Turn This Kitchen Staple Into A Feeder Birds Will Flock To

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

There are plenty of old-school kitchen items nobody really uses anymore. For example, butter dishes, more popular in the decades before refrigerators were commonplace, used to be important to maintain the butter's freshness and keep it covered from dust and pests. Now, you might only see a butter dish when serving large parties or allowing the butter to soften at room temperature. But you could be seeing it in a whole new light — the sunlight outside your window. With the right materials, you can transform a butter dish and its lid into an adorable DIY birdfeeder. 

Any round or square dish with a lid should work. You can even try this with a rectangular butter dish, but you might have to get creative to keep it balanced. If you don't already have a suitable butter dish on hand, check your local consignment or thrift store; both are treasure troves. You can also ask family and friends; many will be glad for the opportunity to clean out their cupboards! Your butter dish also doesn't have to be glass or crystal. It could be a sturdy plastic or ceramic, like this jinsongdafa Porcelain Butter Dish with Lid. To complete the project, you will also need clear epoxy or waterproof silicone adhesive, a metal hook, and a goblet or wine glass for the center of the feeder. This will hold the lid and bowl apart from each other and provide space for the birds to access seeds.

While you're at the thrift store, play around with the positioning of the butter dish, lid, goblet, and any other parts. It's good for the feeder to have a "roof" that extends beyond the seed bowl to keep rain out. When you're happy with the arrangement, run a generous bead of waterproof adhesive around the rim of your wine goblet, then gently press on the "roof" piece so it's centered on top. Allow this part of the feeder to dry completely, then flip it over and glue the other piece of your butter dish to the foot of the wine glass. As you're constructing the feeder, consider adding colorful marbles, crystals, beads, chains, or other decorations.

Once the whole feeder is dry, stand it up again and attach a metal hook on top for easy hanging. If your hook can't securely adhere to the top of the feeder directly, fill a shot glass or votive candle holder with epoxy, let it dry with the hook standing up inside, then glue it to the top of the feeder. Some butter dish lids may also have a knobby handle that can be chained directly to the hanging site.

Make sure that any adhesives you use in this project are safe for birds, who have very sensitive respiratory systems. Waterproof silicone and epoxy are usually safe once completely cured, which may take a few days, but non-toxic and food-safe adhesives are best to avoid concern. It's also important to check the feeder regularly and clean it often to prevent moisture buildup. Besides repurposing some underappreciated dishes, this DIY birdfeeder has another advantage in that it's easy to clean! To avoid irritating or harming the birds, try using natural ingredients to clean your bird feeder.