The Easy DIY Hummingbird Feeder That Refills Itself

Hummingbirds can be one of the most welcome birds to visit your yard during the warmer months, where they can be spotted swiftly darting from flower to flower partaking of sweet nectar. While many hummingbird feeders can be a great addition to your yard, they can also be expensive. TikTok user @theartge recently showed off an easy and cheap DIY for creating a hummingbird feeder using only some everyday materials, including a plastic water bottle, a plastic storage dish, waterproof glue, and some twine.

The result is a bare-bones refillable hummingbird feeder that continuously refills itself until the bottle is empty. You can make one or several for different areas around your home's exterior with this great eco-friendly and upcycled solution that also prevents having to buy new plastic feeders. Fill it with hummingbird nectar – a sugar and water solution with a dash of red food coloring. Bright shades that mimic flowers loved by hummingbirds make your feeder a sure-fire hit with these tiny creatures.

To create your DIY hummingbird feeder, begin with a clean plastic bottle with ridges along the side. Drill a hole in the cap to allow the liquid to run through when placed upside down. Drill a hole in the center top of your food storage container, then matching up these holes, affix the top of the bottle upside down to the top of the lidded container with a sturdy waterproof adhesive like waterproof nontoxic adhesive like hot glue. (It is important that you let the adhesive cure first before it is brought anywhere near hummingbirds. Otherwise, it could be dangerous.) Tie a loop of twine around the center of the bottle in one of the ridges, then use two vertical pieces of twine on either side pulled through to create a hanger. 

Unscrewing the bottle cap, fill the bottle with your solution of sugar and water. Replace the bottle in the cap, turn it upside down, and allow the liquid to drip into the container below. Several holes poked in the top of the container lid allow several hummingbirds to feed simultaneously. Depending on the size of your bottle, evaporation, and how much hummingbird traffic it gets, you can likely go several weeks between fillings. For a more polished look, consider using a glass or vintage bottle instead of plastic.