How To Make A Bird Bath/feeder Combo From Thrifted Items

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Splish, splash, the birds are having a bath! If you're looking for simple thrift flips you can start and finish in one weekend, then making your own bird bath/feeder combo is an ideal project. There are all kinds of common thrift store items that will work for this DIY, including everything from old lamps to punch bowls and more. All you need is a stand to act as your base, a tray or platter to hold bird feed, and some kind of bowl to serve as the bath.

Since many charming birdbath DIYs involve attaching using glass or wood materials, you'll want to have a strong adhesive on hand. For glass, E6000 is a popular choice. For wood items, you might want to go with a wood glue like UniBond's No More Nails, for example. You'll also need some bird feed and some clean water to fill your bird bath. Having these supplies prepared ahead of time will make the building process smoother and more efficient.

When searching for items at your local thrift store, keep the basic elements of this DIY in mind. For starters, you need a base. Bird bath/feeder bases can be made using glass vases, lamp bases, old wooden side tables, or a combination of bowls and plates stacked together. Whichever thrifted items you source for your base, keep in mind that the average birdbath should be around one to three feet tall for convenience and safety. If you're using multiple items such as vases or bowls, glue them together until you reach the appropriate height.

Because you're making a bath and feeder combo, your structure will have two tiers. For the first tier, which will hold the food, look for a wide tray or plate. A serving platter, drip tray, or large pie plate should all work. You will glue this tray to your thrifted base. Next, you need to source an item for the bath. Any kind of outdoor-appropriate bowl will work here, just make sure it's shallow enough to be bird-safe. Aim for a bowl that's 1.5 inches deep or less. If you can't find one shallow enough, you can add stones to the bowl to make it safer. Glue this bowl to the center of your food tray. Once everything is assembled, fill the tray with bird feed and the bath with water. Now you're all set. If you want to channel a more modern birdbath design, consider adding a running-water element. This Yzert Solar Bird Bath Fountain, or something similar, will work.