The Genius Way Clothespins Can Bring More Colorful Birds To Your Yard

Colorful birds are a welcome addition to any yard. Not only do they look and sound lovely (especially those gorgeous songbirds), but they also nosh on insects and other annoying pests, keeping those populations firmly under control. Plus, some help with plant pollination, which is necessary for many plants to reproduce and thrive season to season. Obviously, there are a lot of benefits to having a bird feeder in your yard. While a lot of birders invest in store-bought bird feeders to encourage feathery friends to visit their property, some people opt for the far more budget-friendly and crafty option involving clothespins. 

Clothespins used to be a staple in most homes for laundry needs, but now that machine dryers are readily available, fairly affordable clothespins are not as widely used as they once were. Fortunately, the creative beings of TikTok have figured out how to repurpose clothespins into DIY bird feeders that are easy and fun for adults and children alike. All it takes is a few standard household items to attract birds.   

There are a number of spins on how to make a clothespin bird feeder, but most of them require the same essential items: clothespins, glue, peanut butter, birdseed, and some type of card stock paper or cardboard (think: old shoeboxes or cereal boxes). TikTok user @playtime_and_parenting altered that slightly by using pumpkin and sunflower seeds rather than a standard mix, but otherwise, the methodology is the same. 

To make your own clothespin bird feeder, simply cut a shape out of the cardboard/paper, then glue it to the clothespin. People who want to get extra festive can trace holiday shapes onto the cardboard and produce their own creative feeders, like these Halloween-themed ones by TikTok user @littlepinelearners. Spread peanut butter all over the paper, then sprinkle it with birdseed or dip it into a mixture. Walk it outside and clip the clothespin to a branch that it can securely latch onto. Then sit back with a cold beverage and enjoy all of the new feathery visitors to your property! 

There is a small amount of maintenance that should be completed once the clothespin bird feeder has been fully enjoyed, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service explains. One reason is that birdfeeders can spread disease because of all of the different birds gathering in the same spot. The agency says that store-bought feeders should be cleaned every two weeks at a minimum, so be sure to follow the same protocol and remove homemade feeders at the same interval or when all of the seed is gone, whatever comes first. They also say to remove feeders if you notice an ill-looking bird in your yard, just to be safe.

The agency also strongly recommends regularly sweeping up seeds that have fallen onto the ground from the feeder. Again, this will help to prevent avian diseases from spreading, but it'll also keep other pests from showing up for a snack. No one wants to inadvertently attract rats or raccoons and all of the problems that come along with them!