Easy DIY Wild Bird Seed Catcher: No More Wasted Bird Seed!

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This Wild Bird Seed Catcher will help save some of that dropped bird seed to allow your bird seed to go further! See this easy hack!

Wild Bird Seed

I have been adding a few new and fun features to my garden this year. We have a fairly large outdoor space, and enjoy it year-round as the weather permits. With a big garden the challenge is filling up space!

I wanted to attract more birds this year, so I had the goal of investing time and a little of the gardening budget into bringing birds into the yard. They are so fun to watch while we are outside!

If you missed my DIY Hummingbird Food, scroll down for the link. We've included a lot of tips on Hummingbirds too.

I normally like to put Wild Bird Seed out in a regular feeder, but noticed it was going fast just because of how the feeder was designed. A lot of it just falls off the sides as the birds eat! There is always a big pile of wasted bird seed on the ground around our feeder.

Instead of investing a lot of money in this rather small garden feature, I decided to try to “hack” the feeder by adding a few simple things! Check it out below.

How to Make Your Wild Bird Seed Catcher:

I started with the feeder above, which as you can see is a simple plastic and wire feeder you can find just about anywhere. If you have one in the garage unused, now is a great time get it out. This fun hack will totally change the look!

If you're needing a new bird feeder, you can purchase one at Walmart for just about any price point. You can find this one similarly shaped to my feeder for $16.

Next, you will need a metal pie pan or plant saucer. If you have a disposable aluminum one, keep in mind it might not be as sturdy and end up bending and becoming a little misshapen. A non-bending plant saucer works great.

I used this one from Walmart, but you can also find an aluminum pan for a few dollars at the Dollar store, or here on Amazon.

As always, take a few minutes to see if there's something you can recycle! Other options would be an old lid, metal plate or old charger, a plastic plant saucer (pictured below) and anything else with this similar size.

If you recycle anything, be sure to wash it thoroughly. I try to recycle old paint cans when I can, but have to keep in mind that paint can chip off, so it does matter what I am using them for.

We do not want paint chips around birds and animals, of course!

Putting Together Your Wild Bird Seed Catcher

The best part about this hack is that all you really need is some strong glue. It will need to go beyond regular craft glue, so try a construction level adhesive.

We picked up Gorilla Glue and it worked great with no issues.

Just glue around the bottom of the feeder and press firmly into the pan or plant saucer or pie plate, making sure it's sealed on all sides.

Do not hang until it's fully dried and cured. Remember, bird seed is heavy! You will need to make sure the glue is completely dried. If there is a good amount collected on this lower part pretty quick, it won't weigh down and break apart.

Some of our birds are messy eaters! 🙂

The Finished Product!

I was so happy how this Feeder turned out. The galvanized plant saucer gave it a rustic look which fits in well with the rest of my garden decor. And, we don't lose a large portion of our wild bird seed, right into the ground.

We like this handy scoop and pour for Wild Bird Seed, which can just stay in the bin. We find that buying Bird Seed in bulk is cheaper (and we don't have to remember to add it to our shopping list often).

More Great Hacks:

If you're needing other ideas on how to keep your bird feeder full without a hassle, we suggest having a bin to scoop your Wild Bird Seed out of, and of course keep it safe from squirrels and rodents. Seal well to keep the scent down, and avoid placing feed right by a door.

If rodents find your animal or bird feed, chances are you will probably have more issues with them later on! We have had problems with field mice finding feed in the garage, if it's not sealed well.

Another tip is to have different kinds of bird seed in different feeders, if you are hoping to see a variety of birds. Sparrows, juncos, and towhees usually feed on the ground, while finches and cardinals feed in shrubs, and chickadees, titmice, and woodpeckers feed in trees. (Source)