How to Build a Birdfeeder Out of Wood

Attract wild birds with a natural wood feeder.

Wood is a good choice for a birdfeeder, as it is an inexpensive, durable material found in a bird's natural environment. With a bit of scrap wood and a few common hardware supplies, you can build a simple feeder to attract a variety of wild birds around your home. Fill the feeder with peanut butter and black oil sunflower to attract nut-feeding birds, or use orange slices and jam to attract orioles. In the cooler months, you can place a suet block in the feeder to provide a high-energy snack for birds.

Things You'll Need

• 4 wood boards, 1-by-2 ¾-by-6 ¼ inches
• 1 wood board, 1-by-2 ¾-by-13 inches
• 1 wood board, 1-by-2 ¾-by-10 inches
• 1 wood board, 1-by-5 ½-by-9 inches
• Handsaw
• Ruler
• Sandpaper
• Drill
• All weather flat wood screws
• Screwdriver
• Window screen
• Tin snips
• Staple gun
• Stainless steel staples

Instructions

1. Cut all the wood boards to the specified size using a hand saw.

2. Place the 9-inch board lengthwise on a flat surface. Measure and mark 1 ½ inches down from the upper right hand corner. Cut a diagonal line from the lower left corner to this marking using a handsaw. This will be your bracket piece.

3. Arrange the 6 ¼-inch wood boards in a 7 ¼-inch square to make the birdfeeder frame. Pre-drill two holes in each corner of the square and screw the boards together using wood screws.

4. Cut a piece of window screen large enough to cover the bottom of the birdfeeder frame. Attach the screen to the edges of the frame using stainless steel staples. The mesh bottom will allow fluids to drain, preventing disease from spreading in the feeder.

5. Place the 13-inch wood board vertically. Place the 10-inch wood board at the vertical board's center point so that the 10-inch side is perpendicular to the 13-inch side. Mark the vertical board where the two boards intersect.

6. Pre-drill two holes at the vertical board's intersection point. Attach the vertical board to the horizontal board using wood screws.

7. Center the bracket under the horizontal board so the 5 ½ inch side is against the vertical piece and the 9-inch side is against the horizontal piece. Mark the location of the bracket on both boards.

8. Pre-drill three evenly-spaced holes on the back of the vertical piece where the bracket will go. Pre-drill four evenly-spaced holes on the top of the horizontal piece where the bracket will go.

9. Attach the bracket to the vertical and horizontal boards using wood screws.

10. Center the birdfeeder frame over the horizontal board so that 3 inches of the feeder extends beyond the horizontal support.

11. Drill two evenly-spaced holes through the top of the birdfeeder frame into the horizontal board.

12. Attach the birdfeeder frame to the horizontal support using wood screws.

13. Drill two holes in the bird feeder's vertical support board, one near the bottom edge and the other near the top edge.

14. Mount the bird feeder to a support using screws.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose a location for your feeder out of reach of predators. An 8-inch or higher pole mounted vertically in the ground with a predator baffle is ideal, but the side of a house will also work. Trees are poor locations for bird feeders, as squirrels can access the food and cats and other predators can climb trees and harm the birds.

• Fill the birdfeeder with seed, suet or fruit. Change the food and rinse the feeder every few days to keep it fresh and prevent disease transmission.

• Only use unfinished wood to make bird feeders. Treated wood contains chemicals that may be harmful to wildlife.

References

• University of Florida; Attracting Backyard Birds: Bird Feeder Selection
• CSU; Building Nest Structures, Feeders and Photo Blinds for North Dakota Wildlife; Chris Grondahl and John Dockter

Resources

• A Home for Wild Birds: Wooden Bird Feeders