Don’t throw away that empty milk jug. Turn it into a bird feeder! This eco-friendly craft transforms a gallon jug into a decorated feeding station that attracts cardinals, chickadees, finches, and other backyard visitors.
Materials
- 1 empty gallon milk jug (cleaned and dried)
- nail or hole punch
- green acrylic paint
- craft glue
- wire or sturdy string (for hanging)
- natural decorations: leaves, twigs, pinecones, bark
- clear craft glaze or sealer
- bird seed
- scissors
Grownup help needed: Cutting the entrance hole and poking holes for the wire hanger and perch.
Steps
- Cut the entrance. For the main entrance to the feeder, draw and cut out a large circle (about 2½ inches wide) a few inches up from the bottom of the jug.
- Add a hole for the perch. Make a small twig-sized hole just below the large one, either with a nail or hole punch. (See step 4 for adding the perch.)
- Paint it. Paint the outside of the jug green (or any color). Let dry completely.
- Decorate. Glue a dozen or so twigs to each side of the jug’s top, as shown. Poke a thicker twig into the perch hole. Glue on pebbles, pine cones, or any other decorations you like.
- Seal it. Coat the outside with clear craft glaze to protect the paint and decorations from weather.
- Add a hanger. Punch a hole through both sides of the top of the jug just below the cap and slip a wire through it.
- Fill and hang. Add birdseed and hang your feeder from a tree branch. (Be sure to put it where you can easily refill it.)
Now sit back and wait for the birds to discover the newest diner in town!
