How To Make An Easy Bird Feeder Using A Mason Jar And Popsicle Stick

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If you've bought pickles or salsa from the grocery store recently, it's likely you have a few empty Mason jars lying around. It's easy to give them a new life indoors as everything from drinking glasses and candleholders to flower vases and bathroom organizers. It turns out that there are also handy ways to use old Mason jars in your yard and garden. Specifically, they make great DIY bird feeders that nourish birds throughout the year while you get a mood boost from watching them. You fill the jar with bird food, push in a popsicle stick for a perch, and hang it from a tree branch or post.

The process of building your bird feeder is quick, and you should be able to find all of your materials at your local big box retailer — if you don't have them already. You will need a pair of wire cutters, a length of wire, a craft stick, and a Mason jar (or any similarly sized glass jar) with a handle. You also have to get the ingredients for the bird feed: peanut butter, lard, birdseed mix, cornmeal, oats, and flour. Keep in mind that suet feeders are unsafe in summer because the fat can turn rancid or get stuck to birds' feathers. During the colder months when birds burn more energy, suet is a great way to add extra protein to their diets.

Ready to attract attract more birds to your yard with budget-friendly suet? The first step of the process is to melt an equal portion of peanut butter and lard on the stovetop. Mix two portions of oats and birdseed mix and one portion of cornmeal and flour into the pot. Once the mixture has cooled slightly, pack it into your Mason jar mug. Put the jar into the refrigerator until the mix has hardened, along with any leftovers. Once the suet hardens, you can push the craft stick into it, creating a perch. Wrap the handle with the wire and hang the jar sideways from a tree branch.

While it's easiest to use a Mason jar with a handle, most jars don't have such a feature, especially if they're upcycled. If you have a handleless jar, wrap an extra-long length of strong wire right around the jar. If you'd prefer something sturdier than a popsicle stick as a perch, use an Onupgo Round Wooden Dowel or purchase a Nicerinc Pet Hanging Bird Feeder for Mason Jars. You screw an upside-down jar filled with birdseed onto a base that birds can perch on. It's yet another budget-friendly DIY feeder that will keep birds flocking to your yard year-round. You can also use craft sticks as a perch in a summertime version of this project. Attach it to the side of the jar using hot glue, then fill the jar with bird feed suitable for the warmer months: mealworms, fresh fruit, or birdseed mix.