The DIY That Repurposes Old Crocs And Attracts Birds To Yards

Repurposing items around your home that you would otherwise toss out is a great way to help the environment, and sometimes you can find some stunning decoration and fill a purpose around your home without having to buy new stuff. Almost anything can be repurposed if you're creative enough. One unexpected example is repurposing old Crocs for use in the garden.

With just a few basic supplies, you can turn a Croc into a beautiful device to feed your local flying friends. There are several benefits of having a bird feeder in your yard, including keeping away some insects from your garden. Instead of buying a brand new feeder to attract them, you can use your old shoes, at least according to a video circulating on the internet. Unfortunately, the original creator of the DIY is unclear, making proper attribution difficult. Versions of the video have circulated on Facebook pages like J Carrol, Crafts Hacks and Laughs, and Hack 'n' Giggle, as well as on TikTok by Buckshot & Co. by Paula.

Despite it being unclear who first came up with the idea, the DIY itself is somewhat easy. All you need is a hook to hang the Croc from a tree, a twig, or a sturdy stick to act as a landing spot for your birds, some bird seed, and your shoe. Depending on the size of the holes near the toe, you may also need paper or foam to block them.

This DIY can be completed in just a few minutes. In the video, they show someone sticking a small twig through two of the holes, filling it up with birdseed, and setting it outside. Although the video doesn't show the step clearly, something is placed at the toe end to keep the seed from spilling out. While you can't tell exactly what it is from the video, it's small and white and could be an item as simple as a piece of paper or a bit of foam. Essentially, you just want something to block the bottom few holes to prevent the birdseed from flowing out nonstop. However, not all Crocs come with these spots, so it may not be necessary for every DIY.

Once you push the twig through and any larger holes are sealed up, all you need to do is pour in the birdseed and hang it up somewhere outside where your birds will enjoy the seed. Before you turn it into a bird feeder, though, it's a good idea to hand-wash your Crocs so they last longer and aren't quite so stinky. Additionally, if you have the second shoe in the pair to use, but you don't want two bird feeders, there are other ways to repurpose old Crocs for your garden. The extra shoe can also be repurposed as a hanging planter.

There are a few downsides to using this option. While it is a great way to repurpose old shoes that would otherwise go into the trash, buying new Crocs for this purpose may defeat the environmental benefit, since the material is not biodegradable. Crocs are also made from a soft material. While it may work for birds for a few weeks or months, if you have pesky squirrels that often cause a problem, they might chew right through the shoe in no time, making it unusable.

Another problem is that Crocs tend to shrink when they are left in the sun. Unless you are placing them somewhere where they constantly stay in the shade and they won't get too hot, you may end up with a bit of a smaller shoe than when you started. This isn't necessarily an issue, but it may lead to it not hanging right or the holes not being big enough for the birds if the shoes shrink too much. Water can be another issue. If you block the holes at the toe end, or there are none built in, it reduces the area where water can escape. This means that the shoe will also hold liquid if it rains, since there is nothing to stop it from coming in. This can leave the shoe slimy and cause birdseed to become waterlogged, increasing the risk of mold growth.