Turn A Neglected Kitchen Scrap Into A Cheaper Bird Feeder With A Simple DIY

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

A healthy bird population can add life and beauty to a yard. If you study the birds in your backyard, you will eventually learn their habits, including their calls and nesting activities. This is a good way to feel a connection to nature and gain a better appreciation of the environment around your home. There are plenty of ways to attract birds to your property, from a plastic bird feeder to one of these 12 budget-friendly DIY projects. Or, you can convert a dried corn cob, something that would normally end up in the trash, into a bird-feeding mechanism.

This project will cost a few dollars and allow you to repurpose other common kitchen items. First, you'll need birdseed of your choice. Suet cakes provide birds with protein during the winter and keep birds at your feeder longer. Millet is popular in the spring because it gives birds the carbohydrates they need for migration. Safflower is common in the summer and discourages deer. And cracked corn helps birds fatten up in the fall. You'll also need a container of peanut butter to serve as a bonding agent for the birdseed. The peanut butter is also an excellent source of protein for your bird population. Finally, you can use yarn or a length of wire to hang the corn cob from a tree branch or your porch. 

This project should only take a few minutes to complete once you have your supplies. Depending on the level of available food sources, birds should start feasting soon after you set up this feeder.

The first step is to find the right corn cob, ideally one where the corn kernels have already been eaten. A dry cob is preferred so the peanut butter will cling to its relatively hard, uneven surface. You can pick up a cob at a local farmers market or grocery store and then dry it in a cool, dry place in your home so it doesn't decompose. Alternatively, you can also order them  from the Kaytee Store on Amazon. If you have leftover corn, keep in mind that it's an ideal overlooked scrap to add to your compost. 

Next, attach a string to each end of the cob to hang it horizontally. This will allow the birds to perch while they eat. You can also use snips to cut a few feet of wire, loop the wire, and then place the cob in the loop.

The next step is best completed outside because it can be messy. Open your peanut butter jar and scoop some out onto a plate. Then use a popsicle stick, or a similar object, to scrape up the peanut butter and rub it over the cob. Then you can cover the cob in birdseed and hang it from a tree or shepherd's hook. You may need to add fresh peanut butter and seed to the cob every few days, or even more frequently, depending on the bird population in your yard. It's important to remember that the peanut butter will melt in warm temperatures, so you might have to refresh your cob more often during the summer.