DIY Oriole Feeder

[JerseyWendy]

For the past 2 years I’ve had Baltimore Orioles coming to my yard, and I didn’t like any of the ‘el cheapo’ Oriole Feeders. Feeling inspired by seeing some really cool (and expensive) feeders online, I decided to try and make one.

Materials needed:
Piece of wood (I used a 6” wide cedar fence post)
Sheet of plexiglass
Piece of clear corner protector
Clear silicone
14 small SS screws
4 large SS screws (or small, thin pieces of dowel to attach orange slices)
4 small SS eyehooks
6 small S hooks
Chain to hang
2 condiment cups (I used cheap plastic ones with a diameter of 2.5” on top)
2.5” Hole cutter drill bit
Saw (I used table saw)
Clamps and scrap wood to hold clamps onto plexi after gluing
Orange Spray Paint
Oranges & Grape Jelly


· Cut the wood pieces to size. My bottom piece is 14” long, and the sides are 8”.
· Cut holes in bottom piece for the condiment cups to go in
· Cut 45 degree angles on the side pieces (for the roof to go on)
· Fasten side pieces to bottom (pre-drill holes whenever possible)
· Attach screws (or whatever else you choose to use) to hang orange slices on
· Paint the frame with several coats of orange paint
· Cut plexiglass to size for roof. (My 2 pieces were cut to 18 X 8 each)
· Cut clear piece of corner protector to size (18” for me)
· Glue plexiglass to corner protector using clear silicone. Use C-Clamps and spare wood to hold into place at least 24 hours
· Once paint is dry and roof has cured, place roof over frame
· Drilling straight into plexi is a huge PITA since plexi likes to crack. Mark the plexiglass where you will tighten it to the roof. Heat a screwdriver and melt holes where the marks are. Then put screws in, and 4 eyescrews on the top (for chain to attach)
· Since I used SS screws to attach orange slices, I cut the tips and filed them down.
· Attach chain and hang

 

[Allee]

Wendy, I LOVE IT! It looks fantastic and so professional! You're so skilled at DIY projects! Thanks for sharing the photos and instructions.

I'm a bit jealous of your orioles. I've never had the pleasure of feeding them.

 

[Sunset_Chaser]

Awesome feeder Wendy!!!

 

[labell]

Wow! When we talked about it I couldn't really picture it but this is fantastic! Great job! I wish I was better at projects like this but me and power tools don't get along. Once when I was much younger I was using a belt sander I leaned down to get the window ledge and my very long hair got pulled up into the sander it went so fast that before I knew it, it was wound right up to my head. Hubby had to take the thing apart to unwind my hair and it still pulled out a ton so I have been leery of anything other than a hammer or screwdriver since then!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Thanks so much, ladies!!

Wow! When we talked about it I couldn't really picture it but this is fantastic! Great job! I wish I was better at projects like this but me and power tools don't get along. Once when I was much younger I was using a belt sander I leaned down to get the window ledge and my very long hair got pulled up into the sander it went so fast that before I knew it, it was wound right up to my head. Hubby had to take the thing apart to unwind my hair and it still pulled out a ton so I have been leery of anything other than a hammer or screwdriver since then!

Laura, I was ROFLMAO @ your belt sander story! Hey, you may be leery with tools, but you sure are phenomenal with paintbrushes and canvas!!! :smile015:

 

[thekarens]

Great job Wendy! We just stab slices of orange on the tree.

 

[Kiwibird]

Wow! What lucky birds you have in your area to have such a nice feeder! I bet they'll be hanging out on it during bad weather too since you included a nice little roof

 

[getwozzy]

WOW!!!! Amazing handy work, Wendy!!! Can't wait to see pics of all the orioles that will visit your feeder [emoji41]