Birdfeeder Kits for Personal and Classroom Use
Encourage hands-on learning and backyard birdwatching with bird feeder kits that you can assemble, decorate, and fill with your favorite bird seeds. Perfect for personal use or school classrooms, these kits allow children and adults to create a fun feeding station while supporting local birds.
Suggested Selection of Bird Seeds
To attract a variety of backyard birds, consider the following seeds:
Pennington Select Wild Finch Blend
Excellent for goldfinches, purple and House Finches, Mourning Doves, Sparrows, Juncos, and other species. Available at Walmart.
Black Oil Sunflower Seeds
Ideal for birds with thick beaks, such as sparrows and finches.
Nyjer or Thistle Seed
Tiny black seeds loved by American and Lesser Goldfinches, also enjoyed by other small songbirds and Sparrows.
Parakeet Bird Seed
Originally for indoor pet birds; works perfectly in Soda Bottle Feeders.
Stater Brothers Wild Bird Seed (20 lb bag)
Affordable option, around $14, suitable for a variety of backyard birds.
How to Offer Bird Seeds to Your Feathery Friends
You can provide seeds in your backyard using one of three main types of feeders: bottle-fed, wooden barn, or ground platform feeders.
CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL BIRD FEEDERS.
About once a week, soak in hot soapy water which includes Dove dishwasher detergent and a dash of white vinegar and/or bleach. Scrub all parts well, especially the inside. Watch for signs of mold – black dots.
**DO NOT use honey, agave syrup, brown sugar, molasses or artificial sweeteners. Use only Pure Cane Sugar. Also, do not use ready-made nectar available in stores, as they contain preservatives and/or red dye, neither of which is good for the hummingbirds. Change and clean all your outdoor feeders often - in hot weather, every 1-2 days: in cooler weather, every 3-5 days. Keep feeder out of direct sunlight and inclement weather as much as possible.
Added accessories:
BAFFLE
1 – Add a bird feeder baffle to place above or below to protect all types of bird feeders from sun and inclement weather, squirrels and other critters.
The best baffle we've found for value and size is sold at Tractor Supply Co.
2 – ANT MOATS: We recommend that you use an ant moat to hang above each hummingbird feeder. This will keep away ants, who are strongly attracted to that sweet sugar-water combination. You can search for these online. I like these attractive ones shown below which I found on Etsy or Ebay by googling hummingbird feeder ant moats. Every few days, visit your feeders to make sure the ant moats are filled with adequate water. The single red one below is filled with pesticides. It works, but I prefer to have a garden without any pesticides at all. Both kinds work to keep the ants away.
Inexpensive Common Bird Feeders
Circular feeders are ideal for offering black oil sunflower seeds, wild finch seeds, and sunflower hearts or chips. When selecting a feeder, choose one that is easy to fill and simple to take apart for cleaning to ensure your birds always have fresh, safe food.
- Platform Feeders: Ideal for larger birds that cannot perch on hanging feeders.
- Bird Bath—Water Supply: Always add a bird bath, preferably with moving water. Options include large outdoor baths or tabletop fountains with electricity.
- Outdoor Hanging Accessories: Consider adding feeding stations, gazebos, or umbrellas to protect your feeders from sun and weather.