Make a Nesting Material Dispenser

Finally spring has sprung, and that means it's nesting season for our little feathered friends. As part of an ongoing effort to attract birds to our garden, I decided to give them a helping with their nest building and make a dispenser for nesting material.

Obviously I could have gone to a hardware store and bought one, but then I would have ended up with a plain little cage which would have done the job but not been particularly attractive. Instead, by expending just a little effort - and using spare materials from other projects - I was able to create a hanging dispenser that actually looks quite nice.

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Step 1: Materials

All of the materials I used for this build were left over from other projects, so I can't estimate a total price, but I can't imagine this costing more than a couple of pounds.

I used:

* Galvanised garden wire
* Two wooden beads
* One Ikea kitchen hook
* Outdoor varnish
* Something to shape the wire - I used a bottle of flavoured water.
* Pliers

The Ikea kitchen hook was a leftover from a kitchen project, but if you don't have one you could hang the dispenser from a length of chain, string, paracord... whatever you like.

CaterpillarArts says: Feb 21, 2013. 7:17 AM

I love the shape that you made it, I'm definitely going to try a couple of these someday to put in the yard.

sonofdust says: Sep 13, 2010. 3:04 PM

Thats really cool.

Biggsy says: Apr 8, 2010. 5:55 AM

Great stuff... I think I'm going to have a go at this! Well done chum :D

alffly (author) in reply to BiggsyApr 9, 2010. 5:13 PM

Cheers! Believe me, I'm the least handy person in the world, so literally everybody else should be able to make a decent fist of it.

Biggsy in reply to alfflyApr 11, 2010. 2:24 PM

Hell I'm going to get my cubs/ scouts making them,hehe youve saved me hours of wondering WHAT to do with them this spring ;)

Gator1070 says: Apr 11, 2010. 12:21 AM

Just to let u know? i did this about 2-5 years back and if u dont mind the rust u can also use the coil springs out of an old mattress or box springs just wire the large ends together and use a pair of plairs to bend one small end of the spring to were it stands up so that u can hang it up. and u'r done

alffly (author) in reply to Gator1070Apr 11, 2010. 12:43 PM

It would certainly be an option, but to be honest I would mind the rust. That's why I specifically used the galvanised wire to prevent deterioration. Nonetheless, it's a good idea for anyone who doesn't want to go to the trouble of shaping the wire themselves

estherwaayenberg says: Apr 11, 2010. 10:56 AM

A mesh suet cage would work to hold nesting materials.

alffly (author) in reply to estherwaayenbergApr 11, 2010. 12:39 PM

Yes, but as I said in the Intro I wanted something a little more attractive than a dull little cage. Also, it's cool to make something with my own two hands.

kissiltur says: Apr 7, 2010. 10:09 AM

good information on the drier fluff! And a lovely looking dispenser too. Thank you.

alffly (author) in reply to kissilturApr 9, 2010. 5:13 PM

No, thank you! :)

nanook84 says: Apr 9, 2010. 5:19 AM

Very nice concept, nice change from the sqare metallic box, but I also use the "matting" that you find in your clothes dryer, they grab this as if it was pure gold.
So I consider I make a good deal with the birds, I get rid of the "stuff" in my dryer's filter and they get excellent insulation. ;=D

alffly (author) in reply to nanook84Apr 9, 2010. 5:12 PM

There are a lot of conflicting views about dryer lint, but I got a whole bunch of helpful info from www.allaboutbirds.org/NetCommunity/attractingbirds-other which is the website of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. If it works for you then go for it, but I'm personally not going to take the risk.

Thanks for the positive comment! :)