Bird Feeders; Tray Type

thingiverse

Six Versions of a Bird Feeder Tray This project features a collection of tray-type bird feeders that I have installed on my deck. The basic square tray measures 120mm on each side, and the long trays are 120mm x 240mm. The long trays come in single and double compartment versions. All trays also come with a perch option. The perch is flattened at the bottom, eliminating the need for supports. All versions have recessed holes to accommodate #8 deck screws. They attach easily to fence rails and balcony/deck cap rails. Slots in the corners allow water to drain. You may want to seal unused screw holes with silicone sealer. I use these feeders in conjunction with a couple of tube-type feeder. I mounted the version with the perch outside my kitchen window. I recommend using three 3-inch corner brackets (to reduce sag) with sheet metal screws up into the tray on the ends and in the middle. I can reload the feeder by simply opening the window and adding seed. The perch accommodates birds as large as scrub jays. If you have squirrels, these feeders may not be suitable for you. They can be mounted on a pole, but since they don't have mesh bottoms, they will be difficult to keep clean – you might be better off with a larger screen-bottomed tray Printed in PLA/PLA+, you can expect one or two seasons at most, depending on your local UV light. PLA prints could be treated with a UV shielding finish. Better yet, print with PETG. Print with a 0.30 nozzle height to give the edges and perch a little more grip, and also look a little more rustic with brown or green filament. I've also included a file for a 4 x 10 x 120mm spacer that you can use under the tray if you're concerned about rot developing underneath. Update July 2020: (1) I updated all the seed trays, based on six months of use outdoors. The drain slots were widened a bit and I filled in the top of the slot to make the rims of the trays continuous. This should reduce the tendency of the trays to sag and "pinch" the top of the drain slots (no supports when printing). (2) I added a printer config file. This is a corner of a tray and will allow you to check your printer settings without wasting time and filament. Update December 2019: I've added two non-marring mounts for the two sizes of tray. These can be zip-tied to either a 2x4 or 2x6 cap rail. The tray can then be attached to the mount using #6 x 1/2" flat head screws. A dab of silicone adhesive/sealant can be applied to the recessed circles to help bed the tray, reduce wobble, and reduce pulling at the screws. Infill of 30% to 40% is recommended to give the screws better "bite". Don't over-torque the screws. The long tray version is big – 286mm / 11 1/4".