Bird Feeder - Ghetto Style
by Christophe - Beau Du Ciel in Outside > Birding
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Bird Feeder - Ghetto Style
![IMG_20191202_123920.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FRD/NZVV/K437E97M/FRDNZVVK437E97M.jpg&filename=IMG_20191202_123920.jpg)
My wife bought a new set of pans recently to replace the 20 year old ones which were pretty scratched.
I could not throw them to the bin directly and kept them aside wondering what I could do with them. I already have a bird feeder in the garden made from wires on which you just attach grease/seeds balls but it it open to the rain and therefore the balls get damp. So I got this idea of making a new one using the pans to protect the seeds balls from the rain. Here how I made it with only what I found laying around in my storage.
Supplies
1 large frying pan for the rain protection
2 small pans for bottom rest and water cup
1 threaded rod with washers and nuts
some wood offcuts
double-sided tape
But all of above could be changed according to what you have under hand.
Cut the Pans Down
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for the 2 smaller pans, I cut off the height down with angle grinder. Beware to have eye protection as metal bits are flying around!
file or sand the edges so they get smooth
Drill Through
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drill a hole in the center of the large pan which will make the "roof"
In one of the smaller pans, drill a central hole and more holes all around for water drainage.
Wood Spacers
![IMG_20191201_140121.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FV9/XF5G/K437E991/FV9XF5GK437E991.jpg&filename=IMG_20191201_140121.jpg)
to adjust the height between bottom pan and "roof", I prepared some wood dowels that I drilled in the center at the threaded rod diameter (6mm in my case)
Assembly
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use the threaded rod, washers and bolts to assemble the large pan (roof) and the smaller one.
Suspension
![IMG_20191201_175128.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FBR/AITF/K437E97T/FBRAITFK437E97T.jpg&filename=IMG_20191201_175128.jpg)
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I had some metal wire laying around, just enough length for a 3-point suspension. I drilled 3 holes at 120° in the roof pan and used electric blocks to fix the cables together.
I used 2 more blocks to keep a length of wire loose under the roof and by adding a bit of wood dowel, this made an easy roost.
Seeds Ball Fixing
![IMG_20191201_180950.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FVU/UG57/K437E97W/FVUUG57K437E97W.jpg&filename=IMG_20191201_180950.jpg)
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for this step, I used a small carabiner that I fixed on centre pole with a bit of rope and hot glue so it does not slip out.
Water Pan
![IMG_20191201_181636.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F92/00O9/K437E983/F9200O9K437E983.jpg&filename=IMG_20191201_181636.jpg)
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The second small pan that I cut down in height will be placed on top of the roof to receive water.
I cut 3 wood blocks to avoid the bolt at the top of the roof. I just fixed them with double sided tape under the pan. This water pan can be removed if required as it is not fixed to the roof.
Tree Fixing
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![IMG_20191205_093509.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FWU/PQZY/K437E98W/FWUPQZYK437E98W.jpg&filename=IMG_20191205_093509.jpg)
I used a metal rod which I drilled through and added a key ring fixed through this hole and receiving 2 of the 3 suspension cables.
2 cables ties to fix the metal rod along a tree branch and job is done. this took me about 2 hours to build and the day after the installation, the birds were already flying around it. The seeds ball is fixed up right under the top and I added some seeds in the bottom plate as well.
Hope this will help our little birds to go through the winter.