Upcycle a milk jug into a bird feeder

Yesterday I stopped at a local store specializing in birds, because I wanted to purchase a bird feeder the Oregon Juncos in my yard would like. They had every kind of bird feeder you could imagine, from feeders made with only sustainable materials to fancy designs that had weather protectors and catch trays.

All of the feeders were beautiful and special in their own way, but the prices were also special–and not in a good way. Some of the feeders were over $50, and that didn’t include the accessories that came with it!

I walked out without buying anything, disappointed and a little angry. I took out my phone the second I was outside, and looked up DIY bird feeders. It turns out, you can make a great bird feeder to impress the Juncos out of nothing.

How to turn a milk jug into a bird feeder

You will need:

• An empty milk jug and its lid
• Some old string, ribbon, yarn, or anything else to tie it up with
• Decorations (optional)
• A knife

Starting with a clean jug, cut a hole in the side. It must be at least 2″, but it can also be 4″-5″. A good option is to plan how deep you want to fill it and to cut it just above that fill line for easy access. You can also do more than one hole. The birds really aren’t that picky.

Let the kids decorate the jug with paint, glitter, or other decorations. Probably best to let them do this outside. Put your feet up and read a book while the mayhem ensues.

When the jug is dried, fill it with bird feed up to the fill line, and tie it in a tree.

That’s it! It’s free, and you can get as simple or as fancy as you like.