My kids absolutely love animals! They especially love the wild birds in our yard. There is a cardinal who frequents our front yard and my son can always see it from his bedroom window. He loves watching it and all the other birds that fly around and hang out in the tree outside his room. We came to the end of the milk in our milk jug today and I had a thought…we should make a milk jug bird feeder to hang outside of my son’s window! This is a great craft to make use of a plastic jug and turn it into a DIY bird feeder. Are you interested in making a bird feeder out of a milk jug too? It’s a fun and eco-friendly way to attract birds to your yard. Here is a step-by-step tutorial on how to make one.
Try This DIY Milk Bottle Bird Feeder
You have probably made some sort of simple bird feeder with your child at some point or another but, this particular one is very durable (since it’s made of plastic) and stands up to all kinds of weather! This Milk Jug Bird Feeder is so easy to make, and it will be a favorite outdoor item for the bird lovers in your home.
Milk Jug Bird Feeder Craft Supplies Needed:
- Empty 1-Gallon Milk Jug (rinse with hot water to clean out any drops of milk remaining)
- Scissors or craft knife
- Cord/Twine
- Twigs
- Bird seed
- Permanent Markers, Washi Tape, or Stickers (optional for decoration)
I love that you only need a few simple materials for this easy craft.
How To Make A Bird Feeder Out Of A Milk Jug:
Start by gathering your supplies and head to the table or spread out on the floor. Grab your old milk jug and scissors or (craft knife).
Cut Hole in Milk Gallon Jug
Parents, you will definitely want to do the cutting or monitor your older child very closely. The plastic milk jug is pretty tough to cut. Pick a side of the milk jug and cut out a square in the bottom half of the milk jug, just big enough so the bird can get the food. Our square was just a few inches high and long.
Once you have your square cut out, poke a small hole or make a slit right below the opening and another hole/slit on the opposite side of the jug. The twig goes through these small holes at the bottom of the jug. The twig will be a great little seat for your bird.
Add Twig Perch To DIY Bird Feeder
Pick a pretty strong twig and push it through the first slit and then guide it through the milk jug and push a little through the backside. You want most of the twig to stick out on the side beside the food. Alternatively, you could use a small wooden dowel from the craft store. But twigs are free and probably provide better footing for the birds anyway!
Add Cord To Hang Milk Jug Bird House
Once you have got your twig in place, it’s time to create some slits at the top of the milk bottle so that you can hang your feeder up! Grab your scissors and make two slits at the top of your jug. Grab your cord and tie a loop at the top.
Once you have tied a loop at the top, you are ready to hang your bird feeder jug. Pick some tree branches you can reach and loop it over a strong stub or tie it around the branch. Then, fill it with yummy seeds for the birds!!
Pro Tips:
- Place feeders at least 10–12 feet away from shrubs or trees where predators (like cats) could hide.
- Ideally, feeders should be either within 3 feet of a window (to prevent fatal collisions) or more than 30 feet away.
- It can take a few days to a few weeks for birds to discover a new feeder.
- Try different seeds (safflower, peanuts, nectar for hummingbirds) to attract diverse species.
Bird Feeder Milk Jug Conclusion
What an easy and fun craft, huh? Your child can even use Washi tape or stickers to decorate his/her bird feeder. It is a great boredom buster and way to get your child to be active and observant of nature. Is this something you might make with your child this summer? Just remember to save your milk jug the next time you are done with your milk!
Have you found any other clever ways to reuse your milk jugs? Feel free to share by using hashtag #familyfocusblog in your social posts. We’d love to see your milk jug bird feeders! This fun project is a great way to interest your kids in reusing things and in observing the natural world through bird watching.
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Ann Cregg says
I checked out your blog and was captured by what seems like such a wonder craft for children that as you say hooks them right into observing the natural world and effortlessly teaches them repurposing what would otherwise be waste. I loved the clear instructions and the good outcome for birds, kids and general family together activity. What a great mother! Happy Mother’s Day. You are the best gift to your mother and to your children. How injused I am with joy on this mother’s day.
Kevin says
What a great project to do with a plastic milk jug. Our fine feathered friends love this feeder. Continue your fantastic work.
Goldie says
Works great! We have been getting some blue jays visiting the DIY feeder in the last couple of days.
Cicero says
I’ve been following your blog for some time now, and I’m consistently blown away by the quality of your content. This is such a fun bird feeder tutorial.