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Many of us are willing to give the birds that visit our garden a helping hand, but as winter approaches, they really do benefit from a little extra assistance. And you needn’t spend a fortune on factory-made feeders. As the nights draw in, why not invest a little time and love on making one of your own? The instructions overleaf are for a delightful bird feeder buffet (shown opposite), which will allow you to lay out a smorgasbord of tasty treats, from apple and corn cob to a variety of seeds and nuts. And once you’ve tackled that, why not progress to making a beautiful birdhouse in which they can bed down, too.
For more designs, including birdhouses, see Handmade Birdhouses And Feeders, by Michelle McKee-Orsini, published by Cico Books, priced £12.99.
Reader offer: Purchase a copy of the book at the special price of £10.99, including free p&p, by calling 01256-302699 and quoting GLR 7ZY.
How to make a bird feeder
You will need:
◆ One 180 x 14 x 1.2cm cedar fence board
◆ One 180 x 9 x 1.2cm cedar fence board
◆ Waterproof glue
◆ 25mm finish nails or galvanized wire nails
◆ 14 x 30mm exterior screws
◆ 2 x 10cm lengths of 8mm round dowel for perches
◆ 2 x 60mm exterior screws
◆ 80-grit sandpaper
◆ Paintable wood-filler putty
◆ Bright red exterior craft paint
◆ Old hook or link swivel (available from building supply store) for hanging
◆ 1 link swivel from building supply store (optional)
◆ 2 x 60cm and 1 x 30cm length of heavy black wire
◆ Water-based exterior varnish
◆ Basic tool kit
Finished size:
Approx 32 x 19 x 26.5cm
Cutting list:
Birdhouse facade: 28.5 x 14cm – cut 1
Roof: 15 x 14cm – cut 2
Method:
1 Cut the peak of the facade at a 45° angle and reserve the cut-o triangles. Cut a 2.5cm hole in the façade 20cm from the bottom and centred on the width. Bevel one short end of each roof piece at 45°. Glue and nail the roof pieces together along the bevelled edges.
2 Place the assembled roof on the 14cm-wide piece of fence board and mark the end. Cut along your marked line; this gives you dimensions for the buffet floor.
3 Glue and nail the facade to the centre of the floor. Glue and nail one of the cut-off triangles to each side of the façade to give it extra stability.
4 Cut two pieces the same length as the floor from 9cm timber. Glue and nail one piece to each side of the floor. Then cut two pieces the same length as the front and back of the floor, including the sides you’ve just attached. Glue and nail them to the front and back of the floor to complete the feeder.
5 Using a 3mm bit, drill pilot holes at each end and in the centre of each side of the feeder, then drill in 30mm exterior screws to ensure the sides are firmly fixed in place.
6 Using a 8mm bit, drill two holes below the hole in the front facade and gently tap in the dowel perches. Using a 3mm bit, drill a pilot hole below the perches, then drill in a 60mm exterior screw from which to hang slices of fruit.
7 Prepare the feeder for painting by brushing off any excess dust and placing tape or wadded paper in the hole. This keeps the inside of the hole and the interior of the birdhouse free of paint, as it is important for the birds that the inside is clean, natural wood. Then paint the roof top and the outside of the feeder bright red, leaving the facade and the interior unpainted for the birds’ safety.
8 Using a 3mm bit, drill a pilot hole in the centre of each side of the roof, then drill a 30mm exterior screw partway into each hole. Wrap the end of a 60cm length of heavy black wire around each screw, then tighten the screw to secure. Wrap the other end of each wire several times around a paintbrush to create a twist, then wrap the twisted wire around a hook or link swivel to make a secure hook for hanging.
9 Using a 3mm bit, drill a hole through each corner of the roof. Twist the centre of a 30cm length of black wire, then feed the ends through each hole from underneath, and twist the ends several times to secure; this forms another perch for the birds.
For more designs, including birdhouses, see Handmade Birdhouses And Feeders, by Michelle McKee-Orsini, published by Cico Books, priced £12.99.
Reader offer: Purchase a copy of the book at the special price of £10.99, including free p&p, by calling 01256-302699 and quoting GLR 7ZY.
How to make a bird feeder
You will need:◆ One 180 x 14 x 1.2cm cedar fence board
◆ One 180 x 9 x 1.2cm cedar fence board
◆ Waterproof glue
◆ 25mm finish nails or galvanized wire nails
◆ 14 x 30mm exterior screws
◆ 2 x 10cm lengths of 8mm round dowel for perches
◆ 2 x 60mm exterior screws
◆ 80-grit sandpaper
◆ Paintable wood-filler putty
◆ Bright red exterior craft paint
◆ Old hook or link swivel (available from building supply store) for hanging
◆ 1 link swivel from building supply store (optional)
◆ 2 x 60cm and 1 x 30cm length of heavy black wire
◆ Water-based exterior varnish
◆ Basic tool kit
Finished size:
Approx 32 x 19 x 26.5cm
Cutting list:
Birdhouse facade: 28.5 x 14cm – cut 1
Roof: 15 x 14cm – cut 2
Method:
1 Cut the peak of the facade at a 45° angle and reserve the cut-o triangles. Cut a 2.5cm hole in the façade 20cm from the bottom and centred on the width. Bevel one short end of each roof piece at 45°. Glue and nail the roof pieces together along the bevelled edges.
2 Place the assembled roof on the 14cm-wide piece of fence board and mark the end. Cut along your marked line; this gives you dimensions for the buffet floor.
3 Glue and nail the facade to the centre of the floor. Glue and nail one of the cut-off triangles to each side of the façade to give it extra stability.
4 Cut two pieces the same length as the floor from 9cm timber. Glue and nail one piece to each side of the floor. Then cut two pieces the same length as the front and back of the floor, including the sides you’ve just attached. Glue and nail them to the front and back of the floor to complete the feeder.
5 Using a 3mm bit, drill pilot holes at each end and in the centre of each side of the feeder, then drill in 30mm exterior screws to ensure the sides are firmly fixed in place.
6 Using a 8mm bit, drill two holes below the hole in the front facade and gently tap in the dowel perches. Using a 3mm bit, drill a pilot hole below the perches, then drill in a 60mm exterior screw from which to hang slices of fruit.
7 Prepare the feeder for painting by brushing off any excess dust and placing tape or wadded paper in the hole. This keeps the inside of the hole and the interior of the birdhouse free of paint, as it is important for the birds that the inside is clean, natural wood. Then paint the roof top and the outside of the feeder bright red, leaving the facade and the interior unpainted for the birds’ safety.
8 Using a 3mm bit, drill a pilot hole in the centre of each side of the roof, then drill a 30mm exterior screw partway into each hole. Wrap the end of a 60cm length of heavy black wire around each screw, then tighten the screw to secure. Wrap the other end of each wire several times around a paintbrush to create a twist, then wrap the twisted wire around a hook or link swivel to make a secure hook for hanging.
9 Using a 3mm bit, drill a hole through each corner of the roof. Twist the centre of a 30cm length of black wire, then feed the ends through each hole from underneath, and twist the ends several times to secure; this forms another perch for the birds.