Top 5 homemade bird feeders

I needed a new bird feeder for my garden and decided to use an old sweet jar to make one. First, I made four small holes along one side using scissors. Then I slotted two small wooden spoons into two of the holes and left the other two free for the seeds to fall through. Then I screwed a hook on to the lid to hang up the feeder. The birds love pulling the seeds out while perching on the spoons. Peter Hallam, Swinderby, Lincs

Squirrels kept pulling the top off my bird feeders and stealing all the food. I found a cheap plastic washing-up bowl, heated a knife on the hob and melted a slit along the centre, which was big enough for the handle of the feeder to pass through. Now squirrels can't get through the top and the bowl keeps the food dry. Robbie Howieson, Poole, Dorset

When I cut my hedge down, I didn't know what to do with the wood. So I glued different sized branches together and secured them with cable ties. Next, I glued half a coconut shell into the middle, then attached the whole thing to an old hanging basket bracket in my garden and filled the coconut shell with bird seed. I think my new bird feeder looks great — and the birds seem to agree. Hilary Newns, Amblecote, W Mids

When I'd used all of my peppercorns, I decided to find a new use for the empty container. I cut a square out of one side of it. Then I turned it upside down and secured it to my garden fence using cable ties. Finally, I filled it with birdseed. Now, all the birds will be well-fed this autumn. Lesley Lea, Chardstock, Devon

I had some old pieces of wood left over from a project and decided to turn them into a bird feeder. I cut them to size, then screwed them together to create a house. Next, I washed out four tin cans, screwed them on to the bird house and filled them with seeds. I added two sticks at the bottom to create a perch, then attached the whole thing to my fence. The birds are very happy with their new feeder. Rebecca Clarke, Rode Heath, Cheshire