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The cheapest birdfeeder you can hang out for the birds is one you made yourself!

Before you start, gather the 4 things you will make your feeder out of. First, save a big soda bottle, one with a big lid will be easier to fill. Second, raid the kitchen drawers for a nice length of string or wire to hang your feeder with. Third, dig out a long, unused pencil for perches for the birds. Fourth, if you have a problem with squirrels or live in a rainy area, you should also save a metal pie dish from your recycling too.

The steps to making your new feeder are as follows:

1. Prepare the bottle by removing the label. Rinse out and dry the bottle really well and let it drip dry upside down to get the last of the water out of it.

2. Cut a small hole about the size of a nickel (1" across) on either side of the bottle just above the mold line near the bottom of the bottle. These will be the holes the birds will put their heads in to get the seed.

3. Poke a hole a little smaller than the diameter of the pencil just below the feeding holes.

4. Push the pencil through the smaller holes to make a bird perch on either side of the feeder. Make sure the pencil sticks out at least an inch and a half on either side. If the pencil isn't long enough, you can use a straight stick from outside or a dowel.

5. Tie the string tightly around the neck of the bottle and put a loop in the string to hang it.

6. Fill the feeder with a funnel or a piece of paper wrapped around into a cone shape and hang the feeder near a tree or bush. The bush provides an area of safety for the birds as they approach the feeder.

7. If you want to provide some protection from rain and squirrels, take the metal pie dish and poke a hole in the middle of it. Push the hanging string up through the hole so the pan hangs upside-down over the feeder like a little umbrella when you hang the feeder. This will provide a roof to keep the seed dry and help make it harder for the squirrels to climb down on it.

Once you have created your home-made birdfeeder, filled it with seeds, and hung it out for the birds, sit back and enjoy the show. Your feeder can also be a great gift for someone else who adores bird watching.
Every time you fill the feeder, be sure to wash it out thoroughly to prevent dirty and bacteria from building up. Let it dry all the way before you fill it again.
You can relax and be proud with the knowledge that you have not only saved money, but you have also helped the environment by creating something useful from disposable and recyclable materials.

Learn more about this author, Roan Kishpaugh.
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