Homemade Glass Test Tube Hummingbird Feeders

Attract hummingbirds with a homemade feeder.

If you enjoy watching hummingbirds zip from flower to flower and want to keep the birds coming when the flowers have faded, put up a hummingbird feeder. In some regions of the United States hummingbirds will visit your garden, patio or balcony year-round if a colorful feeder is present. Feeders for hummingbirds are available in many garden supply centers and range from inexpensive plastic "flowers" to more costly glass and metal feeders. However, making your own feeder is also an option.

Things You'll Need

• Glass (or plastic) test tube with red cap
• Small nail
• 10-inches of 18-gauge wire
• Beads (optional)
• Fake red flower (optional)
• Glue (optional)
• 2-inch length of 18-gauge wire
• Suction cup with holed-tab on non-suction side (optional)
• Needle-nose pliers

Instructions

1. Remove the caps from the test tubes. Pierce a hole in each cap with the nail. Replace the caps onto the test tubes.

2. Wrap the 10-inch length of wire several times around a test tube near the cap. Leave one end of the wire long enough (at least 4 inches) to make a hanger. The wire around the tube must be wrapped tight enough so the tube doesn't slip out. For this example we are only making a single tube feeder, but you can make your feeder as elaborate as you wish.

3. Decorate your wire with beads. This is optional, but adds a personal touch to each feeder. Brightly colored beads are more appealing to hummingbirds.

4. Make a hole in the center of the fake flower. Line it up with the hole in your test tube cap and glue the flower to the cap of your tube. Allow the glue to dry and then check that your hole is still open. (This step is also optional, but makes the feeder more attractive to birds and people.)

5. Thread the 2-inch length of wire through the hole of the tab on the suction cup. Use the needle-nose pliers to form an S-hook or twist the ends together to make a ring. This step is only necessary if you plan to hang your feeder on a window.

6. Use the needle-nose pliers to form a hook at the end of the wire you wrapped around the test tube. Hang the hook on the ring or hook of the suction cup, or hang it on a hook elsewhere in your garden.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use any type of wire, but copper makes an attractive feeder.

• Heating the nail before you pierce the test tube caps makes a lip on the cap to lessen spills.

• Fill your tubes with commercial hummingbird food or with sugar water.

• Adding the fake flower to your feeder is attractive, but will make the tubes harder to clean.

• Tubes should be cleaned at least once a month.

• If using glass test tubes, take down your feeders during wind storms so they don't fall and break.

References

• Birds & Blooms: Hummingbrid Feeder for Pennies