14 DIY Dollar Tree Feeders To Attract Birds On A Budget

Sitting on a sunny patio with a hot cup of coffee in hand, watching birds fly around the garden from the feeder to the birdbath, and to the treetops is one of life's greatest pleasures. According to a recent U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service survey, over a third of all American adults like to watch, feed, and photograph birds. Wildlife watching is big business, generating billions of dollars in sales of everything from binoculars to recreational trips. But birdwatching doesn't have to cost you a fortune. Using just a few simple items from Dollar Tree, it's easy to DIY feeders to attract birds, even if you're on a budget.

However, remember that many plants also provide shelter for birds and their nests, and that native plants are perfect for bringing birds to your yard. Adding a water source like a pond or birdbath also helps to meet their needs. Nonetheless, to really make sure they keep flying to your yard, it's important to consistently provide a source of food to create a habitat birds will want to visit again and again. Luckily, it's easy to do with these DIY bird feeders.

This adorable bird feeder is definitely our cup of tea. It couldn't be easier to make using a few inexpensive items from Dollar Tree. Buy a cute novelty mug, like the red ceramic mug from Dollar Tree, a saucer, and jute twine. Use a hot glue gun to securely attach the mug to the saucer, holding the handle straight up for a few minutes before leaving it to cure for an additional 30 minutes. Once dry, thread a length of twine around the handle, tying it into a double-knot before hanging on a tree branch. Then, fill with seeds.

Hand feeding a hummingbird is on many birdwatching bucket lists. Along with a bright red wardrobe, a steady hand, and a lot of patience, you'll also need nectar. According to the Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, it should be made with 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. To get up close and personal with these avian wonders, try using one of the tiny travel dressing containers from Dollar Tree as a feeder, ideally one with a red lid. If you're feeling crafty, add small yellow flower stickers to make it more attractive to birds.

Visit the floral supply shelves at Dollar Tree for a 12-inch metal wreath form, decorative accent gems, and wire plant holder. You'll also need a glass pie dish or glass dinner dish from Dollar Tree. Use pliers to remove the inner support ring from the wreath form before bending the metal edges to create a support for the glass dish. Spray paint the wire a bright color that coordinates with accent gems you'll superglue to the bottom of the dish. Attach the plant hanger to the form after placing the dish inside, then fill with water or seeds.

Recycling helps wildlife by keeping trash out of natural habitats and reducing the space needed for landfills. It's easy to upcycle household waste like empty milk and juice cartons into colorful bird feeders. Once empty, rinse cartons thoroughly and let dry before cutting large windows on each side with scissors from the Dollar Tree. Don't leave the cartons white because it can make birds more vulnerable to predators. Instead, paint them colors that attract birds, like the Dollar Tree's blue acrylic paint. Then, fill with seed and hang using twine.

Potato chips aren't the best food to feed your birds, but that shouldn't stop you from using a cheap chip dip tray to make a bird feeder they're sure to love. In fact, you can combine almost any Dollar Tree platter you like, like the Clear Plastic Crystal Tray, to make a sturdy feeder that's easy to fill and clean. Make large holes in the platter before attaching a wire plant hanger to it. Luckily, there are many tools that are perfect for different DIY crafting needs.

When you want to spend more of your money on high-quality bird seed than on expensive bird feeders, remember that you can make several of your own feeders for under $5. Dollar Tree sells sandwich storage container packs that are sturdy enough to hold larger black oil sunflower seeds, peanuts, or a DIY suet block that will feed your outdoor bird friends. Use an inexpensive plant hanger clipped to each side of the container and hang near a window.

There are endless ways to DIY a stunning garland on a budget, but this one is a simple craft project that's perfect for kids. All you need is a box of Cheerios and a spool of garden floral wire from Dollar Tree. Cut a length of wire and tie a loop at one end. Then start threading your cereal, adding dried fruit, like apple chips, by carefully poking the wire through them every so often. Tie another loop to hold the treats in place before hanging along a fence line or draping on shrubbery.

Start with a large plastic bowl, a plastic plate, and a plastic water bottle, like the iridescent water bottle from Dollar Tree. Use a wood burner to make a hole in the bottom of the bowl large enough to fit an eye screw. You'll use this to hang your feeder. Make another hole through the lid of your water bottle. Thread the screw through the bottom of the bowl and the lid, using a nut to secure them together. Melt additional holes through the water bottle to allow seed to escape into the attached plastic plate. You'll attach the plate to the water bottle with another screw.

There are many reasons why you should keep E6000 glue in your home, and this project is one of them. Dollar Tree sells wooden DIY birdhouses that can be painted before being made into eye catching feeders for your yard. Use the adhesive to attach children's blocks to the center of a large glass bowl to create a raised base. Once dry, glue the painted birdhouse to the blocks, and a colorful coordinating plate to the bottom of the bowl. Make a hanging base for your feeder by clipping a wire plant hanger to a 14-inch wire wreath frame.

Make a freestanding bird feeder that doubles as a birdbath with a chip dip tray, two wire trash cans, and a large salad bowl, like the crystal cut salad bowl from Dollar Tree. Use zip-ties to attach the trash cans with the bottoms together. Drill small holes in the chip tray, then attach it to the top trash can with more zip-ties. Finally, use E6000 or hot glue to add the salad bowl to the center of the tray before filling it with water after putting a rock inside to weigh down your feeder.

Did you know that bluebirds and robins like fruit more than birdseed? If you want to attract more songbirds to your yard, dissolve two gelatin packets in ¾ cup of hot water, then 3 tablespoons of corn syrup and ¾ cup of wheat flour. Mix well before combining with 4 cups of birdseed and couple tablespoons of diced raisins  from Dollar Tree. Before adding the mixture to the heart molds, spray the inside with vegetable oil. Allow the treats to sit overnight in the fridge. Use a small stick to create holes for threading twine if you plan to hang them.

Upcycling is one of the easiest ways to make your home more eco-friendly. Turn trash into treasure by rinsing out an empty soda bottle before using a soldering iron to cut small squares out of each side. Make at least one place for birds to perch by cutting just three sides of a square, folding the plastic on the bottle to form a ledge, and gluing wooden sticks to frame it. Paint and decorate the bottle as desired. Then, punch two holes through the top and thread twine for hanging before filling with seeds.

If you only have a balcony or other small outdoor space but still want to attract birds to your backyard, make this DIY tabletop bird feeder with just two items from Dollar Tree. You'll need a heavy candleholder or lamp base so your feeder doesn't fall over. Use sandpaper to rough up the base before using E6000 or hot glue to attach a glass plate to the top of the base before filling it with seeds. If you'd rather make a tabletop bird bath, use a glass bowl instead.

During the winter months, your backyard birds will appreciate high-fat treats because the extra calories will help them stay warm. Offer them a special snack by covering a small decorative wooden birdhouse from Dollar Tree with peanut butter then dipping it in assorted birdseed. This project is messy, so you may want to make it outside instead of in the kitchen. Bluejays are especially big fans of the nutty snack. Don't be surprised if you hear them squawking with joy after you hang this DIY bird feeder in your garden.