Homemade Suet Feeder

by Greenish Apple

4.3K56

Intro: Homemade Suet Feeder

I wanted to make another bird feeder to hold some peanut butter suet I made. Most suet feeders are just a cage and I have some hardware cloth sitting around… Sorry for the grainy photos.

STEP 1: Gather the Tools and Materials

1/2 inch Hardware cloth/mesh (1.3cm)

20 gauge wire (copper, brass or steel)

twist ties

pliers

side cutters

With the side cutters I cut three pieces of hardware cloth:
4 inches by 4 inches (10.2 x 10.2cm)

4 inches by 8 inches (10.2 x 20.3 cm)

4 inches by 12 inches (10.2 x 30.5cm)

STEP 2: Fold the Mesh

Using the pliers I folded the 8 inch piece to form a "L" and folded the 12 inch piece to form a "U". Bending over the edge of a board helped.

STEP 3: Make the Box

I tightly wired these two pieces together to form a box using 6 inch lengths of the wire. (15.2cm)

STEP 4: Add a Lid

I loosely wired the 4 inch square to one of the edges of the box to form a lid.

STEP 5: Finish the Cube

I hung a carbiner from one of the open corners and I use a twist tie (or wire) to 'lock' the edge opposite from the hinge. The hinge is on the right in the photo.

STEP 6: Hang and Watch the Birds and Squirrels Enjoy the Suet

Here it is hanging from the post in our backyard. The Chickadees have found it and are enjoying the suet. The bowl only slows down the Black, Gray and Red Squirrels.

I don't mind the Red Squirrel, he is a bit of a maniac when he is at the feeder.

4 Comments

stalskaper 3 years ago

Are there any hints on wiring pretty thin mesh with thick wire? My attempts to wire 1mm cloth with 1.4 mm aluminum wire were messy

Greenish Apple 3 years ago

You could try wrapping the 1.4mm wire around a long 2-3mm diameter rod to make a spiral similar to a spiral bound book. Make it loose so you can twist it on to the corner to hold them together.