Turn An Old Ketchup Container Into A Birdfeeder

In spring, seeds, insects, and flower nectar are abundant, and few birds struggle to meet their caloric needs. But as the weather cools and the trees drop their leaves, food becomes harder to find. If you enjoy the flit of wings and the trill of bird song or just generally want to attract birds to your garden, make the cooler months easier on our wild feathered friends by putting out some bird seed. You don't need anything fancy to house it — in fact, you can craft a DIY bird feeder in minutes by stringing together a plastic lid or shallow plastic dish and an empty ketchup bottle with feeder holes cut into the sides.

Not all ketchup containers are made equal. Iconic Heinz ketchup bottles are particularly sturdy since they're made from thick PET. Other brands use thinner plastic for better squeezability or craft their bottles from glass, which, while recyclable, won't work for this project. If you never eat ketchup at home, you could try to source an empty bottle from a neighbor or friend. Failing that, you can use other types of plastic bottles. A Heinz ketchup bottle works so well for this project because of its hourglass shape, designed to be used upside-down, and large screw-top lid, so look for bottles with similar features. Stick with bottles used for food or drink since the plastic is already food-grade and won't contaminate the bird seed.

You'll need a squeezable ketchup bottle (Heinz or another brand), some kind of plastic dish (the lid off a tub of ice cream works great), a drill, a box cutter, string or a hook, and polyurethane glue or sealant. Remove the label from the ketchup bottle then unscrew the lid. Using the box cutter, cut a hole in the plastic dish as close to the diameter of the screw top neck of your bottle as possible. Use your drill to pop a few small drainage holes into the dish — you don't want the seed swimming in water every time it rains.

Using the box cutter, cut three or four seed dispenser holes in the base of the ketchup bottle, near where the screw top neck starts. A triangle works well to dispense various types and sizes of seed, and it's an easy shape to cut. You'll probably want to hang your new bird feeder, so cut one or two holes in the top of the ketchup bottle (the opposite end to the screw top lid) and thread a metal hook or sturdy piece of string through them. Fill your feeder with your seed of choice, and seal any gaps with the glue or sealant. Finally, fit the screw top neck of your bottle through the hole you cut in the plastic dish and screw the lid back on.

Now, it's time to hang your feeder. All you need is some outdoor space — be it an extensive forested backyard or a condo balcony — and something to hang the feeder on, like a tree branch or roof strut. What you put in your new bird feeder depends on the season and which bird species regularly visit your garden. Sunflower seeds seem to be a favorite of most birds — look for black oil sunflower seeds. Mix in some regular sunflower seeds if you need to cut costs. If you want to DIY your own birdseed, avoid high ratios of least-favored grains like millet, flaxseed, oats, or wheat berries. Not sure what birds are in your area and what they like to eat? Download the free Audubon Bird Guide app. It lists all North American bird species and their quirks.

Every time your feeder is empty, take the opportunity to clean it thoroughly before you refill it. This will ensure you don't create a breeding ground for bird diseases. Soak your feeder in water with a splash of bleach, then scrub it to remove any caked-on debris. Make sure it's completely dry before pouring in more birdseed. At the same time, you can check if any parts need replacing — eventually, you'll need to replace your homemade bird feeder since plastic deteriorates with sun exposure. Keep a few clean plastic lids and ketchup bottles stowed away for future use.