- Which material is suitable?
- Where can I find building instructions?
- What tools and accessories should be available?
- General tips:
When a solid blanket of snow covers the land and frosty temperatures prevail, our feathered friends often no longer find enough food. You can help them get through the winter with a home-made bird feeder. Let your imagination run wild with the design, because the only important thing is that the feed stays dry and cannot be soiled by the animals.
A simple wooden bird feeder is easy to build yourself
Which material is suitable?
The materials should have the following characteristics:
| material | description |
|---|---|
| Spruce, pine, fir or larch wood boards, 18-20 mm thick | Stable and weatherproof. |
| Plywood or MDF fiberboard | Be sure to seal the edges with varnish or paint to prevent water from penetrating. |
| metal parts | Galvanized nails, brass screws or coated screws are resistant to corrosion. Hinges should be brass. |
Where can I find building instructions?
On the Internet you will find many instructions with templates that are easy to implement. At the beginning of the winter season, there are also corresponding flyers in many hardware stores. Alternatively, you can browse the on-site library. Workbooks for children are a good source of inspiration.
What tools and accessories should be available?
- A workbench or an old table with a vice is recommended. This should have a firm footing so that you can saw and plane it.
- Drill (€97.00) to pre-drill holes for the nails.
- Saw: Since only straight cuts are almost always necessary for a bird feeder, a handsaw is sufficient. A jigsaw is good for more complicated lines. The work is more comfortable with an electric jigsaw (36.18€).
- Glue: Only use good quality wood glue.
- You will also need: hammer, wood file, plane, utility knife, screwdriver, cloth.
General tips:
When gluing two pieces of wood, especially if you are using wood that has been stored for a long time, make sure that the surfaces are clean and free of grease. When working with MDF, you have to keep in mind that wood glue does not stick well to them.
Always apply the glue thinly on both sides and press the pieces of wood together with screw clamps. Immediately wipe off any adhesive that comes out of the joint with an old cloth. Leave to dry thoroughly.
tips
Finally, the bird house should be well protected against the weather. Children especially love bright colors. In addition to the usual wood preservatives, acrylic paints are well suited for painting. These are easy to use and contain very little harmful solvents.