Make An Adorable House-Shaped Bird Feeder With This Simple Popsicle Stick Hack

Birds can enrich your surroundings in many ways, from singing charming songs to devouring pesky insects. Enticing more avian friends to visit your garden (or, specifically, more bug-eating birds to your yard) is all about enriching their surroundings. A bird feeder is a mutual benefit, serving meals to hungry creatures and helping you glimpse a part of nature you might not see otherwise. You can make a darling house-shaped feeder and attract more songbirds to your garden for next to nothing with flat wooden popsicle sticks and glue.

Start by gathering about 30 popsicle sticks and cutting a few in half. Also find a produce box made of thin, clear plastic. Form a square frame with four full-size sticks and glue together the corners. Cut your plastic to fit in the middle and glue it to the inside of the frame. Make perches from two half-sticks by gluing them to the edges of the frame. Then build walls by constructing squares from 20 more full-size sticks, stacking them, and gluing them together.

To create a cottage-inspired roof, position a pair of half-sticks so the distance between them is the same as the length of one side of your square frame. Then, lay full-size sticks across them and glue them together lengthwise, forming a piece that resembles a mini-boardwalk. Repeat this process and affix each piece to the base, then each other, forming a roof that looks like an upside-down V. TikTok user aboderie has a demonstration of this process that's a helpful reference point. If you'd like, add finishing touches such as a chimney or a welcome sign. Then attach weatherproof string and decide where you'd like to hang your creation.

When selecting materials for your feeder, prioritize bird safety. In general, feeders and houses for wild birds need adhesive that can handle rain, wind, and the sun's ultraviolet rays. Standard craft glue and hot glue won't last long in the elements. Instead, use glue that's formulated for wood surfaces and outdoor use. To keep your feeder's visitors safe, choose an adhesive that's non-toxic, low odor, and free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). One such product is Gorilla Ultimate Waterproof Wood Glue. Also consider sealing your popsicle-stick feeder so it can serve your feathered friends year after year. A bird-friendly sealant such as Hope's 100% Pure Tung Oil is a solid choice. Just be sure the sealant has dried completely before placing your new feeder outside.

When hanging your feeder, stock it with high-quality food which promotes avian health and prevents headache-inducing situations for humans. Run-of-the-mill birdseed at supermarkets and big-box stores often contains fillers most birds won't eat. These rejected seeds are likely to end up on your lawn, where they can sprout weeds and attract pests. To avoid these problems and encourage birds to flock to your yard, choose filler-free feed mixes tailored to the species you want to attract.

Not ready to search for bird-safe materials or no-filler food? You can hang this project indoors, as an ode to the birds in your yard. Consider decorating it with colorful paint and stuffed birds as YouTuber Piedmont Park has done. If you're seeking a visual of how to assemble a popsicle-stick feeder, their video of this craft is a nice resource.