Transform An Old Pot Lid And Terracotta Pot Into A Cheaper DIY Bird Feeder With Rustic Charm

If you don't have a bird feeder in your front or backyard, you may be missing out on some serious nature-driven action in your outdoor space. Whether they're store-bought or DIY, feeders can give you a front-row seat into the amazing life of these winged friends — and it's also one of the most eco-friendly ways to keep bugs out of your garden. Another cool thing about bird feeders is that they can be constructed from just about anything — well, almost anything. 

Case in point: YouTube channel Coffee With My Sunshine posted a unique bird feeder that was built using only an old mesh pot lid, a small plant pot, and a grapevine wreath form. It's a 4-year-old video that's still racking up views and glowing comments to this day. It turns out the old pot lid is a mesh Cooking Concepts Splatter Screen from the Dollar Tree. The screen, which measures 10 inches in diameter, forms the base of the feeder, with the wreath serving as a rustic border around the lid's top edge. Adding a bit of creative functionality, the demonstrator drilled a few holes around the planter's sides and positioned it upside down on the lid — so as the seed level drops, it self-dispenses right through the holes. 

This upside-down planter setup also helps to protect the bird food, and the mesh screen lid helps prevent water from pooling on top of it. A few plastic flowers were hot-glued to the feeder's edge as decorative embellishments, making this charming feeder design one worth bookmarking. If you've been looking for a way to switch up your kitchen's window view, this budget-friendly DIY is an easy way to attract more birds and give your yard its own subscription-free nature channel.

To make this feeder you'll need a few additional supplies, including a roll of twine and some thin metal wire. You can find a similar, 10-inch branch-style wreath on Amazon, like this Grapevine Rattan Branch Wreath set, which is only $7. A 6- to 8-inch pot is ideal for this design. For example, one from the SwinDuck 6-Inch Plastic Pot set would work well. To create the holes in the pot, you'll need an electric drill with a small drill bit, such as a ¹⁄₁₆-inch drill bit to help secure the pot. Additionally, a hole saw bit that's roughly 1-inch is also a must. 

To start, use the metal wire to secure the wreath to the top of the lid, trimming any excess. Then, drill three evenly spaced holes near the pot's rim using your small drill bit. Use the hole saw bit to drill two holes on opposite sides of the pot, near the rim. These will be the seed holes. Now you can secure everything together. Thread a short piece of wire through the three small holes on the pot, then fill the pot with birdseed, which should be based on the types of birds you want in your yard. 

Afterward, set the lid upside down on top of the pot, secure with wire, and then flip the design over. Now, cut three pieces of twine to hang your feeder and tie them around the wreath. Make sure the strings are all the same length and evenly spaced around the wreath so it won't hang lopsided. Before hanging it up, hot glue any decorative embellishments to the wreath, such as flowers or leaves. Note, however, that the glue may not hold up in extreme temperatures.

The branch wreath gives the feeder a farmhouse-style charm that's easy to admire. However, if you're not a fan of this branch-style design, try arranging pinecones with a few green leaves on the edges of the pot lid instead. Or, if you want to add more color to the nature-inspired theme, consider faux fall-colored leaves and berries or even seasonal flowers for a different look. Additionally, the plastic planter pot used can be swapped out for a different color, such as blue, red, or yellow, or you can decorate it with chalk markers like the Chalkola chalk markers from Amazon, for a personalized design.

Of course, you can always add a coat of paint to the planter pot as well (a coat of spray paint can also be applied to the branch wreath), which works well if you want to match a specific color scheme in your backyard. Another upgrade to consider is swapping the twine hanging pieces for a metal chain, blending in a more industrial element. Also, colorful ribbon or chimes can also be hung from the bottom of the wreath for a playful pop of color and pleasant sound whenever the wind picks up.