5 Easy DIY Feeders to Make for Backyard Birds in Winter

In the winter, when food from plants and insects is scarce, non-migratory birds are more reliant on bird feeders than in other seasons, especially when the ground is covered with snow. Keeping bird feeders stocked with bird seed during the colder months is one of the best ways to support local birds and watch them in your yard.

Feeding birds does not require purchasing a bird feeder; instead, upcycle materials or items you already have and make a bird feeder for free. A DIY bird feeder is also a great project to keep young ones busy with a winter craft project.

Here are ideas for low-cost, simple yet attractive homemade bird feeders that perfectly fulfil their purpose.

1. Citrus Peel Feeders

The peels of oranges, grapefruits, and lemons, readily available in winter, come in handy to make fully biodegradable bird feeders. When you eat the fruit, cut it in half and remove the juicy flesh. Scrape the inside until the peels are nice and clean, but without tearing them. Then, insert 2 bamboo skewers along the top of the peel's edge so the skewers are crossed like an “X". Tie 2 lengths of twine or cord to the ends of the skewers to make a hanger, fill the peel with your bird seed of choice, and hang the mini citrus feeders outdoors in a spot where wild birds easily find them.

2. Pinecone Feeders

Pinecone feeders are one of the best bird feeders to make with little ones, but crafting them is a little messy so it’s wise to lay newspaper over your workspace before you start.

Gather pinecones from your yard or take a foraging trip to a nearby park or hiking trail and pick up the best pinecones you can find. Tie a loop of string around the base of the cone to create a hanger, then roll the pinecones in peanut butter until they’re thoroughly coated on all sides. Finish off by rolling the cones in bird seed so the seed sticks to the cones on all sides.

Any type of peanut butter works in a bird feeder, but all-natural peanut butters are healthier for wild birds. Standard bird seed mixes attract a wide variety of birds. Black oil sunflower seeds are favored by the greatest variety of bird species.

3. DIY Suet Cakes

There are lots of different ways to make your own suet cakes. For an extra easy recipe, melt 1 cup of peanut butter with 1 cup of lard on your stove on low. Once these ingredients are melted, pour in 2 cups of quick-cooking oats, 2 cups of bird seed, 1 cup of flour, and 1 cup of yellow cornmeal. Blend the mixture until it’s thoroughly combined. Let the suet cool a bit, then press the melted suet blend into muffin tins, inside canning jar rings, or another type of mold, about 1 inch thick. To finish, sink loops of string into the suet to create hangers, and allow the suet to set and harden in your fridge before hanging the cakes outside.

Suet cakes of this sort are ideal for attracting woodpeckers and other year-round resident birds, like nuthatches. Note that homemade suet cakes should only be put outside in cold weather, as the suet softens and melts in warm weather. That means you’ll want to use your suet before spring.

4. Cardboard Roll Feeder

For a super easy feeder that’s perfect for kids to help with, gather a few cardboard paper towel or toilet paper tubes and roll the exterior of the tubes in peanut butter, followed by bird seed. Thread a wooden dowel rod through the center of the tube and tie twine on either side of the dowel ends to create a hanger. If you don’t have a dowel rod on hand, before rolling the tubes in peanut butter, thread twine or craft pipe cleaners directly through the cardboard tube to create a simple hanger.

5. Milk Jug Feeder

Pinecone, paper towel tube, and citrus peel feeders generally last for just one use before they’re ready for the compost bin. Milk jugs or juice containers are not biodegradable, but they make longer-lasting bird feeders. Clean the jug and carefully cut windows in 1, 2, or all 4 sides of the jug to allow birds to easily hop in and out. Leave 1 to 2 inches of the jug intact around the base to create a lip that holds the bird seed in.

To hang, tie a wire or twine around the top of the milk jug to create a hanging loop. It is sometimes helpful to secure the twine inside the milk jug lid to ensure it doesn’t budge.