Wood Bird Feeder

wood bird feeder
Difficulty
Beginner Projects
| Print this plan

Free plans to build your own wood bird feeder.  Self feeds using an recycled orange juice bottle.  Can be hung or set on a surface.  Build using one cedar fence picket.

With spring coming, we can't wait for the birds to return.  My son has been asking if we could build a bird feeder.  

Since he's only six, I designed an easy to build bird feeder using just one cedar fence picket and a recycled orange juice bottle.

wood bird feeder

Why We Love It

  • Very inexpensive (even free if you have an old fence picket)
  • Easy to build with just a couple of simple tools
  • Self fills - so you can go longer between filling the bird seed
  • Plastic bottle won't shatter or hurt someone (as opposed to a glass bottle)
  • Wide footprint can stand up on it's own
  • Can be hung from a tree
  • Simple, attractive design blends in with just about any decor or exterior
  • Easy to customize (for different sized bottles)
  • Kid Friendly project

Watch Us Build it

My son helped me build the wood bird feeder.  This is a great project to do with kids, and is quick and easy.

Wood Bird Feeder Plans

plastic bottle bird feeder

Dimensions
wood bird feeder dimensions
Wood bird feeder dimensions shown in diagram

Preparation

Shopping List
  • 1 - 5-1/2" wide (about) x 6 feet long cedar fence picket (can be dogeared)
  • 1 - Tropicana Orange Juice 52oz bottle
  • About 25 - 1-1/2" long self tapping exterior screws
Cut List

Cuts from cedar fence picket

  • 2 @ 16" - sides
  • 2 - @ 8-1/2" - roof
  • 1 - @ 9-1/2" - floor
  • 1 - @ width of the cedar fence picket, about 5-1/2" long
Tools
Tape Measure
Speed Square
Pencil
Safety Glasses
Hearing Protection
Drill
Jigsaw

Instructions

Step 1

Cut sides into house shapes with a jigsaw.

Attach bottom to the sides with the hole cut out.

NOTE: You may have to re adjust the location of the bottom depending on your bottle.

Step 2

Attach two roof pieces together.

Attach roof to top of birdfeeder.

Step 3

Attach bottom to the bottom of the sides.

Small scrap wood pieces are used to keep the bird seed from overspilling out on to the bottom.

Project Type
Room

Comments