A Jam and Berry Feeder |
This feeder is fairly easy to make. Boards used for fencing, such as cedar boards, make these projects a little easier. They are usually available in 4 to 6 feet lengths and 6 inches in width. A saw, drill or sabre saw, a screwdriver and a hammer are the tools needed. |
||
Cut two pieces of the 6 inch board for the the base and the roof, each 12 inches long. You can trim off the corners to improve the appearance. Cut an upright piece, 5 inches long. Other materials include a 2 feet long piece of wire or cord for hanging, 2 inch nails and 1" or 1 1/2" nails and three 1 inch screws. |
One other small piece of wood is needed, a piece 3 inches wide and shorter than the base, this could be any piece of scrap wood. |
||
A hole is cut through the base board at each end, 2 and 1/2 inches works very well. Cut it in the centre and 1 inch from the end. If a drill bit is not available, a jig saw could be used. |
||
The base board should look like this. Drill a hole in the middle for a 1 and 1/2 inch screw to fasten it to the upright piece. |
||
Drill a small hole in the top and centre of the upright piece for a screw to attach the bottom. A nail tapped in and then removed works well. A pencil mark from opposite corners will give you the centre. |
||
Screw the base to the upright and also drive a nail in the side to prevent it from swivelling. |
||
On the underside of the bottom, cover the holes with the 3 inch wide lathe and attach with small nails or scews. |
||
The holes will look like this. These will contain any food that you wish to use, seed, berries, jam etc.. |
||
If a piece of bark, suitable for the roof, is available it makes a more natural looking feeder. If not, a piece of 1 x 6 cedar cut the same as the piece cut for the bottom can be used. |
||
Screw a small screw into each end on the underside. It should be in the centre, and a short distance from each end of the wood. These are used for hanging up the feeder. Fastened at each end the feeder will be better balanced. |
||
Nail the top roof in place. An additional closed ring can be screwed in if preferred for hanging. |
||
The feeder should look something like this |
||
Secure the wire to the two screws on the roof. The length of the wire depends on the height you want the feeder hung at. |
||
We put peanuts in one of the cup feeders and black oil sunflower seeds in the other. Grape Jelly jam can be used also. |
||
It was soon a very busy place. |