bird feeder with a green growing roofHOW TO BUILD A BIRD FEEDER WITH A GREEN, GROWING ROOFPDF instructionsDifficulty: Moderately simple, extreme accuracy not required, excellent project for children working with a parent. Tools: SawMiter boxMeasuring tapeDrillScrew driverHammer, if using nailsClamps to hold glued joints together until glue driesSupplies:Scrap outdoor lumber:Fence slat for bottom and top or boards ½” x 4” wide cut to fitRailing squares about 2”x 2” outdoor for frames or 2” x 2” treated woodScreening for bird seed floor1 treated fence post about eight feet long set to extend six feet above groundTacks and screws1 bottle Gorilla wood GlueNOTE: size of the feeder is variable based on the finished size of the sides and ends desired. The footprint may be square, oblong or variable, builder’s choice.My Bird Feeder Measurements:17” high from bottom to roof peak. Roof overhangs base 2” all aroundDepth of roof planting area = 3”Side to roof peak measures 16” x 13” each sideSides = 7 ½” bottom of feeder to top where the roof joins the base. Front to back = 14”Side to side = 14 “Miters need to be about 25 degrees to make a shallow roof peak at top center. A low pitch roof is better than a steep pitch for keeping soil and plants positioned on the roof.ALPHABETICALLY LABEL EACH PIECE AS CUT FOR EASY ASSEMBLYPIECES TO CUT:2” X 2” – All are cut from left over deck railing posts:1. Cut 4 pieces, 11” long mitered to a 25 degree angle on one end of each piece. Attach two angles to form the pitch of the roof as pictured. Repeat for other end of roof. roof miter2. Using 2 x 2 stock lay on bottom part of the stock and mark to form the angle of the next cut at an angle to fit inside the roof pitch and mark as "B". mark, cut, attach
Measure 2” in from each end and cut 2 pieces of 2 x 2 and mark as
D”. Cut 4 pieces of 2 x 2’ 5” long. Mark as “C “.
3. Make two ends: Use one “B”; two-”C’s” and one-”D”. Measure in 2” from the bottom point of the bevel, then use the “C’s tomount the “B”. On the bottom of “C’s” mount the “D”. Repeat for other end.
Make two ends as shown
3. Make two sides to close the seed box. Cut 4 pieces, 11” long for sides Mark as “E’s”. Attach the two ends using the side “E’s”. This closes the square.
Bottom Detail4. Turning "A" board up to work on the bottom of the feeder, add screening material cut to fit the bottom and hold the birdseed. Attach the screening with tacks. Still working on the bottom of the feeder, measure cut, and attach a G board over the screening material, forming the bottom. Continue attaching G boards leaving a 1/8” space between the boards until the bottom is completed. Note, width of boards may need to be adjusted to fit the bottom with proper drainage spacing. F.1 – Make the planter box to top the roof: Planter roof on top of the feeder
- Cut angles in two E boards to agree with the angles used making the D boards.
- Join the two E boards to form a pointed angle.
- Attach the top of the D board on top of the feeder to form angles as on the roof.
- Make two to form the pitch.
- Attach the D’s to the miters on the C’s.
- Measure between the E’s on the open end of the planter box
- Cut a piece of ½” x 4” material and attach to make the ends of the box
- Measure again on the inside the E’s and attach to the D’s forming the roof.
- Cover the roof with a scrap of waterproofing material as from a pond liner or
- Use roofing material.
Construction of the bird feeder is now complete. The bird feeder can now be painted or left to naturalize. Builder’s choice.
The following pieces are cut from scrap fence boards ½” x 4” wide:
F – Cut 4 pieces, 11” long mitered one end to 27 degrees for sides of the roof box for soil and plants
G – Cut 9 pieces, 14” long for roof, and bottom under screen wire of seed box
H – Cut 2 pieces, 14” long make the ends of the roof box holding soil and plants
Make and assemble two sides – these are open for birds to enter.
Use 1- A; 2- B’s; and 1-C for each side. C has a 2” set in to the B posts.
Close the box:
Using 1-E, attach one side, forming an end. Repeat for the other end, closing the box.
Where the A’s and C’s are is the bottom of the box.
Add fine screen wire to hold birdseed in the bottom of the feed box:
Measure the size of the feed box and cut wire to fit. Insert the wire into the bottom of the feed box.
Construct a bottom for mounting and drainage:
Use 3-G’s to form a bottom leaving a crack between each board for drainage.
Complete the open box:
Join the two sides to the ends by using 4-E’s to make an open box. Then on the bottom of the A’s and E’s’, (the seed bin), cut a piece of fine screen wire to cover the inside bottom, and lay it in place.
Construct the Roof:
For each top end, use 2-D’s attached to form the pitch of the roof on one end. Repeat for the second end. This creates a pitched roof on two ends and leaves straight roof edges on the sides.
Join the sides to the ends using glue and screws
Finish the flat roof: Add the solid boards for the roof deck and cover with asphalt roofing scraps, black felt roofing material or any roofing scraps from a Roofing Company. These scraps would normally be discarded by the Company. Attach this material with suitable glue or tacks. This will form a solid box for potting soil and plants to grow. Join the roof to the top of the bird feeder, which should overhang the sides, and anchor it with glue and screws.
Make and attach the planting box for the green roof:
To create the box on top of the roof for soil and plants, place the two mitered ends of the E’s together, forming a pitch. Repeat for the other side. Then, mount the E’s onto the D’s. Use the H’s to finish closing in the sides of the roof box. This completes the planting box covering the entire roof.
Construction of the bird feeder is now complete.
Some bird feeders, as the example photo taken at the University of Georgia Botanical Garden, in Athens GA, have been painted. It is a personal choice to paint or not. Some paint sellers carry outdoor paint in little cans that are adequate for most bird feeders.
Install the feeder:
If the feeder will be installed by anchoring it to a post, select a treated fence post so the overall height is such that refilling the seed box is possible for anyone to refill without a ladder. Use post hole diggers and set the post into the ground about two feet. Add cement and let it harden overnight. Planting sedum on the ground around the base of the feeder makes a nice picture.
After installing the bird feeder:
Plant the roof top: Add potting soil to the top of the feeder, and plant with a choice of hardy plants as: Creeping Jenny, succulents as hen and chickens, and several varieties of sedum. Keep the top gently moist until roots become settled and comfortable; Most of these plants need very little water and thrive in full sun..
Fill the seed box and the feeder is good to go.
A further comment, it doesn’t take a master craftsman or accomplished woodworker to construct bird feeders or a bird house. Because birds are not required to have building permits or inspections, it is possible for some children, with parental guidance and assistance, to construct feeders for birds, a small difference between sides or angles is unimportant to the joyful family experience of building something together. Little variations add to the charm of the structure.
