Feeder Plans

[CBSlayer2004]

What I really need right now is some feeder plans, do yall have any that are easy to build? Suet or seed, it doesn't matter. |=\|

[Katy Penland]

Being mechanically and carpenteristically challenged, I buy all mine. ;) Mostly from WalMart or occasionally from online dealers for specialty feeders.

[snowyowl]

I built a platform feeder based on the design from Bird Watcher's Digest web site. It was easy to build and has been very satisfactory. I think that they have plans for other feeders as well, although I'm not certain.
www.birdwatchersdigest.com is their web site.

[snowyowl]

I built a platform feeder based on the design from Bird Watcher's Digest web site. It was easy to build and has been very satisfactory. I think that they have plans for other feeders as well, although I'm not certain.
www.birdwatchersdigest.com is their web site.
I just checked their site and it appears that what was once free to access may now require some form of registration.

[CBSlayer2004]

You have to suscribe, but my mom won't let me. Have any other plans or ideas?

[troglodytes]

I make lots of different types of feeders,all wooden. I find the best way to get ideas and create your own plans is to order the latest catalogues from the popular suppliers (not sure who yours will be in the US). Organisations like the RSPB issue seasonal catalogues all showing the latest designs and usually giving some idea of the dimensions. It adds to the fun to work out the plans and build your own variation. Good luck.

[Katy Penland]

Have you tried Googling "bird feeders" or "bird feeder plans"? Even though it'll probably lead to commercial sites, you could at least see what various feeders look like, get some ideas. I'm sure some of them are simple enough you could probably fairly easily reproduce them yourself.

EDIT: LOL, just saw where Troglodytes made a similar rec!

[Jampots]

check out http://ut.essortment.com/homemadebirdfe_rtbv.htm

The RSPB site also has instructions for kids to make 'recycled' feeders. I guess it depends whether you get troubled by squirrels as to how substantial your feeders need to be. I make fat balls from seed mixed with warm leftover fat from cooking and put them into vegetable net bags - very popular with the birds and it avoids blocking the sink with solidified fat. Best not to hang out in hot weather though - they tend to melt and make a mess!

WWT at Slimbridge sell seed feeders made from plastic drink bottles with a dowel rod perch - simple to copy and make your own.

I bought a seed feeder in a local pet shop for 1.50 - wouldn't stand up to squirrel abuse but that's not a problem here. At that price I didn't think I need worry. I also have a big 'hopper' feeder bought in the USA but can't get British birds to use it much. That would be a fairly simple wooden construction to make though.

Have fun feeding birds however you do it!
Jampots

[Jampots]

CB - whoops - just realised you ARE in the US! Not too handy for visiting Slimbridge Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust then! When we were living in Ohio I borrowed a great book on bird feeding from the public library - it had hundreds of ides for simple to make feeders and also ides to keep the squirrels at bay - we had 7 at a time in our yard on occasions! All I remember was that it was a great fat book - and much too expensive to buy my own copy!! Amongst other things we suspended pine cones spread with peanut butter (British birds don't seem to like that either!), net bags containing seed and also fat balls, a hummingbird feeder (think you'd have to buy that), and a small log spiked with nails on which we impaled fruit. Anything the squirrels didn't finish during the day, the raccoon finished at night - and made off with whole fat balls or seed bells on occasion (we took to taking the later in at night - it got too expensive!) Don't forget to have some sort of water container for birds to drink from as well.
Jampots (a great fan of American garden birds)