Make Your Own Sock Feeder

This bird season began like any other. I went outside to assess the damage from the winter months on the feeders and the birdbaths. The birdbaths held up well after upgrading to a bigger and more solid cement one and another that is made of metal. However, the situation with the feeders was more dire. As usual the squirrels ate away at plastic and any other material that got in the way of them obtaining food. The worst hit were the sock feeders. The mesh is no match for the squirrels or the sharp claws and beaks working away at it over the season. I did not feel like investing in another bag, and certainly not one that required buying the food already in the bag since I had left over Nyjer seed. The solution to my problem was putting my craftiness together with frugality. Like making a meal from what is left over in the pantry and refrigerator, I pieced together my own sock feeder from items I had in the house. So, here’s what I used and the steps I took to complete it.

• Mesh laundry bag with drawstring
• 32+ inches of twine
• 1 steel yarn needle or small crochet hook
• Measuring tape or stick or ruler
• Scissors
• Nyjer seed

1. Cut off 17 inches from the bottom of the laundry bag.
2. Cut at least 10 inches from the side of the bag making sure to maintain one of the original seams. Also be sure not to cut through the drawstring.
3. Cut off at least 32 inches of twine from ball.
4. Thread the twine through the eye of the needle about an inch.
5. Tie a knot to secure the thread to the needle.
6. Sew up the open side of the bag.
7. Continuing sewing around the corner of the bag to the bottom portion.
8. Fold under about ½ inch in mesh on the bottom to form a more secure closure.
9. Continue sewing the bottom of the bag closed.
10. Tie off the twine securely with knots.
11. Cut off excess twine.
12. Fill bag with Nyjer seed.
13. Hang outside for the birds to enjoy.

·I recommend using a green, white or black bag. Green and black blend in with the surroundings best. But white is the standard color for sock feeders.

· The mesh bag used for this project was purchased from the dollar store.

· You can use the original bottom section cut off or the scraps to make additional sock feeders.

·Make sure you are only pulling through a single thread when sewing and that you do not double the twine before sewing.

·You can easily augment the size and shape of the sock feeder by changing how much you cut off and from where.

·You want to make sure you use something heavy like twine to sew up the sides and bottom so it will withstand the weather and weight better.

So far the goldfinches have not come in swarms to feed from my homemade sock feeder, but I have seen them checking it out. Hopefully they will take to this new feeder.