Attract More Birds To Your Yard With A Thrift Store DIY

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Bird feeders are a great way to attract birds to your yard. Depending on the type of feed you fill it with, you could have birds of all kinds flocking to your garden to enjoy the tasty morsels you put out for them. Plus, there are plenty of bird feeders that include a comfortable place for birds to rest while they indulge in some delectable snacks. But if you are the type of person who values originality, sustainability, or affordability, you don't have to settle for cookie-cutter, store-bought feeders. Instead, you can turn thrift store finds into features birds will love, like a self-dispensing DIY bird feeder using an attractive glass bottle.

Thrift stores are filled with interesting, collectible glass bottles that work great for this bird feeder. Not to mention, it is so easy to personalize this project because you can essentially make the design anything you want, as long as you follow a few basic principles. You can make a few different kinds of dry feeders that dispense seeds or add a spout to turn your thrift store glass bottles into a hummingbird feeder filled with nectar. Feel free to get creative!

When selecting glass bottles at the thrift store, make sure you choose one that is large enough to hold a healthy amount of bird feed. Wine bottles work great, but you can downsize a bit if you are okay with filling the feeder more frequently. Soda bottles are another popular option, especially if they are collectible. The great thing about thrifting is that you can select items that really stand out to you. Take the time to hunt for treasures that match your aesthetic. Aside from the size of the bottle, you will also want to look for something that has a nice bottleneck. Once you have your bottle, it is a good idea to clean it thoroughly (try a mix of salt and isopropyl alcohol to clean bottlenecked jars and skinny glass containers). You don't want anything that was stored in it previously to harm your feathered friends.

Choosing the right bottle for the job isn't the only thing you may want to consider while you are preparing to make your bird feeder. If you want to attract a more diverse variety of birds to your yard, add a variety of colors. You can select a bottle that is already colored, or paint it before you assemble the feeder. For songbird feeders with seeds, choose green or silver to create a space that makes them feel safe and hidden from predators. For hummingbirds, use red or orange to mimic the color of nectar-producing flowers.

Glass bottles typically work best for self-dispensing feeders or hummingbird feeders. The projects work almost the same, but the attachment at the bottom will be different. Birds like to feel protected while they eat, so you will want to make sure you can either mount or hang your feeder somewhere with an overhang. To mount a glass bottle, make a wooden frame. This can be as simple as a three-sided box with a crossbar across the width. Drill a hole in this to hold the bottle neck in place. Attach lengths of rope to the tops of the frame so you can hang it securely. Alternatively, you can skip the woodworking and use Therwen thick copper wire wrapped tightly around the bottle with a hook on the end for hanging.  

If you are making a feeder for seeds, add a tray at the bottom with enough space for birds to perch, install the filled bottle above it, and let the seeds fill the tray. You might like to look for a lovely old wooden tray at the thrift store, as this would work perfectly for the base of your bottle feeder. For a hummingbird feeder, you don't need a perch. Instead, you will want to get a nectar spout. Select your hanging method and fill the bottle with nectar. Secure the spout to the bottle opening, flip it over, and hang it on a tree. 

For a more complex self-dispensing feeder, or nectar feeder with multiple spouts, you can use an HPST glass bottle cutter to cut the bottom off the bottle and attach it to a Little Giant baby chick feeder base. This makes refilling easier, but it requires more specialized skills and equipment.