Upcycle A Thrifted Dish For A Cheap Feeder Hummingbirds Will Love

There are all kinds of clever ways to repurpose old dishes in your home and garden, from turning extra bowls into light fixtures to making garden borders from chipped plates. But one of the best projects is to create a gathering place for your feathered friends using thrifted dishware. If hummingbirds could talk, they'd tell you that the most valuable items you can find at thrift stores are candy dishes. This isn't because they have a soft spot for bonbons. It's because, with the addition of a few handheld feeders, a candy dish can be transformed into a spot that dispenses one of their favorite treats: nectar.

To craft a neighborhood diner for these tiny birds, search for a divided candy dish with a flat bottom. A serving tray with compartments will also do the trick. As you shop, consider which materials are most likely to survive rainstorms, strong winds, and other harsh weather that could damage a bird feeder. Also, think about the sun's effects. Some materials, like plastic, fade faster than others and get very hot when exposed to hours of sunlight. Further, choosing a dish that's easy to clean is ideal and helps keep hummingbirds happy and healthy. See if you can find a dish that complements your existing yard decor, too. Better yet, find one that's stylish and either red, pink, or orange – a few of the best colors for attracting hummingbirds to your garden.

All you need to do is add a few nectar-dispensing discs, like CHENGU's Mini Hand Hummingbird Feeder, to your candy dish to transform it into a bird cafe. Many of these discs are designed to repel bees and ants. However, you can also add water to the candy dish to create a moat. If you plan to place your feeder on a flat surface, you can simply set one disc in each section of the tray. To help the mini cups stay put, consider securing them with hot glue or another strong adhesive. This is especially important if you hang your feeder or your yard has minimal wind protection. Macrame plant hangers designed for outdoor use, like Eboot's Large Macrame Plant Hanger, are stellar options for dangling your feeder. You can also DIY an adjustable macrame plant hanger with sturdy rope.

Furthermore, your candy dish doesn't have to be entirely red or orange to be a hummingbird magnet. YouTuber RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy selected a holly-inspired candy dish with glossy green leaves and red berries. Multiple hummingbirds stopped by for a nectar nosh as soon as the discs were added. Plus, if a candy dish catches your eye but isn't a color hummingbirds prefer, you can decorate it. Spray paint and acrylic paint designed for the elements are great options. The nontoxic Nicpro Outdoor Acrylic Paint Pack includes hummingbird-friendly shades of red, orange, and magenta. You'll have a fabulous way to lure in hummers, all with the help of a thrift store item.