Don’t toss out that empty milk jug! Turn it into an easy-to-make bird feeder.
by Michele Reyzer; photo by O. Louis Mazzatenta
What You Need
- empty gallon milk jug
- nail or hole punch
- green acrylic paint
- craft glue
- wire
- clear non-toxic craft glaze
- leaves, twigs, pebbles, and pine cones
- bird seed
What You Do
- For the main entrance to the feeder:
Draw and cut out a large circle (about 2½ inches wide) a few inches up from the bottom of the jug. - For the perch:
Make a small twig-sized hole just below the large one, either with a nail or hole punch. (See step 5 for adding the perch.) - Brush green paint on the outside of the jug and let it dry. Glue leaves onto the outside of the jug.
- For the hanger:
Punch a hole through both sides of the top of the jug just below the cap and slip a wire through it. - For the roof and final touches:
Glue a dozen or so twigs to each side of the jug’s top, as shown. Poke a thicker twig into the perch hole. Glue on pebbles, pine cones, or any other decorations you like. Paint over the leaves with craft glaze. - Add birdseed and hang your feeder from a tree branch. (Be sure to put it where you can easily refill it.)
Now sit back and wait for the birds to discover the newest diner in town!
