A feeder is a mobile structure into which food is poured, helping birds to survive the winter without experiencing hunger.
In nature, birds are able to provide themselves with food on their own, but urbanization is constantly reducing their natural habitat. Winter is a difficult challenge for birds. The food that is usual in the warm season disappears: insects hide in the ground, plant seeds are covered with snow. In order to keep warm and find food, sparrows, tits, crossbills, and other small birds need more and more energy.
Data:
A bird spends up to 10% of its own weight in one frosty night trying to stay warm.
Birds remember the location of the feeders into which food is poured. This way they get the nutrition they need and survive the winter cold.
It becomes difficult for birds to find suitable food - and we, as responsible members of society, must help them with this.
Orange bowl
You can come up with some pretty original bird feeders. For example, use an orange for this purpose. Cut the fruit in half and eat the pulp.
And make four holes in the skin opposite each other. Stretch the twine through them, connect them crosswise and tie the upper ends to a tree branch. The result is a container into which you can pour the grains.
Branches... plywood... logs...
It is impossible to list all the variety of structures for which wood is the material. Everything is used: boards, plywood, branches, logs.
“Multi-story” feeders and those for the construction of which large branches were used look original.
Knowing how to use a chisel and chainsaw will help you build a “dining room” for birds, even from a log. For this:
- Saw off 2 round pieces to use later for the side walls.
- Cut wedges along the entire log.
- Use a chisel to remove the wood almost to the bark.
- Nail the saw cuts into place. Attach a chain to the log, from which you can then hang the feeder.
Apple pendants
A good idea for a feeder would be apples cut into rings and hung on strings from a wire rack.
If you want to add some nutrition to your bird's dinner, brush the apple rings with melted pork fat. You don’t have to take fresh apples – dried ones will do.
Pumpkin arbor
Work on the pumpkin just like you did for Halloween. Cut a solid hole and discard the seeds and pulp. Pour treats inside, and hang the pumpkin itself from the branch by its tail.
Popsicle stick house
If you often buy ice cream for your kids, don't throw away the sticks. You don't need a bird feeder drawing. Lay out two parallel rows of sticks. Insert the sticks perpendicularly on the sides between them. It should look something like a log house.
Tie the resulting product at the corners with twine. Connect all four ends of the rope at the top above the branch where the feeder will be located. Attach the bottom from a piece of plywood. Now you can call the birds for lunch.
How to build a wooden birdhouse?
A wonderful decorative element is a bird feeder - a garden decoration made of wood. You can make such an element yourself. You need to correctly draw up a plan for the future structure, and then bring the idea to life.
Option for a simple wooden bird feeder
The main criteria for a wooden house are:
- Reliability of fastening of all elements.
- The base must be strong.
- The entrance should be cut and should be wide enough.
A wooden house can be made in any interpretation. This could be a traditional bird feeder. You can also change the shape of the roof and use various intricate shapes.
Bird feeder in the form of a house with decorative elements
The feeder can be completely closed, but have an entrance and windows. The open version, protected by a roof, also looks great. You can use your imagination to make a special house for birds.
Show your imagination and create a unique house-shaped feeder
The construction of a wooden house does not require special skills. Planks and blocks, small logs or wine corks are used. The most important thing is that you must follow the intended pattern exactly.
Birdhouse made from clocks
Did you inherit a rare pendulum clock from your grandmother? Their strong base makes an excellent bird feeder. Remove the pendulum - there will be a dining room in this place. And in the small hole where the cuckoo once crowed, organize a “bedroom” for your flying friends. Get a birdhouse with your own hands. All that remains is to attach it to the tree trunk.
Criterias of choice
Stores sometimes sell ready-made feeders. The purchase will save a lot of time on production. Some order the design from a craftsman.
Just keep in mind that both options will require large financial costs. Building a bird feeder with your own hands will cost much less.
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It is better for you to choose reliable, safe, strong and durable materials for construction. The house must be protected from weather conditions and not tip over under the weight of birds. The edges of all holes must be processed so as not to injure the bird's legs.
The main thing is convenience and attractiveness. You should not use “nuclear” paints or flashy decorations. In the wild, bright color is perceived as a signal of danger from a particular insect or animal. The bright feeder will be empty.
Feeder "Avoska"
Often in supermarkets, vegetables and fruits are packaged in nets. Previously, our ancestors used to go shopping with these and they were called “string bags.”
Now it’s time to use them for good deeds by putting bird food in the net. True, you will have to work hard to make a bird's dinner that will not fall through the holes.
Mix the grain or grain mixture with unsalted lard, after melting it. You can use peanut butter instead of lard. Roll the resulting mixture into a ball, put it in a string bag and hang it on a tree.
The fat will harden in the cold and the food will not spill out. But it will be convenient for sparrows and tits to peck it through the net.
To prevent the food from getting wet and softening under the influence of precipitation, you can attach a gable roof over the string bag.
DIY feeder house
If your heart sank when you look at a cold and emaciated bird, invite it to warm up under the roof, where a laid table awaits the birds. Make a feeding house - and it will be easier for the birds to survive bad weather and frost.
More than just design
In addition to the utilitarian purpose, bird feeders also perform a decorative function - they can become a decoration for the site. Discover the talent of an architect, master different materials and types of structures, starting with the simplest model and ending with a more complex one.
When choosing between feeders made of plastic bottles or on hanging threads, cardboard or wood, remember the main tasks of winter feeding: there should always be food and it should be protected from rain and snow. In addition, different types of birds are suitable for different bird feeder designs. For example, sparrows empty the feeder in no time, because they fly in for food in large flocks and eat their meal “without leaving the cash register,” while other birds peck at the grain, flying away with the prey to a secluded place. It is clear that timid birds will get crumbs next to the sparrows. The solution is to hang a swinging feeder on a nearby tree: sparrows are afraid of moving objects and will not risk flying up, but tits can dine there in peace.
A bast hut is better than an ice hut
The most comfortable dining room for birds is a feeder house made of plywood and wood. This natural material will not be dissonant with the surrounding landscape, but will fit harmoniously into it. The walls of a plywood house can be decorated with applications with images of birds, and the roof can be decorated with light but durable reeds. Aerobatics - an intricate bird house with artistic carvings, made of treated hardwood. Such a cute little house will delight not only the birds, but also you.
Making a wooden feeder
A feeding house can also be made from separate wooden blocks and slats, connecting them into a lock, as is done when building a log house. Here you can give free rein to your imagination - cover the roof with bark, remnants of tiles or figured strips of felt. Secure them with corners or a furniture stapler. Connect the parts of the feeding house using nails or reliable glue. Sand all edges and surfaces so that the birds do not get hurt when approaching and feeding. It is better to make the roof of the feeder pitched. Before fastening the parts, treat them with an antiseptic - this will make your birdhouse last longer.
Cardboard box feeder
Everyone has this “building material”: a bird feeder can be made from a cardboard shoe box, candy, milk or juice packaging. If you have plenty to choose from, give preference to a more durable material.
Having chosen a place for the feeder, determine the most constructive hanging options. Holes for fastening need to be made in those places where the feeder will be held as firmly and steadily as possible.
At the same time, make sure that the holes are not too close to each other - under the weight of the birds, the box may bend and tear. For hanging, it is optimal to make a couple of holes in the center or at the corners of the roof, indented from the sides. Cover the joints, edges and corners with electrical tape to prevent sharp edges from harming the birds. The outside of the house can be covered with beautiful napkins in the decoupage style and varnished, painted or made with appliqués using colored paper and glue.
A good option to secure and strengthen the structure would be to glue the cardboard box outside and inside with transparent self-adhesive tape or self-adhesive film, which is sold in rolls (this way you can also choose a suitable pattern, imitating wood, marble, clay or grass). This will protect the feeding house from getting wet.
Plastic bird feeders
First, wash and dry the plastic containers that you will use in your work. Cover all cuts with electrical tape - this will provide support for birds perching on the edge of the cutout and protect them from cuts. Do not place the holes close to the bottom - step back at least 40-50 mm. Draw the outlines of the future windows with a marker and cut on three or four sides with sharp scissors. There should be two holes on the same line horizontally.
Provide a perch for birds. Using a nail heated over the fire, pierce two holes at the bottom of both windows and insert a bird perch stick through them. The food should be poured up to the level of the perch.
Edible feeder recipes
The most decorative feeders are on hanging threads. They are easy to make and nice to see the fruits of your labor.
Option 1
String groundnuts, berries, dried fruits and other bird food onto a wire, bend the wire into a circle, a heart, whatever you like, fasten the ends and hang it from a branch or hook.
Option 2
You will need old cups or baking dishes.
Dissolve gelatin according to the instructions on the package and add to the swollen mass of grains (millet, seeds, wheat). Divide the mixture into molds, placing sticks or string inside for hanging. Place the molds in the refrigerator, and after hardening, remove the contents from the molds and hang the delicious “pretzels” on the tree. If you use cups, then do not remove the frozen mass from them after cooling, but hang the cup by the handle along with the contents on a branch.
What to put in the feeder?
The best food for birds in frosty weather is pumpkin and sunflower seeds. They are very high in calories and will quickly warm the birds in the cold. To prevent birds from wasting energy fighting shells frozen in the cold, it is better to feed crushed seeds in winter.
Another nutritious dish is lard. Tits especially love it. It is important that the lard is unsalted. If there is no special food for birds, you can put everything you scraped from the table into the feeder: bread crumbs, leftover meat and cheese.
Alexandra Zakharova
published on according to the materials naha-dacha.ru
2017-03-30T07:00:05+00:00adminhouse and estateuseful tips If, when you look at a cold and emaciated bird, your heart clench, invite it to warm up under the roof, where a covered bird awaits table. Make a house-feeder - and it will be easier for the birds to survive bad weather and frosts. Not just a design In addition to their utilitarian purpose, bird feeders also perform a decorative function - they can become... [email protected] Good advice
Feeder "Coconut"
If you eat a coconut, do not throw away the shell. Look on the Internet for a photo of a coconut bird feeder and do the same.
Not everyone can make holes in the thick skin of a coconut. But if you manage to do this, the well-fed birds will thank you with morning singing.
Those who have not managed to cope with this matter can use half a coconut as a “plate” for the birds.
Caring for the bird's canteen
After making a feeder, follow the main rule - there should always be food in it. Birds will quickly find food. The lack of food for several days leads to the death of those who are accustomed to feeding here. Remember this in winter.
Are you unable to add food daily? You can build a feeder so that food is supplied automatically.
Feeder from a 5 liter bottle
It’s difficult to work with coconut, but almost anyone can make a feeder from a bottle. Take a 5 liter plastic bottle.
Draw three or four squares on the same level so that the bird can fit. Cut out three sides of each square, leaving the top line intact.
Fold the resulting square outward to create a canopy. Pour some bird treats inside the bottle and wait for your guests.
Selecting the materials needed to make a feeder
Many people imagine that a bird feeder - a garden decoration - should be made of wood. The traditional form is considered to be a small house.
Traditional bird feeder in the form of a house
This product looks quite attractive.
- The birdhouse has the following advantages:
- The structure is equipped with a roof, so the feed is protected from wind and precipitation.
- The wood is durable, the special feeder is a reliable design.
- The feeder, made of wood, blends harmoniously with any type of landscape.
The roof will protect the feed from winds and precipitation
To make a wooden feeder you will need a special drawing. You will be able to correctly indicate the dimensions in order to initially prepare the materials necessary for construction. There is creative work ahead, the result of which will be a neat bird feeder.
Drawing of a classic bird feeder
However, a bird feeder can be made not only from wood. A variety of materials available on the farm are used. For example, you can use a piece of log, a plastic bottle, old dishes, a kettle, or a net.
Original tea feeder
It is not necessary to purchase special materials. You just need to use your imagination to create a decorative element with your own hands. You can feed the birds while decorating your yard at the same time.
Feeder from a 2-liter bottle
Take two or three wooden spoons. Make two through holes in a 2-liter plastic bottle so that the handle of each spoon pierces right through the bottle. At the same time, so that the spoons come out with the scoop in different directions.
Pour the beans into the bottle. Through the holes, food will be poured into spoons, and birds will be able to peck it without difficulty.
What and how to put in the feeder
When trying to save birds from the harsh winter, do not go too far, so as not to harm the birds with your ill-conceived care. Avoid giving your winged pets salty, fried, rancid or moldy food. You cannot feed birds millet and black bread.
But for sunflower seeds or oatmeal, the birds will be incredibly grateful to you. The wards will not refuse raisins, peanuts, and soybeans.
If you don’t know what to feed sparrows and titmice, purchase a balanced grain mixture at a pet store. There you can select food for each individual bird species that lives in your area. Just don't pour in a whole mountain of food at once. It's better to add a little each time.
Don't wonder if you need a feeder. Be sure to make the simplest one with your children and instruct the younger generation to ensure that it is always filled with bird food.
Photos of bird feeders
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Category: Small architecture
