How to Make a Bird Feeder from a 2-Liter Plastic Bottle

1. Clean the Bottle

   Clean and dry the bottle thoroughly, removing any labels. Use a weak bleach solution to be sure the bottle is sanitized, then rinse thoroughly. Allow the bottle to air dry for several hours or overnight to ensure that no moisture remains inside, which could cause the seeds to spoil.

2. Attach the Hanger Hook

   Screw the hook into the center of the bottle's cap, making sure it is firm and tight. If necessary, you can use an awl or nail to start the hole, which will make it easier to screw in the hook.

   After the hook is fully inserted, seal both sides (inside and out) with a drop of polyurethane glue to provide extra strength and to keep moisture out of the feeder. Avoid getting glue on the cap's threads, however, as you will need to open the bottle whenever you refill it with seeds.

3. Add Perches

   Cut holes large enough to fit the perches completely through the bottle, about 1 1/2 inches from the bottom of the bottle. The perch dowels should fit snugly into the holes and extend completely across the bottle and out the matching hole on the opposite side. When inserting the perches, balance the length of the perch on each end to allow birds to feed comfortably. A small bit of glue can also be used to secure perches and keep the holes from widening or loosening.

   If desired, add additional perches higher on the bottle. Each additional perch should be 2 to 3 inches higher than the last and rotated around the bottle from where the last perch was located. This creates the most space for birds to perch. The top perch should be 3 to 4 inches below the cap.

4. Cut Feeding Ports

   Cut feeding ports 1 to 2 inches above each perch, using a utility knife. The ports should be 1/8 to 1/4 inch wide, depending on the type of seed you will use—use larger holes for mixed seed or sunflower seeds, and smaller holes for Nyjer or millet. Oval-shaped holes that are taller than they are wide will be easier for birds to feed on.

5. Fill With Seed

   Slowly fill the feeder with the desired seed. If the feeding ports are too big, placing a piece of clear tape over them and recutting smaller holes in the tape can fix the problem. If desired, you can add crumpled paper, decorative marbles or gravel to fill the very bottom of the feeder, occupying the space below the feeding ports where the seeds are out of reach of the bids.

6. Hang the Feeder

   Hang the feeder outside from a tree branch or other support structure and wait for birds to discover it. It won't take long.

More Ideas

If you have more excess plastic bottles, there are other bird feeder designs you can try:

• Cut a single broad feeding window from one side of the bottle, 2 to 3 inches from the bottom. This will limit the amount of seed the feeder can hold—you'll only be able to fill it up to the level of the window—but this design can be built and hung very quickly.
• Turn the bottle upside down to create a seed or nectar reservoir, and purchases ready-made feeder and perch attachments to convert the bottle into a nifty feeder. This is fast and easy but does require the extra purchase of attachments.

You can also use plastic water bottles or soda bottles in other ways to help birds:

• Use bottles to create a loose, movable baffle to keep squirrels from climbing poles or wires and getting into your bird feeder.
• Cut the bottom off a large bottle and use the plastic disk to create a roof shelter for a small feeder.
• Convert half a bottle into a simple ant moat to keep insects out of nectar feeders.

Tips for Feeding Birds

To keep your new bird feeder at its best for the birds:

• Clean or replace the feeder regularly to avoid spreading diseases to backyard birds.
• Experiment with different types of birdseed to attract the widest variety of bird species.
• When refilling your feeder, put any uneaten seed into a platform or ground feeder so it can be eaten quickly.