How to Make a Fruit Feeder for Birds | Simple Backyard Craft

A fruit feeder for birds is made by hollowing out a citrus half or apple, suspending it with twine, and filling it with birdseed or nuts for an easy backyard treat.

You don’t need a fancy store-bought feeder to attract mockingbirds, orioles, and other fruit-loving visitors. A citrus rind, some twine, and birdseed are all it takes to build a feeder that works as well as anything on the shelf. Here’s the quick method, the mistakes to skip, and a few clever variations that take five minutes each.

What You Need For A Citrus Fruit Feeder

The classic citrus feeder uses an orange or grapefruit half as a natural bowl. Gather these materials before you start:

• One orange or grapefruit, cut in half crosswise
• A spoon or knife to scoop out the flesh
• A pencil or skewer to poke holes
• 12–18 inches of strong twine or string
• Birdseed, sunflower seeds, or chopped unsalted nuts

Adult help is recommended when cutting the fruit and poking holes. The rind needs to be firm enough to hold weight, so avoid overripe or soft fruit.

How To Build The Feeder In Three Minutes

First, scoop out all the flesh from the citrus half, leaving only the rind bowl. Then, using a pencil or skewer, poke three holes evenly spaced around the rim, about half an inch below the top edge. Thread a length of twine through one hole from the outside in, then through the next hole from the inside out, and finally through the third hole the same way. Tie a tight knot on the outside of the rind where the twine exits — the three-hole triangle keeps the bowl hanging level. Fill the rind with birdseed and hang it from a sturdy branch.

When you hang the filled feeder, twine taut and the bowl level will confirm the build worked. Position it several feet away from other feeders, as the National Audubon Society warns that crowded feeding stations can spread disease among backyard birds.

Variations That Work Just As Well

Don’t have a citrus fruit handy? An apple feeder takes even less prep: thread a piece of twine through the whole apple (top to bottom) so it hangs like a pendulum, then push sunflower seeds into the apple’s surface. Birds peck the seeds and the fruit together.

Another fast option uses fruit scraps — leftover apple cores, melon rinds, or berry tops — threaded onto a loop of twine and hung near a bush.

Birds You’ll Attract And What To Feed Them

Mockingbirds and orioles are the birds most commonly drawn to fruit feeders, but many backyard species will investigate a citrus bowl filled with seed. The best fillings are plain birdseed, sunflower seeds, chopped unsalted nuts, and fresh fruit pieces such as apple slices or berries. Some guides mention smearing peanut butter on the inside rim as a seed holder, but keep it away from the rind’s outer surface to avoid sticky messes on feathers.

If you’re ready to buy something sturdier than a citrus rind, our tested roundup of the best fruit feeders for birds covers durable models that handle weather and refills without rotting. For now, this citrus feeder costs nothing and works immediately.

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