Orange Juice Bird feeder

thingiverse

Because of my own experience and the feedback from friends and family, I developed this update to prevent content from spilling when removing the roof for refilling. To accomplish this, I designed a ring with additional seating. Simply thread the ropes through each hole, then secure them using screws that also serve as bird perches and swings. Place the ring close to the top of the unit. The idea behind this design was born out of my concern for the welfare of local wildlife during the colder months. While many people feed birds orange juice, I decided to repurpose empty orange-juice bottles to create a fun and educational experience. I've chosen bottles from Aldi Germany, but others like those from EDEKA also work well. Unfortunately, Lidl's smaller-necked bottles won't fit. If you try using other bottles, please let me know which ones succeed so that others can learn from your experiences. Feel free to modify the design with different threads if needed. The feeder is a silo-type design that prevents spilling by limiting food availability. Water can easily drain through drainage holes in the seat unit when it rains or snows. The roof doubles as a funnel for refilling, and it's designed to stay attached without requiring you to remove the bottle from the tree or unscrew it. Setting up the feeder involves cleaning an empty juice bottle and letting it dry before cutting a 5cm/2" hole in the bottom of the cap side. Secure three thin wires (para-cords) into the seat unit and then wrap them around the bottle, knotting them to secure the roof and wires while also allowing enough space for refilling. Next, fill the seeds into the feeder until it's mostly full. Place the roof over the cut hole, guiding the wires through the beveled gaps. Once secured with a cap from the original bottle, turn the roof back over, effectively securing the "rope trap" that holds the roof in place. With the setup complete, you can fill it and let the birds take care of themselves. If desired, add branches using 3 screws with printed brims for better stability.