Bird feeding is a popular hobby for many people who enjoy watching birds up close. Traditional bird feeders make it easy to offer food to birds, but they aren’t always necessary. There are plenty of creative ways to feed birds without using a feeder. Figuring out how to do so enables people living in apartments, homes without yards, and other spaces to participate in this rewarding activity. With a bit of innovation and knowledge about birds’ preferences, anyone can find a simple method for bird feeding without feeders.
Why Feed Birds Without a Feeder?
There are several reasons one may want to feed birds without using a feeder:
- Don’t have space – People living in apartments or homes without yards often don’t have places to hang bird feeders.
- Aesthetic preferences – Some people find bird feeders unattractive.
- Cost – Purchasing bird feeders and accessories can get expensive.
- DIY interest – Individuals who like crafts and building things may prefer to create their own unique feeding methods.
- Minimize mess – Feeders can scatter seeds and attract other wildlife like squirrels and rodents.
- Safety concerns – Glass feeders can pose risks to birds if they shatter.
Feeding birds without a manmade feeder provides an accessible way for anyone to engage in this hobby regardless of their living situation, budget or personal preferences. It allows flexibility and creativity.
What Do Birds Eat?
To feed birds successfully without a feeder, it’s important to offer food that appeals to them and meets their dietary needs. Here are some common foods enjoyed by popular backyard birds:
Bird Type | Foods They Like |
---|---|
Finches | Thistle, nyjer seed, cracked corn, sunflower chips |
Sparrows | Millet, bread crumbs, black oil sunflower seeds |
Chickadees | Suet, peanuts, sunflower seeds, millet |
Cardinals | Safflower, sunflower seeds, mealworms, fruit |
Doves | Safflower, white millet, cracked corn, black oil sunflower seeds |
Woodpeckers | Suet, peanuts, sunflower seeds, corn |
Jays | Peanuts, sunflower seeds, suet, cracked corn |
Offering a variety will satisfy different species. Mix it up by providing nuts, seeds, grain-based options like cereal, mealworms, suet cakes, cut-up fruit and more. Birds will feed on what they like best.
Ground Feeding
One of the simplest approaches is scattering bird food directly on the ground in your yard, garden, balcony or other outdoor space. Use a small amount at first to avoid attracting rodents. Here are ground feeding tips:
- Place food in open, visible areas away from bushes where predators may hide.
- Spread out over a wide space rather than pile in one spot.
- Use a mix that includes larger items like cracked corn, peanuts or chopped fruit that is easy for birds to pick up.
- Start early in the morning when birds are most actively foraging.
- Sweep up leftovers by evening to avoid attracting pests.
Easy foods to scatter are a songbird or wild bird seed mix, chopped nuts, dried mealworms, oatmeal or corn cereal. Suet crumbles and sunflower seeds also work well. Make sure to spread over soil, cement or patio blocks rather than grass where food may get lost.
Platform Feeders
Flat platforms like trays, lids, cake pans and otherMakeshift???types of containers can hold bird food and mimic the feeding area provided by typical bird feeders. Almost anything that will hold seeds or other foods can work.
Position your DIY platform feeder in an open area and fill with a variety of foods birds like such as:
- Mixed birdseed
- Cracked corn
- Chopped peanuts
- Sunflower seeds
- Suet nuggets
- Mealworms
- Chopped fruit and berries
Elevate your platform on an overturned planter, crate, step stool, chair or other object so birds can easily perch nearby to eat. Choose items that allow you to steady the feeder and are not so high off the ground that they could tip over. An old cake pan, lid from a storage container or disposable foil roasting pan all make functional feeding trays to set out.
Hanging Food Items
You don’t necessarily need an actual bird feeder to hang food in your yard. There are plenty of items that allow you to simulate hanging feeders:
- Mesh bags – Small mesh onion or orange bags. Fill with birdseed mixes, nuts or dried fruit.
- Nylon stockings – Use a small section tied off to contain suet nuggets or peanut butter mixtures.
- Paper lunch sacks – Fill sacks with food and roll tops to close. Use string to hang.
- Strips of aluminum foil or bark – Spread peanut butter, suet or other soft foods onto pieces of foil or bark. Roll up and hang with string.
Hang items from tree branches, overhangs, fences, railings, hooks or other spots where birds can safely access them. Refill or replace as needed once birds consume the foods.
Window Feeders
For those who want to enjoy close-up views of feeding birds from indoors, creating makeshift window feeders can work perfectly. Position feeders right outside windows so birds come within feet of the glass. Some easy options include:
- Spread peanut butter on pinecones, roll in birdseed and wedge into a suet cage hanger outside the window
- Fill an old coconut half-shell with birdseed and hang in front of the window
- Adhere a small platform tray outside using velcro strips
- Cut open the top of a 2-liter soda bottle. Invert and hang using string
- Attach an old food container lid with suction cups
Check feeders daily and refill as needed to keep birds visiting your improvised window feeding station.
Bird Feeder Alternatives to Buy
While DIY feeders are simple to make, you can also purchase ready-made items for feeding birds without a standard bird feeder:
- Ground feeding trays or mats – Designed to sit on the ground and hold birdseed. Feature low perching edges.
- Suction cup feeders – Small plastic trays with suction cups to fix onto windows and other surfaces.
- Glass hummingbird feeders – Hang these cylinder containers anywhere.
- Lanterns – Decorative metal lanterns to fill with seed and hang.
- Hopper bins – Boxes with seed reservoirs and perches to mount on fences or railings.
These ready-to-use feeders offer quick convenience without the need for DIY crafting. Look for small plastic and metal models designed to mount almost anywhere with suction cups, hooks or clamps.
Fruit Feeders
In addition to seeds and nut-based bird foods, don’t forget that many birds relish fruits and berries as well. Set up fruit feeders by impaling cut pieces onto sticks, skewers or nails. Here are fruit feeding ideas:
- Push chunks of fruit like apples, oranges, bananas and pears onto short branches or wooden skewers. Hang or stick into fences.
- Spear citrus wedges or grapes onto nails on trees or overhangs.
- Set small fruit pieces in old tuna cans or yogurt cups tacked onto walls or balcony railings.
- Thread cranberries, blueberries or melon balls onto short strings and hang from branches.
Offer fruits birds typically like which include berries, melon, apples, grapes, oranges and bananas. Provide new pieces every day or two to keep fresh. Consider adding fruit out year-round, not just during winter months.
Bird Feeder Food Safety
When offering any type of food to attract birds, follow some basic rules to keep them safe:
- Avoid giving birds moldy, rotten or spoiled produce or other foods.
- Don’t feed birds avocado, fruit seeds, chocolate or products with salt or seasonings.
- Use fresh birdseed within 6 months of purchase.
- Keep alternative feeders clean and prevent soggy, dirty food buildup.
- Wash fruit thoroughly before serving.
- If using suet, select products without additives like sugars or spices.
With homemade feeders and open food, take extra care. Discard any uneaten food daily before it spoils to prevent disease. Keep all feeding areas clean to encourage healthy birds to visit.
Conclusion
Bird feeding is an enjoyable activity that connects people with nature and doesn’t require a fancy feeder. With a creative mindset and some improvising, you can make DIY feeders from recycled household materials or discover alternative methods like ground feeding. Hopper bins, suction cup trays and hanging baskets offer other ready-to-use options. Just focus on providing safe, nutritious foods that birds naturally eat. With an accommodating approach, anyone can find a way to feed birds without a traditional bird feeder. The reward of seeing songbirds up close is well worth the effort.