Homemade Hummingbird Feeder, How To Make One!

It's easy! Seriously, if I can do it, anyone can.

And I had all of the materials at home which was sweet because I hate going out to buy just one thing for a project.

You will need: 

An old-fashioned soda bottle with a screw on cap (preferably glass, though plastic is acceptable)
+

an unused jar lid (perhaps a candle lid like I used)

+

string or twine 

+

sugar & water (& red food coloring if desired)

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a hot-glue gun

+

hammer & nail or small screw driver

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= hummingbird feeder! 

First, punch a hole or two (I did three) in the cap that belongs to the bottle or jar. I hammered a tiny, tiny screwdriver through the cap to make holes.

Next, put hot glue around the edges of the top of the cap--but not all the way--leave a gap or two so that the liquid can escape. Unless the holes are large, the liquid from the bottle will not come out quickly anyway.

Place the cap with glue (still hot) in the center of the inside part of the candle lid. The candle lid will be the tray that catches the liquid for the bird to drink out of. Layer the hot glue around the seal holding down the cap allowing it to dry in-between. Also, make sure you still leave gaps for the liquid to be released from under the cap into the tray.

Once the cap is securely glued to the inside of the candle lid, you are nearly done!

Just mix sugar and water (1/4 amount of sugar to water) and add to the bottle. I heard that red food coloring (as well as honey) is not healthy for hummingbirds, but it is hard to attract them without something red, so I advise raspberry, cranberry, or cherry juice (at the advice of someone else) instead.

With the bottle full, I placed the cap/lid combo back on the bottle, screwing it on tight. *Note, the cap/lid combo is somewhat fragile, so never grab or hold the feeder by the lid (or tray) alone.
All that remains is to hang it. I did not have wire, so I just made a net of strings, tying it in knots around the bottle so it would be held securely. 

Last, I hot-glued a fake red flower to the tray for fun, and then hung it up outside, tying it carefully. I had to shake it a little to get the liquid flowing into the tray. But it works pretty great and it took like twenty minutes to do everything.

If you have comments about this craft or questions about how it was done, be sure to make them or ask below!

Have fun! And enjoy the company of the hummingbirds that will surely come! I was inspired to do this project when I was sitting on my porch next to a bouquet of drying red flowers and a hummingbird came right up next to them to check them out. I thought that it might be nice to feed the little guys.

Let me know if you have any follow-up advice!






Thanks,