Spotted: How to Make a Bird Feeder from an Empty Paint Can

Spotted: How to Make a Bird Feeder from an Empty Paint Can

Want to attract some birds to your backyard for summer birdwatching? See how to make a bird feeder using an old paint can.

Sara at Mom Endeavors bought new empty paint cans to make her DIY bird feeders, but that doesn’t mean you have to buy new to do this craft. Next time you finish off a can of zero VOC paint, leave it out to dry completely, and you can reuse that empty can instead of buying new.

Related Reading: DIY Bird Feeders from Natural and Recycled Materials, 5 Upcycled Bird Feeders

There are lots of tutorials out there for how to make a bird feeder, but what I like about this one is its simplicity. Her design takes advantage of the paint can’s lip to keep the birdseed in check, and her hanging mechanism is cleverly simple.

To make your own bird feeder, you will need:

  • an old paint can – Let the paint dry for at least 48 hours before you start.
  • a 3/16″ wooden dowel (or collect some sticks from your yard)
  • finch food
  • acrylic paint
  • foam brushes
  • regular brushes or small paint rollers
  • ribbon or twine from your stash
  • hot glue and a hot glue gun

Got your supplies ready? Click here for the tutorial!

Written by Becky Striepe

My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”), and I am a crafts and food writer from Atlanta, Georgia with a passion for making our planet a healthier, happier, and more compassionate place to live. My mission is to make vegan food and crafts accessible to everyone!. If you like my work, you can also find me on Twitter, Facebook, and .

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