Fun Bird Feeder From Dishware

Julien K., Hometalk Team
by Julien K., Hometalk Team
9 Materials
$6
45 Minutes
Easy

Spring is in the air and the birds are chirping throughout the day. Isn't it nice? I have a tree that I can see through my bay window, and I love watching all of the different types of birds it attracts - Blue Jays, Cardinals, Robins. So, I thought it was time to create my own bird feeder using $2 dishware!

Step 1: Measure & mark the center of your plate.

Step 2: Drill a hole through the center of your plate.


My dish was made of recycled plastic, but it still managed to chip/crack a little. In order to avoid your dish completely cracking, place your plate on a thick piece of scrap wood and drill on top of it.

Step 3: Drill a hole into the center of your bowl, using the same method as your plate.

Step 4: Prepare your hardware. Place a washer on your bolt.

Step 5: Thread your bowl onto the bolt so it sits on top of the washer.

Step 6: Apply a small amount of glue onto the bowl where the washer sits. It will add a little bit of strength (less wobble) to the bird feeder.

Step 7: Thread another washer onto your bolt. Apply a little glue beneath the washer so it sits on top of the bowl securely.

Step 8: Take a nut and thread it a few inches down onto your bolt. Your plate will sit directly on top of this nut.

Step 9: Thread your plate onto the bolt so that it sits on top of the nut.

Step 10: Add a washer to your bolt on top of the plate.

Step 10: Add a washer to your bolt on top of the plate.


Step 11: Screw in a nut to secure the washer into place.

Step 12: Cut a long piece of cording, fold it in half and tie a knot above the nut around your bolt. Ensure your knot is very secure! Then, screw another nut onto your bolt to keep the knot in place.

Step 13: Hang in a tree and fill with birdseed.


Here's how to attract birds to a feeder.

If you are looking to attract songbirds here is some advice on how to attract cardinals to your yard.

The base of your bowl may shift depending on the weight of the bird. But this little one seems to be enjoying it!

We want to help you DIY, so some of the materials in this post are linked to sellers. Just so you know, Hometalk may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.

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Frequently asked questions
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3 of 10 questions
  • Barbara Baldwin Barbara Baldwin on Sep 27, 2017

    How soon do the complaints about furry critters trespassing on your feeder begin?

  • Joanie Joanie on Mar 17, 2019

    I like your project..it's real cute....However, I have a question? It has my husband and I really wondering. The birds around our area (VA.), fly straight into our window and either drop dead or keep on flyin'.......once, the day before yesterday and again this mornin'....this bird feeder brought this to my questioning. I know I'm in the wrong section.......but can anyone help??? These aren't baby birds, they are regular size birds that NEED glasses?????? lol. THEY Hit very hard, I might mention. This isn't rare, it happens often enough to wake us up, if we are napping and at least once a month or twice.

  • Dpbeee2 Dpbeee2 on Mar 18, 2019

    How squirrel proof is this? The birds in my backyard stand no chance against crows and squirrels. Nice job by the way. Thanks for sharing it.

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  • Linda Premo Linda Premo on Mar 16, 2019

    It’s a cute, inexpensive and colorful idea. I’ve made many of these little bird feeders. Btw we don’t have squirrels. If you drill 4 holes towards the top edge of your bowl at equal distance apart and match it to 4 holes drilled around the edge of your plate then you can take 4 lengths of twine or cording , thread it through the predrilled holes on the bowl and knot each one tightly outside and inside. Then thread your cording through the holes on the plate, doing the same knotting on each side of the plate. Finally join all four pieces of cord together and knot again. I add some glue to my knot so the feeder never falls while birds are resting on it. Then hang. This makes a sturdy holder for bird seed🐥

  • Joanie Joanie on Mar 31, 2019

    THANK Y'ALL FOR THE BIRD WINDOW ADVICE. jOANIE

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