Say Goodbye To Traditional Bird Baths: DIY Your Own With A Hummingbird Feeder

Who says your bird bath has to look like the traditional stone or metal basin perched on a pedestal? Sure, these common options will attract birds to your garden and can often cost less than $50. But in the interesting world of DIY, options don't stop there. YouTube channel WadaGoodIdea shared a creative way to build a bird bath using a dollar-store hummingbird bird feeder, a solar-powered fountain pump, and plastic tableware.

To build this charming DIY bird bath, the creator used a soldering iron to create holes in the feeder. The process also entailed running the fountain's tubing through a plastic mug and saucer into the hummingbird feeder. The fountain pump was hidden inside a bucket, tucked into a planter below the basin. Once activated, the pump carried water from the bucket through the plastic tube and out the feeder's holes, creating a gentle shower effect. Interestingly, the majority of the components for this bird bath were red, a shade that happens to draw hummingbirds into your yard or garden.

To replicate this DIY, you'll need key supplies like a soldering iron (available for less than $10), plastic tubing, a hot glue gun, and pliers. To transport the water, look for a device like this LAWOHO Solar Fountain Pump Kit with Separate Solar Panel (which costs around $10 on Amazon). You can acquire an item like the Garden Collection Plastic Hanging Hummingbird Feeder at the Dollar Tree for $1.50. Additionally, you'll need to grab a couple of small branches from the yard. Supporting items include a waterproof container for the pump, a large plastic plate for the basin, and a plastic mug and small saucer as a base for the feeder. This Dollar Tree Silver Plastic Charger Plate with Beaded Rims would work well for the basin.

Your first task is creating the holes in your bath components. After disassembling your bird feeder, turn it upside down and use your soldering iron to burn a hole at its top. Next, create a hole through the middle base of your plastic mug, and add two additional holes opposite each other and about one inch below the rim. Make sure the two holes are wide enough to feed your perching branches through. 

Now create a hole through the middle of your plastic plate and small saucer. Then, turn the mug upside down and thread the pump's nozzle through its base. Stack the upside down feeder on top of the mug and thread the nozzle through its base as well. If the fit is good, add a thin circle of glue around the nozzle to secure all three pieces. Give the new assembly time to dry and then thread two branches into the holes on the mug, securing them with glue. 

Screw the top of the feeder back on the body and stack the small saucer on top of it. Now it's time to connect the plastic tubing. To do this, secure one end to the pump, and then thread the other end up through the plastic plate, mug, and feeder body, and twist it so it fits snugly onto the nozzle. Place the pump inside your waterproof container and add enough water for the pump to operate. Set it inside a planter, leaving the solar panel outside the planter.

There's plenty of room to put your own spin on this bird bath. For example, after constructing the feeder, the content creator placed a few decorative accents on the plate basin. You can follow suit by including seashells and faux succulents. You could even go with only polished river rocks for a simple, elemental look. Other additions can include faux moss to keep up with the nature-inspired theme of the basin accents, or a handful of artificial flowers for a pop of color. 

Another aspect of the design that can be altered is the plate that serves as the main basin — try swapping it for a metal plate instead. For example, this TeamFar Pizza Pan 12-inch Stainless Steel Pizza Pan can add a touch of modernity to the design. However, you won't be able to create a hole using the soldering iron. You'll need a drill with a step drill bit instead, and you can find these at a store like Walmart for under $10. However, note that the metal plate combined with the drill bit (if you don't already have it) could make this option more expensive.

You can also keep with the red-centered tones of this hummingbird-focused bird bath by using a plastic red plate instead, like this chic ABOOFAN Chinese Wedding Serving Tray, available on Amazon for $17. Additionally, the yard branches can also be swapped out for small wooden dowels, such as these DaTpuik 1/4 x 12 Inch 25PCS Dowel Rods, which are available on Amazon for only $4. The dowels have a smoother finish and offer a cleaner, more uniform appearance to the design.