Old mugs and teacups can greatly help birds out in early spring (Image: Getty)
Gardeners are being urged to check their kitchen cabinets for any old forgotten mugs or chipped teacups, as these are one of the best ways to help birds stay healthy in April. Birds will be busy at the moment building nests and feeding baby chicks, but they may struggle to find food since plants are just starting to grow again after winter.
It means that the number of seeds and insects in gardens is still quite limited, and most people do not have the time or money to visit a pet shop just to buy a feeder. If birds struggle to find food in early spring, fewer chicks will survive into summer, leaving gardens more exposed to pests like aphids, slugs, and other insects that damage flowers. However, Cass Bailey, the founder of Diary of a Frugal Family, has shared that it is easy to help out your local wildlife and make a homemade feeder out of old mugs or teacups.
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It gives birds a easy food source so they do not have to go far from their nests (Image: Getty)
She said: “At this time of year, our little feathered friends could do with a bit of help from us (actually they’d be glad of the help year-round but this time of the year especially) so we decided to make our own thrifty homemade bird feeder using a couple of aluminium mugs that we have in the cupboard and some twigs we collected when we were walking the dog.”
Using a mug as a feeder is the easiest way to help birds out in spring, as not only does it give them a food source, but it means they do not have to go far from their nests to forage.
It will encourage local birds to settle nearby, so you are more likely to see robins, owls, blue tits, blackbirds and sparrows around your garden.
Birds that are supported early in the growing season will naturally act like a pest control for your garden so you will not have to worry about slugs eating plant leaves or aphids destroying roses.
How to make a homemade bird feeder out of mugs
You will need:
A mugA pack of suet fat (185g)A pack of bird food (370g)A few broken sticks or twigs
Suet fat can be bought out of the baking aisle in most supermarkets, and often comes in beef, vegetarian or vegan. Cheap bird seed mixes can also be found in the pet aisle.
Place mugs on trees, fences or even on a table to help feed birds (Image: Getty)
To begin, place the suet in a pot on a low heat and let it cook for five minutes unti it has completely melted.
Next, place some birdseed in a bowl, add the melted suet, and mix it all together. You are looking for a ratio of one part suet to two parts birdseed.
Pour the bird food into a mug, and use a spoon to pack it down so the top looks smooth. Then, pop a few twigs or broken sticks into the edges of the mug, as birds will enjoy perching on them while eating.
Place the mug in the fridge for a few hours to let the bird food set, and then it is ready to place in the garden.
Tie some string around the handle of the mug and hang it somewhere high in your garden, like a tree or fence. However, you can also place the mug on the ground or on a table if you wish, just put a large stone in it before adding your bird feed to stop it blowing away.
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