Bird Feeder Plans: Platform - Ground, Pole or Hanging

A plan for woodworkers for building a simple, open platform bird feeder. They can be hanging, table, ground or pole mounted bird feeders and host a wide variety of songbirds.

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It’s rough, so please forgive us! In our opinion, these open feeders are the best for attracting the widest variety of songbirds to your backyard habitat. All bird species can land on them and since they are open, the bird watcher has a great view. Our platform feeder is hanging and very active all day long. Different species will land on it at the same time, from woodpeckers to chickadees to nuthatches and cardinals.

You do have to clean and fill them more often, and they are exposed to the weather, so this is not our primary feeder. We tend to keep up with the higher maintenance though because of the use it gets.

Basically, build two frames and sandwich some heavy mesh in between the frames. Screw these together from the BOTTOM using wood screws - pre-drill your screw holes to keep the wood from splitting. Place a screw 1″ away from each corner and at each center point in the bottom of the platform frame.

TOP: The top frame should be made of wood which is 1/2″ thick. Just go ahead and use the thicker wood in your plans, it will be sturdy and last for years. The top layer of the platform should be 1 1/2″ deep in order to hold bird seed or whatever you offer your backyard friends

MESH: The second layer is galvanized mesh which is outdoor quality and will weather well. Use a tighter weave on your mesh choice so seeds and food do not fall through!!! You can use screen for this but screen tears under clawed bird feet and can’t take the scrubbing it will occasionally need when you clean your platform feeder. We actually use a double layer of mesh on our platform feeder and it’s 10 years old and doing just dandy.

BOTTOM: The third layer is the bottom of the platform feeder and 3/4″ deep from 1/2″ thick wood. A 4 1/2″ support bar is run through the center. This not only gives your platform feeder strength but allows you the option of pole mounting it if you wish. A platform feeder without a support bar will sag in the middle. It is made from the same 1/2 thick wood we used on the top and bottom frames.

WOOD TYPE: We always use rough cedar on these as it holds up well, can take a fierce cleaning and does not need to be painted. We do not recommend painting feeders or bird houses. The natural cedar is very attractive to the birds and easy for them to grip - ask our woodpeckers who prefer to hang off the sides to eat instead of actually landing on the platform. You can use white pine or cypress as other choices. Do not use pressure treated wood as it releases toxic chemicals as it ages.

MOUNTING: This platform feeder can be pole mounted using a pipe flange screwed into the bottom support bar, or post mounted with “L” brackets which can also be screwed into the bottom support bar.

HANGING: To hang your platform feeder, use an eye bolt and nut about 1″ from the shorter, 1 foot SIDES of the feeder. Be sure to only use an eye bolt and nut combo long enough to go fully through the 1 1/2″ sides. Do not use screw eyes, these will just work their way out. Do not screw through the top of the platform with screw eyes as again, they will just work their way out. You can use decorative outdoor chain or vinyl coated wire to hang your new platform feeder.

Another option is to add a long screw from the bottom up through the middle support bar so that the screw sticks out the top (in the middle of the tray) several inches. This will create a short pole in the center of your platform. You can skewer fruit such as apples on this.

TABLE FEEDER: This can easily be turned into a table or ground bird feeder by adding legs. The legs should raise the platform about 8″ off the ground.

Shop for already built platform bird feeders at Platform, Fly Through Bird Feeders

Suet / Peanut Bird Feeder Plans - Build a Simple Suet Feeder

This is a set of plans to build an easy suet bird feeder. It’s a project you can do with kids and your new feeder should last you a long time. You can also use this style bird feeder for fruit slices such as apples or larger nuts.

Materials:

Wood - 1″ x 2″
A miter box and hand saw
1/4″ wire mesh - plastic coated hardware cloth
Wire cutter
Nails
Double-pointed U nails
Pliers
Hammer
Tape measure
Pencil
Drill and bits
20″ rope or wire - vinyl coated wire works well

1. Cut 1″ x 2″ pieces of wood into two two that are 5″ long and two 9″ long pieces.

2. In the two 5″ boards, drill one hole about 1 1/4 inch from an end. You will thread your rope through this later, allowing you to open the suet feeder from the top. Set these aside.

3. Drill two holes in one of the 9″ boards, about 1″ from each end. This is where your rope will go through on the top of the suet feeder. Set this aside - it is the top of your suet feeder.

4. Nail the two shorter 5″ pieces of wood inside the remaining 9″ piece of wood with the holes you drilled in the 5″ board on the top. These should be about 2″ from the ends of the 9″ board.

5. Cut two pieces of wire mesh about 7″by 7″. Fold over the edges so sharp points of the wire will not be exposed, flatting out completely with light hammer taps.

6. Nail the mesh to the outside of the 5″ boards with the U nails, forming a small cage.

7. On the reverse side, again using the double-pointed U nails, attach the second piece of mesh to the 5″ boards.

8. Take the 20″ rope and tie a tight knot in one end. Thread this through the 5″ holes on the inside of the cage. T

9. Thread the rope through one of the holes in the top 9″ board that you had set aside earlier, and then thread the rope through the other hole on the other end of the 9″ board.

10. Thread the rope through the outside of the cage to the inside. Your top should now be attached to the cage. Tie a tight knot at the end of the rope. You should be able to lift the top of the cage and open it by sliding it up the rope. This is how you will fill your suet feeder and replace suet cakes.

Your suet feeder should be ready to hang! Take it outside, fill with suet cake or slices of fruit and enjoy the birds when they come to visit!

Tip: Rough cedar is our first choice in wood. It is the best because it can be left unpainted, and not painting is best for the birds along with being natural for them, therefore more attractive. It’s easy for birds to land on. White pine or fir also make good choices. Yellow pine tends to seep pitch, so we avoid it. Do not use pressure treated as the chemicals used to treat the wood can be toxic.

Shop for pre built suet bird feeders at Suet Cage Wild Bird Feeders.