How to Make a Hummingbird Feeder
It would be a great project to make a hummingbird feeder. You could make one on your own as an avid hummingbird watcher. You could also make one with your kids as a fun activity together that will teach them to love and appreciate hummingbirds themselves.
Hummingbird Feeders
Feeders for hummingbirds are actually sold in stores. Any pet or specialty bird shop will offer you a great selection of finely made bird feeders. Do remember though that the hummingbirds have no sense of appreciation for beautiful and expensive feeders. What they are really after is the nectar in the feeder. This means you can easily feed hummingbirds from makeshift homemade feeders. So if you don’t want to spend on your feeder, you could just make one on your own.
Homemade Feeder Ideas
There are many types of homemade feeders. You can improvise in any way you want. You can also use a variety of materials from small shallow dessert dishes to empty soda bottles. Here are some great and simple ides to make your own feeder.
Option 1: Get an old red plastic cup and punch some holes on the bottom. Punch four equidistant holes on the sides of the top open rim of the cup and thread four long, separate pieces of yarn through them. Set the cup aside. Fill the soda bottle with nectar and put the cup over the bottle. Invert the cup and bottle and use the yarn to tie the feeder to a branch.
Option 2: Make a hummingbird feeder by cutting a hole on the cap of a soda bottle. Use a glue gun to glue the sides of the cap to a small cup. Screw a hook on the bottom of the soda bottle. Fill the bottle with nectar and screw the cap on. Invert and hang the bottle.
Option 3: Drill holes on the cap of an old glass jar. Fill the jar with nectar to the brim and screw the cap on. Glue a few layers of wire around the sides of the cap and use any remaining wire to hang the jar on a branch.
Option 4: Get a square piece of wood and drill holes on all four corners. String yarn through all the four holes. Glue a shallow plate on the surface of the piece of wood and hang the open feeder using the yarn.
Feeder Making Tips
You can have your own unique way of making a hummingbird feeder. There are however a couple of general reminders that hold true for all homemade feeder projects.
- You might want to consider painting your homemade feeder. Hummingbirds are only attracted to feeders that are colorful. The best color to consider would be red. Do remember though not to use paint that is toxic or that can be washed off. No hummingbird will drink paint flavored nectar.
- Kids should always be supervised when making homemade feeders. Many feeders are made using drills, nails, hammers, knives and hot glue.
- Feeders have to be clean. Before you fill that soda bottle, make sure you have cleaned it properly. Feeders should also be regularly washed. Hummingbirds only feed from clean feeders.
- You don’t need to buy expensive nectar from stores. You can make your own simple nectar mix. You can just add one small cup of sugar to four small cups of water and you already have a sweet solution to feed the birds. Others suggest boiling the water and sugar mix.
There really is no need to spend a lot just to enjoy the sight of hummingbirds. You can always make a hummingbird feeder with materials that you already have at home.
