This easy coffee can bird feeder is also a coffee can bird house. It's a great upcycle project for kids or for adults. You can leave it plain or paint it for a fun craft activity. This would be a great project for scout troops to learn about birds and upcycle to make a useful project.

We live on a smaller farm at only 12 acres, but it's pretty much like an animal sanctuary. We have deer, squirrels, and lots of birds.

Our house sits nested in a little corner with trees lining two sides of the house. It helps hide the house, and the birds love the trees.

I hang bird feeders in the trees to attract the birds. We have several blue jays and cardinals that eat there. There are also several other birds that I have no idea what they are to be honest.

I enjoy watching the birds flutter around in the trees and bushes. The cats also like to sit in the window and watch the birds.

The kids needed a project to do, so we made this easy coffee can bird feeder and bird house. The birds use it more for a feeder, but I've seen a few go into the little house.

Easy Coffee Can Bird Feeder and Bird House Craft

This easy bird feeder craft is also a coffee can bird house, so it serves double purpose. It's a great craft for scout troops because it combines upcycling and nature.

We made this easy bird feeder for kids as a homeschool project. My daughter is taking zoology, and my son just loves animals. It was the perfect DIY for them to break up the monotony of book work.

If you're looking for more easy bird feeders, try one of these projects:

Best Bird Seed for Backyard Birds

I have several bird feeds in my yard, so I could easily spend a lot of money on bird seed! I don't buy the cheapest, but I don't buy the most expensive either.

Most birds like sunflower seeds, so I used a mix with sunflower seeds for this coffee can bird feeder. Squirrels like sunflower seeds too, so you'll probably attract them with this bird feeder.

Your backyard birds can also eat some human food, and you can add these to the bird seed for this easy bird feeder for kids.

While you don't want to give them rotten food, you can give them food that might be too ripe for human taste.

Be sure to cut out any bad spots or bruises on fresh fruit before feeding it to your birds. Only feed birds food that doesn't have added salt or sugar.

You can use the following human feed to supplement your bird seed in an easy bird feeder craft:

Oats, sunflower seeds, peanuts
Cooked rice or pasta
Hard cheese
Raisins
Apples, pears, bananas
Eggshells (dried and crushed)

I like Wagner's Deluxe Bird Food because it has sunflower seeds and other seeds that birds like. It's also made in the USA.

Nesting Material

This plastic coffee can bird feeder is also a coffee can bird house. Plan to have some nesting material available for your birds.

Some ideas are:

Twigs
Dried leaves
Dry grass (make sure it wasn't sprayed)
Feathers
Cattail fluff
Moss
Small bits of bark strips
Pine needles
Hay

Paint for Your Plastic Coffee Can Bird Feeder

Part of the fun for this easy bird feeder craft is painting it. Painting it isn't just for aesthetics though; birds are attracted to bright colors.

The bright red color of a certain coffee brand should attract birds, but a dull color may not attract them right away.

You can use non toxic acrylic paints to paint your coffee can bird feeder. As you can see, mine isn't perfect.

Paint doesn't cover plastic well, but I promise you that your birds won't care.

Our coffee can bird feeder was inspired by fairy tales and the castle, specifically Sleeping Beauty with the vines.

Best Place to Hang a Coffee Can Bird Feeder

After your kids make this easy bird feeder for kids, they will be excited to hang it up and watch the birds eat.

However, it's important to place your coffee can bird house in an optimal location. You want to choose a location that's safe and that you can see from your window or wherever you will be watching the birds.

A good place for your easy bird feeder craft is near trees or bushes because the birds use these plants to rest or to hide in.

However, you don't want the feeder to close to big branches or too much cover. Large branches give squirrels easy access to the food.

Ground cover and bushes are good places for cats to hide and stalk the birds.

For best results, hang your plastic coffee can bird feeder at about eye level for adults and in a quiet location. It can take several days for the birds to find it, so be patient.

If they don't find it in about a week, then choose a new location.

If you don't have a tree to hang your plastic coffee can bird feeder from, you can use a garden hook near bushes or other plants.

Plastic Coffee Can Bird Feeder Supplies

Empty plastic coffee can (clean and dry)
Non toxic acrylic paint
Paint brushes
Jute cord
Hot glue
Hay, moss, or other natural nesting material
Bird Seed

Plastic Coffee Can Bird Feeder Directions

Step #1

Draw an opening on the coffee can and cut it out. Most birds prefer a hole about 2 inches wide.

Step #2

Paint the can with white acrylic paint and let dry. Then paint any design on it that you want.

Step #3

Cut 18 to 20 inches of jute cord. Glue on each side of the container.

Step #4

Place nesting material in the bottom of the coffee can bird house.

Step #5

Use hot glue to attach the lid to the top. The lid should be upside down to create a tray. Fill with bird seed.

Step #6

Hang at eye level in a quiet location.

I hope you enjoy this easy bird feeder for kids!

diy, bird feeder, bird house, craft, kids craft, outdoors

Yield: 1

Author: Cari @ Koti Beth

Estimated cost: $5