Make your own hummingbird feeder using small mason jars. These feeders are simple to make, loved by hummingbirds, and easy to clean.
The recipe for how to make sugar water for hummingbirds is here.
DIY Hummingbird Feeder
I like to try a lot of different bird feeders to see which ones work best both for the birds and to clean.
This project starts with a simple jar feeder.
If you just get one hummingbird at a time in your garden, the simple single feeder may be all you need.
I get severalโand they like to guard their territoryโso I like to have a few small feeders spread out throughout the garden to minimize territorial battles.
If you live somewhere where they feed in flocks, provide a bunch of jars together for a communal feeding station.
Along with feeders, it’s important to provide nectar flowers, trees, and shrubs, so they have places to nest and rest. And never use harmful spraysโthey rely on insects as their main food source.
Why Mason Jar Feeders Are Recommended
- Very easy to clean
- Inexpensive
- Use a low volume of sugar water (to avoid spoilage)
- The hummingbirds like them
- But itโs not so easy for other critters like squirrels to drink from them
On the downside, because they have larger openings on the lids than regular hummingbird feeders, some flying insects including bees may get in the sugar water.
I still use them because it doesnโt happen too often here, but keep this in mind if your garden is buggier.
How to Make a Mason Jar Hummingbird Feeder
Supplies and Materials
The three main supplies are small mason jars, red daisy lids, and something to hang the feeder.
The red daisy lids are not always available on Amazon. You may have to try various searches to find them from an online shop.
Before getting the red daisy lids, I tried drilling holes in plain mason jar canning lids but that created sharp edges that would be unsafe for the birds, so itโs worthwhile to order the red daisy lids instead.
Hummingbirds find food sources by sight. The color red is attractive to them so be sure to use red lids but never use red sugar water as food coloring is not good for them.
Iโve listed the specific supplies below for each type of feeder.
1Single Hanging Mason Jar Hummingbird Feeder
For each feeder you will need:
- One mason jar
- One daisy lid (try searching “red daisy lid canning jar” on Amazon or your favorite supplier)
- One (or more) chains with hook latch
- If you have a dollar store nearby, check the garden section for hooks and chains used to suspend small hanging baskets.
Assembly
- Attach the chain using existing holes in the daisy lid.
- You could also suspend several single jars from a piece of pipe or a small branch to form a nice row of feeders.
2Multi-Feeder with Eye Bolt
- Several mason jars with daisy lids
- Eye bolt with two nuts | 5/16 x 8-inch
- Thick plastic plate (red) with drainage holes
Assembly
- If plate isnโt really sturdy, use two or more
- Drill drainage holes in plate(s)
- Drill 5/16-inch hole in middle of plate for eye bolt
- Secure eye bolt in place using one nut on either side of plate(s)
3Multi-Feeder with Chains
- Several mason jars with daisy lids
- Thick plastic plate (red)
- Chains with hooks (3) for hanging
Assembly
- Drill drainage holes in plate plus 3 holes in lip (equal distance apart) for attaching chain latches.
- Use more than one plate if one alone is not very sturdy.
Once the hummingbirds are using your feeder after arriving in spring, be sure to wash out the containers regularly and replenish the sugar water. You may need to do this once or twice a day as the weather warms. When it’s hot, you should remove the feeders to prevent mold. This has tips on washing your feeder.
For more budget-friendly garden ideas see 10 Surprisingly Good Dollar Store Finds for Gardeners.
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt โ
Ebook
25 Garden Art Projects & Ideas
by Melissa J. Will
Grab the top garden art DIY projects and tips from Empress of Dirt
About This Ebook | Visit Ebook Shop
This ebook is a digital file (PDF format) you save to your device. It is not a physical product.
PayPal, Credit Card, Apple Pay
Available in United States & Canada only
How to Make a Mason Jar Hummingbird Feeder
Equipment
Supplies & Materials
- 5 4-ounce Mason jars wide mouth jars
- 5 Red daisy lids to fit 4-ounce jars
- 1 5/16×8-inch Eye bolt with two nuts
- 1 Plastic plate thick, strong
- 1 Chain with snap hooks or similar fasteners to hang feeder
Instructions
Drill Plate and Install Eye Bolt
- Drill several drainage holes in plate.
- Drill 5/16-inch hole in middle of plate for eye bolt.
- Secure eye bolt in place using one nut on either side of plate(s).
- Drill three or four holes in lip of plate to attach snap hooks.
Set Up Feeder
- Fill five mason jars with sugar water, attach daisy lids and place on hanging plate.
Notes
- Get the right sugar water recipe here.
- Clean your feeder frequently: this may be twice a day in hot weather.ย