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Create A DIY Bird Feeder With An Old Ketchup Container
BY KATE NICHOLSON
To attract birds to your yard, craft a simple DIY bird feeder by stringing together a plastic lid or shallow dish and an empty ketchup bottle with feeder holes cut in the sides.
Necessary materials include a squeezable ketchup bottle (Heinz or another brand), the plastic dish, a drill, a box cutter, a string or hook, and polyurethane glue or sealant.
Heinz ketchup bottles are a great choice, as they’re particularly sturdy and have an hourglass shape that’s designed to be upside down, but you can use any food-grade plastic.
Remove the label and cut a hole in the plastic dish that’s about the same size as the bottle’s screw-top neck. Fit the dish on the bottle and screw the lid back on securely.
Add drainage holes to your dish and a few holes at the top to hang the feeder. Cut feeder holes in the base of the bottle in a triangle shape so it can dispense various seed sizes.
Fill in any gaps with glue or sealant before unscrewing the lid to fill the feeder with your birdseed of choice. Then, simply screw the lid back on and hang it up.
Since sun exposure deteriorates plastic, your feeder will need repairs or replacements over time, so keep a few plastic lids and bottles on hand for future use.