How to Make Bird Feeders From Two-Liter Bottles

Empty two-liter bottles usually find their way into the trash. However, they can be easily recycled into handy homemade bird feeders. With a few common household items, you can quickly and easily create a bird feeder for the feathery friends around your home. This is also a fun craft project to do with your kids.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Two-liter bottle Dish soap Water Drill Twine Two chopsticks Hot glue gun with glue Sunflower seeds or niger thistle seed
Two-liter bottle
Dish soap
Water
Drill
Twine
Two chopsticks
Hot glue gun with glue
Sunflower seeds or niger thistle seed

Step 1

Empty and clean a two-liter plastic bottle with mild dish soap and water. Rinse the bottle thoroughly to make sure that there is no soap or soda residue left in the bottle. Peel the label off of the bottle.

Step 2

Drill two small 1/8-inch holes in the bottom of the bottle about one inch apart. Thread a piece of twine through the holes and knot it, creating a loop large enough to pass a tree branch or hook through. The bird feeder will hang from this loop.

Step 3

Drill four holes about 5/16-inch around the opposite end of the bottle, near the cap. Each set of two holes should be directly across from each other, and all four holes should be at equal distances apart around the bottle. These holes will hold the chopsticks.

Step 4

Drill four more holes, about two inches above each chopstick hole. The birds will get their seed from these holes. For sunflower seeds, the holes should be 5/16-inch round. For niger thistle seed, drill 1/4- to 1/8-inch holes. If the holes are too large, the seed will spill out. With the right sized hole, the seed should stay inside the bottle until the birds begin to peck the seeds out.

Step 5

Insert the two chopsticks into the holes you have drilled for them. The chopsticks should protrude far enough from each side of the bottle for birds to perch on them. Dot a small amount of glue around each chopstick where it meets the bottle. This will keep the chopstick from rolling. Allow the glue to dry completely before proceeding to the next step.

Step 6

Turn the bottle so that the cap is facing up. Unscrew the cap, and pour the bird seed into the bottle. Replace the cap and turn the bottle so the cap is facing downwards. The seed should reach at least an inch past the feeding holes. Hang the bird feeder outside on a tree branch or bird feeder post.

Tips & Warnings

For a more attractive bird feeder, paint a design on the bottle. Keep in mind, however, that if your decoration covers the entire bottle, it will be more difficult to determine the level of birdseed. Very small seeds may spill out of this type of feeder. Another option is to cut a large hole into the side of the bottle in place of the small feeder holes. Pour the seed in through this hole, and keep the seed level just below the opening. This will allow the birds to stick their heads into the bottle to feed.

For a more attractive bird feeder, paint a design on the bottle. Keep in mind, however, that if your decoration covers the entire bottle, it will be more difficult to determine the level of birdseed.

Very small seeds may spill out of this type of feeder. Another option is to cut a large hole into the side of the bottle in place of the small feeder holes. Pour the seed in through this hole, and keep the seed level just below the opening. This will allow the birds to stick their heads into the bottle to feed.

Resources

FeederWatch: What to Feed Birds

Article Written By Mandi Rogier

Mandi Rogier is a freelance writer who enjoys writing about a wide range of topics. As a previous employee of Walt Disney World, she enjoys writing travel articles that make use of her extensive knowledge of Orlando theme parks.

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