how to make a feeder from a 5 liter bottle
Only one out of every six plastic bottles ends up in the trash after use; the rest end up in landfills or contribute to destructive water pollution. Help reduce the burden on the planet by recycling, reusing and reducing your overall plastic consumption. There are many ways to do this, and bird feeders made from plastic bottles are a prime example of this.
The projects presented in this article do not involve any costs or complex tools. You will learn how to make a feeder from a five-liter bottle , as well as from a plastic food canister. Involve children and let them express their creativity so that your products are not only functional, but also beautiful.
Original feeder
To make this design we will need 2 bottles (large and smaller).
Manufacturing:
- Take a large bottle and make four large holes in it opposite each other.
- The bottom of the second bottle needs to be cut off so that it can be placed inside a large bottle without reaching the bottom by 2-3 centimeters.
- Pour food into the bottom of a large bottle and place a small bottle on it so that its neck rests against the lid of the large bottle.
- Unscrew the cap of the large bottle and pour the food into the small bottle through a funnel and screw on the cap.
- Use wire to attach the feeder to a tree branch.
In this design, the main part of the feed will be well protected from rain. As the birds eat the food, the bottom of the feeder will gradually fill up.
Classic feeder
To make a feeder, we need a two-liter clean empty plastic bottle, a wooden stick (or spoon), rope or wire for fastening.
Manufacturing:
- Retreat 4-5 centimeters from the bottom of the bottle on two diametrically opposite sides.
- Make two round holes the width of the wooden stick.
- Insert a stick into these holes so that it is inside the bottle (bird perch).
- Above these holes, cut two rectangular holes, “windows” intended for birds.
- Cover the windows with colored insulating tape to prevent the birds from damaging their paws.
- Tie a wire or rope around the neck of the bottle.
- Attach the bottle to a tree branch.
Selection and preparation of materials
Any food-grade plastic container left over from food products is suitable for making bird food. It is better to choose bottles with transparent walls - and you will be aware of the remaining food, and your feathered guests will be able to find treats faster. The volume of the container depends on the location of the feeder. Small bottles from 0.33 to 1 liter are suitable for windows. They will not create problems when mounted on the frame and will not interfere with your view. For parks and squares, you can choose containers of 5 liters or more. Feeders must be securely fixed on thick, non-springy branches.
Before use, the bottle is washed inside and out. Stickers and labels are removed from the surface. If the paper cannot be removed, the plastic can be slightly heated with a hairdryer or hot steam for 1–2 minutes. Then the glue will soften and come off easily. Do not use cleaning products! Chemical particles can get inside the feeder and remain there even after thorough rinsing. Bird food will turn into poison!
If the label does not come off, try a safe folk remedy. Wipe the surface with vegetable oil. It will change the structure of the glue and it will lose its sticky properties.
Types of bottles
A good choice is mineral and drinking water bottles. Used containers have a neutral odor. They practically do not need to be washed from the inside; simply dry them.
Assorted water bottles
The advantage of containers for milk, kefir, yogurt, fermented baked milk and other products is their dense walls. In addition, the bottles have wide bottoms, providing good capacity.
Containers for dairy products
In draft beer and kvass stores you can buy clean bottles without labels. Standard container capacities are 0.5 l, 1 l, 1.5 l and 2 l. There are products in the form of barrels, with handles convenient for hanging.
Beer bottles for feeders
How to decorate a homemade feeder
Very often, in elementary school or kindergarten, children are asked to bring a ready-made feeder. Every child can show their imagination and creativity by making a beautiful feeder.
Using indelible paints or felt-tip pens, you can draw a whole picture: a forest landscape or capture all family members; Russian ornaments are also suitable.
Using twine, you can create a real forest house. Wrap the container with twine, after treating its entire surface with glue. Decorate the resulting house with pine cones, acorns and fir branches.
Girls who are interested in bead weaving can glue beads, rhinestones, beads, creating floral panels or images of birds.
Also suitable for decoration are colored threads used in weaving in the macrame style. The threads can be secured with glue over the entire surface of the bottle.
These feeders will definitely be unique and can decorate any yard. Don’t forget to take a photo of the plastic bottle feeder as a souvenir.
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- Order shaft production
When creating your individual design, maintain a balance between originality and practicality, because an overabundance of decorative elements can scare away birds.
How to make a bird feeder for a child
You need to prepare:
- Plastic bottle
- Plastic yogurt cups
- Wire or cord
- Bird food
Do not leave children alone, make sure they follow safety precautions.
Step by step guide
Cut a hole in the side large enough to allow the feed to flow freely without spilling onto the ground at the slightest gust of wind. Make several small holes in the bottom of the bottle to allow rainwater to drain out.
Hang the feeder on a tree. If you are making several pieces, you can stretch the wire and attach several feeders to it. But you need to keep an eye on them, if the food starts to mold or the bottle wears out, just make a new feeder, with the experience gained it will take a few minutes.
Tell your children that the birds are counting on them and will go hungry in the winter if you forget about them.
Photo source www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-kids/games-and-activities/activities/make-a-recycled-bird-feeder/
DIY bird feeder from a 5 liter plastic bottle
Instructions for making a vertical structure:
- Place the plastic bottle on the table and mark the windows with a marker. If the container is square, you can make entrances on three sides; for a round shape, it is better to limit yourself to two cutouts;
- cut out the windows with a knife or scissors, leave the visor;
- treat sharp plastic edges with insulating tape;
- make crossbars on which birds can hide from snow or rain and larger competitors: use a hot screwdriver to burn holes strictly opposite each other, insert straight branches from trees or household kebab sticks. You can make several perches at different levels. The main thing is that the bottom one is at the entrance level, and the top one is accessible for landing, but does not block the window;
- To secure it, you can use a bottle handle or, if lost, make holes in the lid with a hot screwdriver, pass a wire through them and make a loop.
Cutting out the middle:
We make holes and insert sticks - perches
Pour food and lard onto sticks:
Fasten the rope, you're done
To prevent the bird from cutting itself on the cut edges of the bottle, we recommend using electrical tape.
The photo and video describe in detail the instructions for making a house-dining room for tits from a 5-liter plastic container. The design is identical to the vertical version of the design with poles. Even a small child can make a bird feeder from a plastic bottle, under the watchful supervision of adults. The main thing is desire and a little effort. Sharing family craftsmanship will be a lesson in humanity for children. Loving, respecting, caring for nature and animals is a valuable human quality that must be instilled from an early age. The baby will be doubly pleased if he contributes with his own hands to saving birds from winter cold and hunger.
Feeder with spoon
The unusual design with spoons will appeal to little birds, and at the same time will surprise and inspire the neighbors. The materials you will need are a two-liter bottle and 2 simple wooden spoons, preferably with long handles (at least 20 cm):
- make paired holes for spoons, 4 pieces in total. First, holes are made on one side, with a diameter that exactly matches the handle (for a tight fit).
- Then, on the other side, an opening is made slightly lower so that the spoon is at a slight slope. Make the second pair of grooves in the same way.
- On the working side of the spoon, the cut should be free to pour a small amount of food into the recess.
- Insert spoons into the prepared holes, pour in a mixture of millet, berries, nuts, and seeds. Screw on the lid and hang it in a convenient place outside.
Spoons serve as both crossbars and levers for feeding food. As soon as the bird sits on the scoop, grain is poured into the recess. Thus, at least 2 feathered neighbors will be able to feed at the same time.
Hopper feeders
A bird feeder with a dispenser or bunker feeder is a more complex design. It eliminates the need to top up food every day, and is more convenient to use compared to primitive “canteen” feeders. For production you will need a five-liter and one-and-a-half liter bottle. In a 5 liter container you will need to make windows on 4 sides, according to the instructions for the vertical feeder. Then follow these steps step by step:
- Cut the bottom of a 1.5-liter container so that when installed in a 5-liter bottle, there is a distance of no more than 2.5-3 cm between the neck of the smaller container and the bottom of the larger one.
- Pour the feed into a 5-liter container, no higher than the “door” level, so that it is in close contact with the neck of the future grain reservoir.
- Insert the 1.5 liter container vertically inside so that the cut bottom fits snugly against the top of the large bottle.
- Through the neck of a 5-liter container, pour a mixture of seeds, cereals, and dried berries into a one and a half liter bottle to capacity.
- Hang the hopper from a tree branch using a loop through the lid or bottle handle so that birds can fly in from all directions.
As the feed at the bottom of the 5-liter container decreases, “reserve” grain will gradually enter it. All that remains is to monitor the filling of the one and a half liter spare wheel and add bird food in a timely manner.
