Milk Jug Bird Feeder Instructions - Milk Jug Bird Feeders

This is a very easy feeder to make. An excellent project to do with your children or grandchildren, or for scout and school projects.

Items Needed:
A CLEAN Gallon plastic milk jug, with the cover
An 8 to 10 inch length of 3/8 dowel rod OR a straight smooth length of a tree branch
A pair of scissors
Wire - about a two foot length (I used electric fence wire)
A large nail or an awl (anything to poke a hole in the plastic)
A smaller nail, about the size of the wire
Safety goggles (Important: protect your eyes)

Use the images above as guides.
(1) Cut a circle out of both sides. Most milk jugs have an indented circular area on these sides, cut out the inner circle.

Using the awl reach inside and punch a couple of holes through the bottom. Be careful not to make them too large or the seed will fall out. This isn't really easy to do but you should have a couple of drain holes. I haven't really had a lot of problem with water getting into these feeders though.

**Hint** If you dip the jug into some HOT water for a few minutes it is easier to get the holes punched into the bottom.**

(2) Make the smaller perch hole below by punching through the plastic with the large nail (or awl). A pole barn nail works great for this. The hole should be large enough for you to push the dowel or stick through. This will be the perch for the birds to land on. It should require a little effort to push it through, you want the perch to fit snuggly.

(3) Punch two small holes below the cap where the plastic starts to curve upward and is thicker. Screw the cap back onto the jug. Insert the wire through the two holes until it is centered.

PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN WORKING WITH THE WIRE, WATCH WHERE THE ENDS ARE AS YOU ARE WORKING IT THROUGH THE HOLES. WEAR YOUR SAFETY GOGGLES!

Push it up against the sides as tight as you can. Bring each side across the top of the cap and twist it two or three times. Watch carefully as you twist so the wire does not get too tight and pinch or crack the cap.

Your bird feeder is done. Twist the wire around a branch and toss in some black oil sunflower seeds. Pay attention to the direction the holes are facing. Point them away from the direction the rain usually comes from your area. You will be surprised just how fast the birds find it. Enjoy.

Fill the feeder with black oil sunflower seeds to just below the perches inside the container. Give the birds time to "accept" the new feeder. They are naturally cautious and will not (in most cases) go to the feeder right away. Once they have acccepted that its not going to eat them, they will come to it. I have added a plain black and white page here for easy printing. It includes the items needed, images and text directions.

You will probably find as I have that the squirrels really like these feeders too. Just remember, it was once a piece of garbage so . . . when he chews the holes big enough so that he can get in . . . Make a new one!

Â© Cheralyn Maturi 2001