DIY Recycled Dish Bird Feeder Tutorial

Are you trying to decide what to give for Mother's Day this year?  If your Mother loves to watch birds, a dish bird feeder may be the answer.  This garden art project will add a unique, lovely accent to her garden.  Making a vintage dish bird feeder is fun an easy.  

To make a dish bird feeder collect inexpensive dishes, plates and glassware from yard sales, flea markets, thrift shops or search your own cupboards to see if you have any unused items.  After collecting the items, it is time to repurpose them into a beautiful bird feeder for your garden. 

Want more DIY dish and glass recycling ideas?
How to make a Garden Dish Flower
How to make a Magnetic Pin Dish
More Dishware and Glassware DIY Projects

Do you want other ideas for recycling and upcycling using other materials? Our Green Crafts, Going Green page has lots of craft ideas using all types of items. Turn trash in treasures!

This video and the following photo tutorial with step-by-step instructions will explain how to make a dish bird feeder by recycling old dishes and glassware.

INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1: GATHER DISHES AND GLASSWARE

To make the bird feeder collect inexpensive glassware, plates, bowls, and small bowls.  Mix and match different styles and colors to give more interest.  A cup on its side would also work for a bird feeder.  Look in your cupboards, thrift stores, yard sales, and flea markets to find inexpensive and pretty glass to use. 

If the glass you find will not work for the flowers, it may work for a garden art dish flowers project. 

STEP 2: WASH ITEMS

After you have gathered the dishes, wash the dishes in warm soapy water.  Allow the dishes, glassware and bud vase to dry thoroughly. 

STEP 3: BIRD FEEDER STAKE

Decide on the type of stake you will be using to hold up the bird feeder in the garden.  The stake can be copper tubing, PVC pipe or a wooden dowel.  However, you need to measure the opening of the bud vase to make sure the stake will fit inside. 

A good height for the stake would be 3 ½ feet, but it can be higher or shorter; whatever height you prefer.   

If you are using copper tubing, which is what I like, you can easily adjust the length by using an HDX Junior Tube Cutter.  Watch our tube cutting tutorial to see how to use this handy tool. 

Also, remember wooden dowels can rot over time so you make have to replace them occasionally.

STEP 4: ASSEMBLING BIRD FEEDER

If you are using more than one dish, glue the dishes together using E-6000 glue.  Apply a generous amount of glue to the bottom of the dish on top and put the dish in place.  Press down to get the glue to spread out and so the dish is secure.  Allow the glue to dry for at least 24 hours.

If you are only using one dish or after multiple dishes are completely dry, it's time to glue the bud vase to the bottom of the main dish.  Turn the dishes over so the bottom is facing upwards.  

Apply a generous portion of E-6000 glue to the bud vase bottom and press it firmly to the bottom of the dish in the center. Again, allow it to dry completely for at least 24 hours.  

STEP 5: DISPLAY IN GARDEN

After the glue for the bud vase is dry, it's ready to display in the garden.  Place the stake in the ground.  Place the dish bird feeder on top by placing the pipe inside the bud vase.  

The recycled dish bird feeder is ready and a wonderful addition to your garden.  Just add bird seed and the feeder is ready to feed the local birds and wildlife.

Whimsical garden art such as recycled dish bird feeds and dish flowers will make a yard so cheery.

For more dish upcycling, visit our DIY Dish and Glass Recycling page.

HERE ARE MORE INTERESTING DIY GARDENING IDEAS

Garden Art Dish Flower - Make unique flowers for your yard with old dishes and glassware.

Hydroponic Garden - Grow food in the winter! Learn how to set up an easy hydroponic garden in your home.

Stepping Stone Tutorial - Learn how to make charming stepping stones for your yard.  This is a great summer activity for kids.

DIY PVC Planter - Learn to make a planter using PVC Pipe. This will hold many small pots and is perfect for a deck.