple dish-style hanging feeders, the main portion of these can be repurposed into a butterfly feeder you can easily make at home. Instead of hanging this in a tree or from a pole, you'll want to place the dish in a sunny area near flowering plants, if possible. Next, fill the dish with rocks so the butterflies can land while they eat fruits or flowers. You can also add a sponge soaked in a sugar water mixture for the butterflies to get an energy burst.

Another way to repurpose a bird feeder with a cage-style structure is to turn it into a planter you can put on display on any tabletop. For example, you can add your favorite flowers as a fun way to brighten up your porch or yard, or keep things simple by using faux flowers for maintenance-free blooms indoors. Depending on the specific style of the bird feeder, you may be able to add soil and plant directly, or it might be necessary to add a pot to keep things contained.

Tired of losing your rings and earrings after taking them off at the end of a long day? It's easy to just plop them down on a bedside table, but this is a recipe for them to get knocked off and lost into the void. Instead, one way to keep all of your small pieces safe in one place is to repurpose an old birdhouse-style feeder into a small jewelry organizer. Be sure to thoroughly clean the feeder before use, and don't forget to add your own creative touch, whether with paint or other fun embellishments.

Can't decide whether to replace those old bird feeders with a new one or to opt for a birdbath instead? With this repurposing project, you can have the best of both worlds. You'll need to start by refreshing two old bird feeders, keeping one as a food source while the other is transformed into a bath. You'll hang the two on a single feeder pole as a one-stop station for birds to eat and cool down on hot days.

Are you tired of mail taking over your entryway? There's one way to repurpose an old bird feeder that is stylish and can tame even the biggest stack of mail. You'll need a cage-style, enclosed feeder and a bit of filler material that matches your interior decor. You can also use embellishments on the outside to tie the whole look together. This is also a great DIY project to take on if you're hosting a party where you might receive envelopes or gifts.

Did one of your bird feeder dishes break and leave you with a chipped surface that's unsafe to put out for use? You could try gluing it back together, or you can have a little fun and break it up even more to use as the main pieces in DIY mosaic art. The process involves using the small broken pieces to create a design or something abstract and eye-catching. Want to get even more creative? Try using the broken pieces to create a DIY mosaic bedside table.

Whether it's the holiday season or you're throwing another type of get-together, having a candy dispenser out is a great way to create and set a theme for the event. Instead of running out to purchase new materials, you can try one of the fun ways to repurpose an old hummingbird feeder and use the body of the feeder as the dispenser. Try mixing different candies to make a fun variety inside the feeder, or go outside the box with a Halloween-inspired presentation.