Homemade Suet Feeder

I wanted to make another bird feeder to hold some peanut butter suet I made. Most suet feeders are just a cage and I have some hardware cloth sitting around… Sorry for the grainy photos.

1/2 inch Hardware cloth/mesh (1.3cm)

20 gauge wire (copper, brass or steel)

twist ties

pliers

side cutters

With the side cutters I cut three pieces of hardware cloth:
4 inches by 4 inches (10.2 x 10.2cm)

4 inches by 8 inches (10.2 x 20.3 cm)

4 inches by 12 inches (10.2 x 30.5cm)

Using the pliers I folded the 8 inch piece to form a "L" and folded the 12 inch piece to form a "U". Bending over the edge of a board helped.

I tightly wired these two pieces together to form a box using 6 inch lengths of the wire. (15.2cm)

I loosely wired the 4 inch square to one of the edges of the box to form a lid.

I hung a carbiner from one of the open corners and I use a twist tie (or wire) to 'lock' the edge opposite from the hinge. The hinge is on the right in the photo.

Here it is hanging from the post in our backyard. The Chickadees have found it and are enjoying the suet. The bowl only slows down the Black, Gray and Red Squirrels.

I don't mind the Red Squirrel, he is a bit of a maniac when he is at the feeder.