Would you like to do something good for our feathered friends in winter 2021? Then set up a bird feeder in winter! We have already explained to you howMake your own bird foodandMake suet ballscan. Today we are giving you a few ideas with which you can easily and quickly make a holder for suet balls. This is the perfect addition to your garden birdhouse or other loose bird feeder. If you make a suet ball holder yourself, you can hang it next to the house or other feeding place. But it also looks great in front of a window, because then you can watch the birds wonderfully.
Make your own suet ball holders out of twigs
Should your suet ball holder be as inconspicuous as possible and adapt to the natural environment? Then how about these ideas for a suet ball holder? Basically it is a self-tied/woven cage or basket in which you place the dumpling and then hang it up. The branches give the birds a place to hold on while they eat. In the following instructions, pipe cleaners were used for illustration to make the whole thing clearer. In reality, you are using willow branches when you make this suet ball holder yourself.
Weave willow branches
Take three branches, place them in front of you, and place a group of four branches over them in a cross shape. Then wrap a branch around the spot where they cross twice: over the group of four, under the group of three, then over the group of four again and under the group of three. Then take the outermost branch of the group of four (orange in the instructions) and weave it through the six other branches - first through the bottom, then over the next branch, then through the bottom again until you reach the group of four again. Then add a new branch (yellow) and weave it in the same way as the orange one, only this time around.
If you make this fat ball holder yourself, you can choose any height for the basket. Accordingly, you can now weave in a few more branches until you get the desired height. Twist the protruding ends of the branches. Then take them all together and tie them together at the top with string or wire. Then tie a loop for hanging. You can tie these using wire or string.
Build your own bird feeding station - instructions for an alternative variant
In the original image you can see two birdhouse ideas, of which we have just described the one on the right. The model on the left in the picture is basically the same, except that the branches were left hanging down instead of being used to make the basket. Instead, only the side edge was braided and a small bowl was incorporated into which the dumplings were placed. This variant is practical if you use thicker branches that are not easy to bend.
Homemade suet ball holder from a whisk
A craft project couldn't be easier! If you want to make your own suet ball holder, simply use a whisk. Whether you take your old, worn-out one for a great upcycling or specifically buy a new one is up to you. This idea is so wonderful because the food is easy for the birds to reach and they can even cling to the wires. In addition, the dumpling is quick and easy to use. Beaters also usually have a hook so they can be easily hung up.
You can also build this feeder yourself out of wood and chicken wire and use it as a holder. The project is perfect for reusing leftover wood from other construction projects. If you would like to make this suet ball holder yourself, you will need:
- two pieces of wood of the same size for two of the side walls
- a larger piece for the floor
- chicken wire
- Stapler
- Wire or string for hanging
- Wood glue or drill and screws
- optional hooks, decorative strip
Cut a piece of chicken wire and staple it to the two pieces of wood for the side walls. Repeat on the other side. You then glue or screw these walls (from below) to the piece for the floor. If you want, you can hide the places with the brackets with a wooden strip. This would also be an advantage to prevent the birds from possibly injuring themselves on protruding brackets. Now either tie string or wire to the chicken wire for hanging or attach such hooks for this purpose.
If you would like a suet ball holder with a roof, you can simply screw a larger piece of wood onto one of the two side walls using hinges so that it can be opened up for filling. You can also add a hook on the other side to close it.
