Kitchen Items You Can Turn Into Adorable Bird Feeders

If you've recently decluttered your kitchen to donate some unused items, you may have stumbled across some things that just aren't fit for the donation bin. But don't toss these seemingly purposeless items just yet, though. Although things like glass bottles, old bakeware, or even empty seasoning containers may seem better suited for the trash, with just a little TLC, you can easily repurpose many common kitchen items into adorable bird feeders for a project that's as eco-savvy as it is budget-friendly.

There are many benefits of having a bird feeder, from supporting your local ecosystem with readily-accessible food to even potentially reducing the number of insects in your yard thanks to inviting bug-eating birds. While buying a new bird feeder from the store offers one way for you to reap these benefits, you can also create your very own DIY bird feeder using supplies straight from your kitchen. This provides the opportunity to enjoy the natural vibrancy that visiting birds bring to your yard while giving new life to items otherwise destined for the trash, whether that's a whisk you no longer need or excess food and condiment containers.

Before reusing any kitchen items as bird feeders in your yard, ensure that they're thoroughly clean. This makes sure that there's no residue leftover that could potentially harm your wildlife neighbors. You'll also want to brush up on bird feeder safety and familiarize yourself with common bird feeder mistakes to avoid, such as skipping out on regular cleaning and maintenance.

Using a glass bottle from your kitchen to create a bird feeder allows you to choose between creating a seed feeder or a liquid feeder to fill with your own homemade hummingbird nectar recipe. For a seed feeder, you'll want to fill the bottle with your choice of seed and then attach a chicken feeder base using a few basic hardware pieces to create a gravity feeder. For a liquid feeder, instead attach a specialized hummingbird feeding tube. If you're interested in a hummingbird feeder, this project is better suited for smaller bottles with fewer chances for leaking.

You can turn a teacup or mug and a saucer into a bird feeder that balances visual appeal with functionality. There are several ways to do this as well. If you only have a single mug or teacup, you may wish to fill the inside with suet, leaving the lip of your cup clean to act as a perch. However, you can also use wildlife-safe glue to attach your mug sideways to the plate, creating a holder for loose seeds. For either design, simply tie twine around the handle and hang as desired.

Not all birds enjoy perching on an elevated feeder to enjoy their meal. Instead, certain species, like sparrows and towhees, prefer to eat while on the ground. As a result, DIY bird feeders like those mentioned above may not be enough to persuade these birds to visit. Instead, if you want to attract ground-feeding birds to your feeders, try placing them on the ground. A muffin pan makes this easy, and by filling each slot with seed, you can replicate these birds' natural foraging adventures.

Aluminum pans can be just as versatile in your garden as they are in your kitchen. First, like with muffin pans, you can repurpose these baking essentials as a platform feeder tailored to ground-feeding species. However, you can also reuse aluminum pans as a hanging bird feeder by creating four holes along the rim of the pan. Then, you can either use a knotted string to hang your DIY feeder or opt for a store-bought chain with clips. Just keep in mind that aluminum pans may not be sturdy enough to support large amounts of seed.

Sometimes, common kitchen trash can also be repurposed into a bird-magnet feeder to add to your yard. For example, while an empty milk jug may seem like it's fulfilled its purpose, with just a few careful cuts using a crafting knife (careful to avoid leaving sharp edges on the carton), you can create openings on each side. Then, create perches at each opening using a stick, and you have a four-sided bird feeder that's perfect for filling with bird seed and hanging in your yard. Just make sure that the container is washed thoroughly beforehand.

You can use the same chains used with aluminum pans to hang a plate from a tree branch or similar spot. Then, simply add your bird seed for an irresistible hanging platform feeder. Depending on the type of plate you have, you may need to drill holes before attaching the clips. Fortunately, there are several tips to help you drill a hole in glass without cracking, such as using specialized drill bits. You could also attach the plates to stakes.

So long as you take the right precautions to keep you and your feathered friends safe, hand-feeding can be a memorable, exciting experience. And, with that forgotten travel dressing container at the back of your cabinet, you can create a handheld feeder for hummingbirds with few to no alterations — especially if your bottle already has a red lid. However, to boost visual appeal to hummingbirds, you can add yellow petal-like markings around the opening to mimic a flower. If repurposing an older travel container, clean the bottle and lid thoroughly beforehand.

Did you purchase a chips-and-dip tray for a recent gathering, just to realize you don't need it as often as you thought? If you don't think you'll use this specialty plate again, consider turning it into a bird feeder. You can choose the easier route of using your tray as a ground feeder and just adding bird seed to the different compartments, or take the extra steps to drill holes and create a hanging feeder instead.

Did you know you can make a single bird feeder with just three supplies you already have on hand? Making a DIY bird feeder using a jar and spoon is as simple as tying a few knots. To recreate this project yourself, choose a sturdy spoon that is taller than your jar. This way, you can use the same twine used to hang your feeder to secure the handle of the spoon to the bottom of the jar, creating a perch. From there, just fill the jar with loose seed or even dried insects.

If you like the idea of hand-feeding those eye-catching hummingbirds darting around your yard but don't have a travel dressing container on hand, don't fret: You can also use empty spice containers. Like a travel container, make sure to clean the jar thoroughly. Then, choose a hummingbird port that fits the dimensions of your container. Like with a store-bought hummingbird feeder, clean your hand-held feeders regularly to prevent harmful mold growth. For the best results, aim to clean both the interior and exterior of the feeder after every use, paying extra attention to small crevices.

For those with a bit of crafting knowledge, you can transform those old plastic food containers you've outgrown into a durable hanging bird feeder. This process involves securing a container in a lid that's larger than its diameter to create a perch before drilling holes to add twine and hang the feeder. You can also easily turn your old food storage containers into a DIY bird waterer, following a similar method but adding water instead of your choice of bird seed. You could also drill holes into the container or lid itself and hang it for an easier setup.

Looking at that extra whisk you have on hand, it may not seem like a suitable bird feeder. However, while it may not work with loose seed, a whisk can be the perfect way to offer your backyard birds a tasty treat. To make a DIY bird feeder out of a whisk, all you need to do is add a shaped ball of suet inside of the whisk's wires. Then, you can loop twine through the handle and hang it from your desired location. Because it's made from fat, suet can be a great way to attract eye-catching omnivorous birds.