Projects / Platform bird feeder

Platform bird feeder

A shallow tray with a rim and a mesh floor that drains.

Beginner1½ hours5 parts1× board
1×8 · 7¼″ × 24″A Floor1×2 · 1½″ × 48″B Long rimB Long rimC Short rimC Short rim

Cutting diagram

1×8 · 7¼″ × 24″A Floor1×2 · 1½″ × 48″B Long rimB Long rimC Short rimC Short rim

Bright pieces are your parts; the dimmed wood is left over. Every cut allows ⅛″ for the saw blade.

Cut list

PartQtyWidth × lengthCut from
AFloor17¼″ × 10″184 × 254 mm1× board or ½″ plywood or ¾″ plywood
BLong rim21½″ × 10″38 × 254 mm1× board
CShort rim21½″ × 8¾″38 × 222 mm1× board

How to build it

  1. Cut the floor and rim pieces.
  2. Drill a grid of ½″ drainage holes through the floor, or cut out its center and staple screen across the gap.
  3. Screw the rim around the edge of the floor.
  4. Add four eye screws at the corners to hang it with chain, or mount it on a post.
  5. Leave it unfinished. Birds don't need a coating, and bare cedar weathers well.