This Might Be The Easiest DIY Bird Feeder You'll Try In 2026

If you've spent hours trying to make a complicated bird feeder, working with wood scraps or even struggling to transform an old wine bottle into something the birds would be interested in, fear not. We've got an easier solution for you. In fact, the easiest DIY bird feeder you'll try in 2026 requires barely more supplies than a used toilet paper roll.

That's right. You read correctly. This nifty trick with a cardboard toilet paper roll doesn't take much time or money. Granted, the cardboard roll isn't weatherproof, so it won't hold up to serious rain or storms as well as that chipped coffee mug you turned into a suet bird feeder. It's best to just save this project for a stretch of nice, sunny weather.

Bird food made of peanut butter and seeds is one of our feathered friends' favorites, so if you want to try out this fun and cheap DIY craft, just gather up your supplies. You'll need a toilet paper roll, peanut butter, bird seed, and a string.  This craft is so simple, even young kids can help.

The first step is to make sure that the roll is completely clean. Then, you'll slather a nice layer of peanut butter (or almond butter) onto the outside of the roll, aiming for an even layer. You'll lay out the seeds on a plate and then roll your peanut-butter layered toilet roll across them. You might need to do this a few times to pick up the most seeds. Pro tip: Use lighter, smaller seeds. Big, heavy ones, like sunflower seeds, might be too bulky to adhere properly, unless you have a very thick layer of peanut butter.

To hang the feeder, thread the string through the empty roll, and then hang it from your favorite tree limb outside. It's best to put them somewhat close to sheltered spots, like near bushes or trees, since smaller birds often feel safer there. Also, to avoid potential bird accidents near your windows, hang feeders either very close to your home (like within 3 feet) or very far from your home (more than 30 feet away). There's really no in between when it comes to bird safety.

Just remember if a storm blows through, it's probably the end of your toilet roll feeder. Though, given the peanut butter and bird seed, your easy DIY feeder is likely to attract a lot of attention from both birds and squirrels, and might not last long enough to see the first sprinkle. Even if it doesn't last, the good news is it's cheap and easy to make a new one.