10 DIY Bird Feeders to Add to Your Outdoor Space

As far as soothing at-home activities go, there are few things more relaxing than watching birds from your home. Even better? Watching them enjoy seed from a feeder you made yourself. You can hang bird feeders anywhere, whether on a tree branch or even on your patio. The ideal one is strong enough to hold up against both winter weather and the ever-so-friendly squirrels; easy to assemble; and easy to keep clean.

If you want to attract a variety of birds to your yard or garden, offer your guests variety. Provide several different feeder types with a few different foods. Some species of birds are more likely to prefer one kind over another—hey, a bird’s gotta have options! Get inspired to craft your own birdseed buffet with these 10 easy-to-make DIY bird feeders.

Kirsten from Amongst the Wildflowers was inspired by a friend to create these pine cone bird feeders with her daughter. After coating the pine cones with peanut butter, they rolled them in the birdseed and hung them using twine. How easy is that?

Use three or more terracotta pots plus some acrylic paint to create a lighthouse bird feeder like this one from Amy of Modge Podge Rocks in collaboration with Plaid Crafts. You could even add an LED candle on top for a hint of light at nighttime.

Ever since Amanda of My Life Gone Green and her boys hung these bird feeders made from cookie cutters, they’ve been seeing non-stop action in their backyard. Their recipe was simple: gelatin, hot water, optional peanut butter, and birdseed. Scoop the mixture into cookie cutter shapes you love and refrigerate—then hang, and watch the birds flock.

For this rustic-look bird feeder, Austin of Moon’s Tavern use an upcycled whiskey bottle framed with a wood box. This feeder’s self-refilling: When the seed at the base gets eaten, more falls in its place.

Sofie of Make & Create enjoys creative projects with her kids using items found lying around the house, so she used a milk carton, popsicle sticks, a plant stick and thread to create this handsome bird feeder. A coat of black paint gives it the look of a sleek, modernist house.

Here’s proof that you should always hang on to your scrap wood: Holly from Update My Cape was delighted when her husband crafted this Adirondack chair bird feeder using scraps he found in the garage.

To give smaller birds a separate area to perch and feed, Fee of Fee Dawg created this simple bird feeder from a teacup, saucer, and some strong glue.

Emma Pniewski of Plaid Crafts used terra cotta pots and ceramic plates to make this charming tiered bird feeder. Create your own design using acrylic paint; once dry, you can fill each plate with bird food for a multi-level bird buffet.

If Sara Donovan’s backyard birds have any style, they’ll stop for a bite at this colonial style bird feeder. She upcycled scraps from her garage, including some old polyvinyl chloride (PVC) on top for the chimney. And get this: The cap comes off to make way for the bird food.

This bird feeder is made of plastic dishes and a dowel—less than $10 in materials total—and strikes a super modern yet whimsical note. Find step-by-step instructions here.