How to make an upcycled bird feeder

Turn tea time into feeding time with this vintage table-top bird feeder that will be popular with gardeners, bird lovers and upcycling fans alike.

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Holly Spanner

Published: July 5, 2024 at 2:54 pm

This 30-minute bird feeder is a clever double upcycle that's quick and cheap to make. The teacup and saucer were an online steal at 50p, and the bud vase base cost just £1 from a charity shop.

Look for tea sets with hairline cracks or chips to add to the vintage feel, plus they are much cheaper to buy than ones in mint condition.

If you're looking for a side hustle, garden gifts are popular sellers and this unusual feature will be a real talking point.

Here's a top tip if you're looking to sell: include a sachet of bird seed for last-minute craft stalls or extra stock for your recycling shop.

Check out our other upcycling projects for more inspiration, we love this upcycled corkboard, or how about this teddy made from an old t-shirt? Sea glass is extremely popular at the moment, and it's easy to see why - all those beautiful colours eroded by water to make smooth translucent pebbles. If you love sea glass as much as we do - check out our round-up of the best sea glass projects.

We love seeing what you make, so don’t forget to share your upcycling or craft projects with us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, too!

How to make an upcycled bird feeder

You will need

Cup and saucer
Small glass bud vase
Extra strong glue suitable for glass and ceramic

Step 1

Give the cup, saucer and bud vase a good wash in hot soapy water to remove any residue. Leave it to dry thoroughly.

Step 2

Apply glue around the base of the cup and stick it to the middle of the saucer. Leave it to dry thoroughly – depending on the type of glue used it could take several days, so check the instructions.

Step 3

Place the bud vase upside down on a table and apply glue around the bottom. Stick the cup and saucer on top and press firmly in place. Leave to dry. If you don’t have a vase that you want to use – an upturned flower pot is a brilliant alternative – and looks great in the garden.

How to make an upcycled bird feeder – image 3

Step 4

Find somewhere outside where little birds will be able to safely eat from the feeder – perhaps in sight of the house, or away from the usual haunts of Tiddles the cat.

How to make an upcycled bird feeder – image 1

We hope you’ve enjoyed this quick and easy tutorial on how to make an upcycled bird feeder. If you like birding, why not make a DIY birdhouse or check out our upcycling projects for more brilliant inspiration. You could learn how to make a bug hotel or track your planting using a garden journal with these great tutorials from Gardens Illustrated.

Staff Writer, BBC Science Focus

Holly is the Staff Writer for BBC Science Focus and looks after the popular Q&A section. She holds an MSc (distinction) in Geoscience (Space and Climate Physics) from UCL, and specialises in astronomy and earth sciences. Before joining Our Media, she worked as a geoenvironmental consultant and engineer, informing on ground risk and remediation in the north of England, while hunting for exoplanets in her spare time. Alongside this, she was regional editor of a popular theatre website for nine years, and has a solid background in curating and developing content for the digital space. Holly is also an artist and illustrator, and regular contributor to the craft website, Gathered. She has previously worked with the RSPB, English Heritage, Disney, Pilot and Brother, as well as on BBC Good Food magazine, Home Style magazine, and Papercraft inspirations magazine. She enjoys photography and has a sustained interest in antiques.