How to Make a Suet Feeder Bird Feeder for Wild Birds

Backyard bird watching is an activity nearly everyone can enjoy, and it is fun to attract as many different types of birds to your yard as you can. Birds in colder climates are especially attracted to suet, which is readily available at many local grocery stores. I have several of these suet feeders which I made from hardware cloth using just a few simple tools.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hardware Cloth
• Two pair needle-nose pliers, one straight nose and one bent nose
• Wire Cutters
• Wire Clothes Hanger or
• Spare Wire from the Hardware Cloth
• Suet (to fill the feeder)

1. 
   Use hardware cloth to make a suet feeder bird feeder.

   Decide how large you want your suet feeder to be. For me, the height of the suet feeder was pretty easy to determine—I wanted one tall enough to hold five suet balls.
   
   For the diameter of the suet feeder, measure the circumference of the suet balls (or otherwise decide how large you want it) and add a little extra for a margin of error. You need the circumference to be at least big enough so you can fit your hand and arm inside to bend the wires.

2. 

   BEFORE YOU CUT THE HARDWARE WIRE…notice that the photo shows the wire is cut so the ends of the wire protrude. You will bend those protruding ends around the edge of the bird feeder to hold its tubular shape.
   
   Now, unroll the hardware cloth and, using the wire cutters, cut an oblong piece of hardware cloth in the dimensions you decided on for the feeder.

3. 
   Bend and twist the wires to make a tube shape.

   Bend the wire into a tubular shape and fasten the edges together by twisting the protruding wires around the edges. You will need both sets of the needle-nose pliers for this step.

4. 

   Measure and cut out an additional piece of hardware cloth for the bottom of the bird feeder. This piece should be circular to fit the bottom of the bird feeder.

5. 
   Add wire to hang your suet feeder.

   Fashion a hanger for the bird feeder from either a straight piece of the leftover wire or from an old-fashioned wire-and-cardboard coat hanger if you are lucky enough to have one.
   
   That’s all there is to it. Put some suet in the feeder and hang it outside to attract a wide variety of wild birds.

Tips & Warnings

• It is easier to cut the hardware cloth if you have a helper to hold the hardware cloth down while you cut it. (It tends to want to roll back up).
• When you buy a new roll of hardware cloth, it is tied with several pieces of thin wire so it maintains its shape. When you remove that wire, save it for Step 4 and Step 5.
• Warning: Suet is a cool weather bird food. It melts and turns rancid and makes a mess in hot weather.

[slphilbrick]

on 8/25/2009 I've wondered how to put out more suet in the winter time. Good project to try out !

[inggymae]

on 8/25/2009 This looks fun too. I should try it with my kids.