DIY Hummingbird Feeders

As warm days return and the first flower buds begin to peek up through the soil, many of us here are We Care are starting to plan our gardens.  As most horticulturists will know, a garden can’t flourish without pollinators, and some of the most effective, dainty, and desirable to have in your garden are hummingbirds!  To help entice these little birds into our yards, Diane, our resident queen of upcycling, has brought us yet another project using old bottles; DIY Hummingbird Feeders!

What you’ll need:

Bottles (any size or shape – we used wine bottles, but anything will do!)Feeder attachment (we ordered ours in bulk online)Goo-be-goneRubbing AlcoholPaper towelsAcrylic Paint & BrushesThick wireBeads (optional!)

Getting started:

Diane brought a variety of bottles for our artists to decorate.  Prepping the bottles is very simple!  As we have done with bottles in the past, use Goo-Be-Gone to remove any lingering residue from stripping the labels, wipe them clean with alcohol, dry with a towel, and you’re ready to go!

Before you start, make sure the nozzle of the feeder attachment will fit in the mouth of the bottle.  It would be awful to get the bottle fully painted only to realize your pieces don’t fit together!

Now, time to paint!  From here, feel free to get as creative as you like!  Flowers were the go-to design amongst our artists, but paint whatever you like!  Hummingbirds are drawn to yellow and red, especially red, so keep this in mind when you are planning the design for your bottle. 

*Tip!* Some of our artists found it helpful to flip their bottles upside down and put them in jars or vases (see pictures below) to keep them steady and help remove the possibility of dropping the bottle or smudging the paint, don’t be afraid to try your own techniques to help you with your project.

Here are some works-in-progress:

Finishing up: To complete your bird feeder, wait until the paint dries and wrap your thick wire around the bottle, starting at the neck and winding up to the base.  If you feel inspired to, thread large beads through the wire to add another dimension to you birdfeeder.  Create a loop or hook at the end of the wire, so it can be hung! 

Fill your feeder with homemade nectar, set it out, and wait for the birds to come!