Make a Gorgeous Bird Feeder from a Plastic Bottle

Get the birds to flock to your garden this spring and summer with this charming plastic bottle bird feeder. It’s a fun, upcycling project to enjoy with kids.

Plastic Bottle Bird Feeder tutorial

If you love upcycling, this apple-shaped bird feeder made from a plastic bottle is perfect. It’s simple to make, keeps kids entertained and teaches them to care for wildlife and the environment. Hang one in your yard and enjoy watching birds visit while they help control garden pests.

More recycled ideas you will love:

• Recycled snack box with zipper
• Orange peel bird feeder
• DIY phone holder
• DIY terracotta pots
• Recycled phone charging station

Making a small bird feeder from a plastic bottle benefits birds and brings life to your garden. It requires only a few materials and basic tools, and you can customize the look with paint and twine. This project is safe and engaging for children when supervised, and it’s a great way to reuse plastic that would otherwise be discarded.

How to make a Bottle Bird Feeder

Materials:

• Plastic pop bottle (clean and dry)
• Craft scissors
• Craft blade
• Red craft paint
• Kids paint brushes
• Green artificial leaf
• Medium sized twine
• Glue gun
• E600 glue or another strong adhesive
• Bird seed

Directions:

• Cut the bottle so the bottom section measures about 3½” tall and the top section about 5″ tall.

• Insert the top piece (the neck) upside down into the bottom piece to form the apple shape. Use a craft blade to cut a circular opening on the side of the bottle about 2″ above the bottom so there’s room for seed.
• Apply a strip of E600 glue around the inside seam where the two bottle pieces meet. Rotate the pieces slightly so the glue spreads evenly. Allow the glue to dry overnight in a well-ventilated area.

• Paint the assembled feeder red to resemble an apple. Multiple thin coats give the best coverage—let each coat dry before applying the next.

• Cut a length of twine at least 2 feet long. Use a hot glue gun to attach the twine ends to opposite sides of the feeder to create a hanger.
• Wrap the remaining twine around the bottle neck (the “stem” area) and secure with hot glue as you go to create a natural-looking stem texture.

• Glue the artificial leaf to the twine-wrapped stem by applying glue to the leaf base and pressing it into the twine.

• Continue wrapping and gluing the twine up the stem until you reach the top. Trim the twine and secure the end with glue for a neat finish.

• Fill the feeder with bird seed and hang it from a branch in your yard or garden. Place it where birds can access it safely and you can enjoy watching them.

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