Decorative Bird feeders can add to the visual appeal of your yard. They dont only add color and character to your backyard; they also provide a great source of relaxation and entertainment.
Having a decorative bird feeder is a good way to set the ambiance of your yard or to enhance your backyard theme. Bird feeders come in a variety of shapes and styles. They can be fancy, whimsical, or plain and natural. The design possibilities are endless.
On deciding on what decorative bird feeder to buy, you should first consider which style you want, the type of birds you want to invite into your back yard and which style works well with your backyard design. You can also try making your own decorative bird feeder. You can make simple bird feeders from ordinary materials like branches drilled with holes and stuffed with suet, or pinecones coated with peanut butter and bird seeds, or you can make your own bird feeder project from an old clay pot saucer filled with seeds. But if you have a little more time and skill, you can try this home made decorative bird feeder plan.
Materials:
- 1 threaded rod, w/ nut and washer
- Hot melt glud
- Nails (4d)
- Rigid plastic or acrylic
Wood pieces:
- 1 (3 x 16 x 16) plywood base
- 4 (3 x 3 x 7 1) Cedar post
- 4 (5/16 x 6 x 7 1) Cedar siding Box side
- 2 (3/4 Χ 1 1/2 Χ 17 1/2") Cedar ledge side
- 2 (3/4 Χ 1 1/2 Χ 16") Cedar ledge end
- 2 (5/16 Χ 7 1/4 Χ 20") Cedar siding roof panel
- 1 (20, 1 diameter) dowel ridgepole
Steps:
1. Cut the wood using the dimensions given.
2. Prepare the base:
a. Using 3 plywood, cut out the base using the specified dimensions. Locate the center by drawing diagonal lines from one corner to another.
b. Mark a 6 square in the center of the base. Make sure the edges of the square are parallel to the base edges. This will mark the area for the bird feeder.
c. Drill a hole (1/4 in diameter) at the middle of the base, where the two diagonal lines meet.
d. From the corners of the 6 square, measure 3/8 toward the center and drill holes all the way through these points. (1/16 diameter)
3. Prepare the Parts of the Feeder Box:
a. Cut the posts from 3 square cedar molding.
b. Cut two 6 wide box sides from 8 cedar lap siding. Prepare two 7 panels. These will be trimmed later to the same size as the lap-siding bevels.
c. Cut out slots for viewing. Drill two 1 holes for your jig saw at the center of each box side one hole 2 from the bottom, another 2 from the top. Connect these two holes using your jigsaw.
d. Cut an arc, 1 deep, into the base of each box side. Starting at 1 1 from both ends. Sand down the arcs to smoothen.
e. Cut strips of clear plastic or acrylic at a size slightly larger than your viewing slots. Glue them over the slots from the inside of your box sides.
f. Prepare to cut the box sides to keep to the siding bevels. Construct the box using tape. The wider ends of the beveled siding should be even. Trace the profile onto the inside area of the two box ends. Disassemble and cut along the traced lines with your jigsaw.
4. Feeder Box Assembly:
a. Glue the posts to the inside edges of the box sides that were trimmed in step 3-f.
b. Attach the untrimmed box sides to the posts using glue.
5. Attaching the Base:
a. Align the box you assembled with the 6 square outline you drew on the base. Hot glue the base to the box and turn upside down.
b. Using nails through the predrilled holes of the base, secure the feeder box to the base.
c. Cut the ledge sides and ends to the dimensions given. Construct a frame on all sides of the base. Glue the pieces for the ledge so that the bottoms are even with base bottom. Secure with nails.
6. Making the Roof:
a. Cut the ridge poles and the roof panels using the dimensions given.
b. Place the panels on the work surface so the wide ends of the panels come together. Place a spacer under each of the narrower ends at 2 from both ends. The spacer should be 1 thick.
c. Apply hot glue onto the seam between the two panels. Push ridge pole onto the seam and allow the glue to harden.
d. Set right-side-up, resting both ends of the ridge pole on a block (2 x 4). Drill starter holes (3/8) through the roof and the ridge pole at spots 1 from the center of the ridge. Using a jig saw, cut a slot between the holes to connect them. Widen the slow until you can thread a rod through with the least resistance.
e. Cut the threaded to 16. Bend a 1 1 loop on one end using pliers. Mount the roof onto the bird feeder. Allow the straight end of the rod to go through the feeder roof and the hole in the base. Adjust the rod loop until it is perpendicular to the ridge of the roof.
f. Fasten a washer and nut to the looped end of the rod, loose enough to allow for spinning.
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