Teacup Birdfeeder

Teacup BirdfeederThese teacup bird feeders are an excellent way to recycle old cups and saucers.  And they are both whimsical ornaments for the garden and work great as feeders. 

 

Materials:
Teacup and saucer
Drill
1/8 inch ceramic tile bit
1/4 inch masonry bit
36 inch long 1/4 inch threaded metal rod
30 inch long copper tubing 1/2 inch wide
2 stainless steel nuts with 1/4 inch wide hole
2 stainless steel washers with 1/4 inch wide hole
Safety Glasses
Gloves
Marker
Birdseed

Drilling HoleDirections:
First collect your cups and saucers. A good place to look is a resale shop or junk store.

Next prepare your cup and saucer. Mark the center of each and carefully drill a hole through them one at a time. To reduce breakage and frustration, first make a starter hole with the 1/8 inch ceramic tile bit and then widen it with a 1/4 inch masonry bit.

Saucer and CupNow take the 36 inch long, 1/4 inch wide threaded metal rod and screw a nut about 1/2 inch from the top, place a washer on top of the metal nut and then the saucer and cup on top of the washer.

At this point you will have the tea cup and saucer balanced on the metal nut and washer with about 1/2 an inch or less of the threaded rod rising up through the middle of the tea cup.

Adding Copper TubingTake your second washer and slip it over the threaded rod so that it sits flat inside the teacup. Next add a metal nut on top of the washer and screw it down tightly so that the teacup and saucer are secure.

Select the area in your garden where you would like to place the feeder, push the copper tubing into the ground about 2 or 3 inches and then insert the threaded metal rod down into the ground through the copper tubing to give the feeder a finished look.

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Comments

Tea Cup Feeders

by phanse@hickorytech.net on July 4, 2010 06:19
My husband has been making these the last couple of years. They are great! People love them!\r\nMy problem is the deer also like them! Thanks for sharing this great idea!

Adorable

by robertskar@verizon.net on July 4, 2010 11:05
This is one of the sweetest ideas Thank You!

teacup birdfeeder

by Marilynn on July 4, 2010 10:40
I have on and the only trouble with it is when it rains. You need to drill small hole in the saucer to the water will run thru it. When it is going to rain I usually cover it with a \r\nfood saver hat (bag) the ones that has the elastic around the bottom and secure it with a clothes pin. Then when it is pretty just take it off. The birds hunt for it when it is covered up. \r\n

Teacup bird feeder

by Karen Roberts on November 9, 2009 09:26
I love this idea for a bird feeder! I plan on doing this project and putting them out in one of my flower beds this spring--Thanks for sharing!! Karen

Teacup Bird Feeder Question

by Patti on August 12, 2009 09:47
Do you add holes to the teacup so rain water can drain out?

Tea Cup Bird Feeders

by Linda Pearce on July 10, 2009 10:26
What a CUTE, novel idea! Thanks for sharing the idea! They will make great, unique gifts! Blessings!

teacup feeder

by Jo-Ann Blanco-Russell on June 6, 2009 05:49
Great idea. I wondered how to make these and now I know.

tea cup feeder

by Helen on April 30, 2009 07:37
Do you think it could be done with a type of glue. I have no drill. Has anyone tried that?

tea cup birdfeeder

by judy on April 29, 2009 12:19
I have made several of these, the birds love them. I made mine a little different. I didn't drill a hole (too much trouble) I simply used E6000 glue (purchase at hobby lobby, michaels, etc) and glued the cup to the saucer. I then glued a 3/4 inch pvc cap (any hardware or home depot/lowes) to the bottom of the saucer. I also got a 3/4 inch pvc pipe cut it to the length I wanted and pounded into the ground and set cup and saucer on top. When we get a very strong breeze it will swap a bit and the birds just hang on. Very entertaining.

tea cup bird feeder

by Rita Brock on April 25, 2009 02:39
A friend just gave me one of these. How do I keep the squirrels out? thanks

tea cup bird feeder

by Phyllis Gale on April 21, 2009 07:00
thank you so much for the instructions. I love little crafty things in my garden that I can make myself.

teacup birdfeeder

by tammy swinford on September 16, 2008 09:37
My mother has one of these and I love it. I am glad I found these instructions - I want to make a few for myself and friends!

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