Peanut Feeder for Birds

Posted by on Jun 4, 2011 in Attract Backyard Birds, Do-It-Yourself, Fruits, Nuts & Seeds | 1 comment

Sorry, squirrels…this feeder is reserved for feathered friends.

If you want a parade of colorful birds coming to your backyard, try offering them something new…peanuts.

We recommend serving them in the shell. It makes it difficult for squirrels to get to the goobers, while woodpeckers, blue jays and nuthatches have little trouble breaking the shells with their bills.

Here’s What You’ll Need…

  • One 2-foot 1-inch x 6-inch board
  • Approximately 12 inches x 18 inches of hardware cloth with 1/4-inch squares
  • 36-inch-long light-duty chain
  • One screw eye
  • Netting staples
  • Waterproof carpenter’s glue (or 1-5/8-inch deck screws)

Recommended Tools…

  • Band, saber or scroll saw
  • Wire cutter
  • Needle-nose pliers
  • Soldering iron (optional)

Let’s Start Building

  1. Cut out four disks-two should measure about 4-3/4 inches across, and two should measure about 3 inches across-with a band, saber or scroll saw. Make the circles with a compass, or simply trace the rims of quart and 1/2-pint paint cans (or other cans similar to the dimensions above). Cut the smaller disks carefully—they should be as close to identical as possible.
  2. Center and glue (or predrill and fasten with three 1-5/8-inch deck screws) each small disk to a larger disk. Clamp these pieces together until the glue completely dries. This will form the top and base of the feeder.
  3. Fasten one end of the chain to a screw eye. Open the eye with two small pliers. (Twist in opposite directions until the eye opens just enough for the chain to be inserted.) Close the eye with a pliers.

    Drill a pilot hole in the center of one of the small disks and turn in the screw eye. This will become the feeder’s base.

  4. Wrap hardware cloth around the completed base. (If using a 1/2-pint paint can to determine the size of the smaller disks, wrap the hardware cloth around the base and the can, which should be positioned about 10 inches higher than the base. Wrap heavy-duty rubber bands around the base and can to form a cylinder.)

    Cut the hardware cloth about 1/4 inch beyond the last complete square where it comes together. This will leave small wire tabs on one end (see illustration above). Now you can remove the rubber bands and paint can.

  5. Bend hardware cloth into a cylinder and attach to the feeder’s base with netting staples (with the chain inside).
  6. Join the two ends of hardware cloth to form a cylinder. Secure by wrapping the tabs around the other end using needle-nose pliers. Make sure the cylinder isn’t too tight at the feeder’s top, otherwise it will be difficult to lift up and close when filling with peanuts.

    We recommend spot soldering the wire at the seam about every 2 inches for a better hold. If there is excess wire at the tabs, trim with a wire cutter.

  7. The chain can be looped for hanging or attached to a S hook.
  8. Slide the top up along the chain and then fill the cylinder with peanuts. We think you’ll enjoy watching the “peanut gallery” of feathered friends.

One Responseto “Peanut Feeder for Birds”

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