Those with old mugs they no longer use should consider putting them outside to help out the wildlife in the early springKatherine McPhillips
and Nicola Croal Trends, Showbiz and Lifestyle Writer
22:08, 02 Apr 2026
Gardeners are being urged to put mugs in the garden this spring to help the birds(Image: Getty)
Gardeners are being encouraged to rummage through their kitchen cupboards for any forgotten mugs or chipped teacups, as these are one of the best items to use when supporting the health of birds this April. With birds currently preoccupied building nests and feeding their young, finding sufficient food can be challenging as plants are only just beginning to regrow following the winter months.
This means seeds and insects remain relatively scarce in gardens, and many people lack either the time or funds to purchase specialist feeders from pet shops. When birds struggle to locate food during early spring, fewer chicks make it through to summer, leaving gardens more vulnerable to destructive pests such as aphids, slugs and other insects that harm flowers.
Fortunately, Cass Bailey, founder of Diary of a Frugal Family, has revealed how simple it is to support local wildlife by creating a homemade feeder from old mugs or teacups, the Express reports.
Old mugs and teacups can greatly help birds out in early spring (Image: Getty)
She explained: “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.”
Repurposing a mug as a feeder represents the simplest method of assisting birds during spring, as it not only provides them with a reliable food source but also means they don’t need to venture far from their nests while foraging. Attracting local birds to your garden is easier than you might think, and with the right setup, you could soon spot robins, owls, blue tits, blackbirds and sparrows in your outdoor space.
Birds that receive support early in the growing season will naturally act as a form of pest control, meaning you won’t need to fret about slugs munching on plant leaves or aphids wreaking havoc on your 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 picked up from the baking aisle in most supermarkets, and is typically available in beef, vegetarian or vegan varieties. Budget-friendly bird seed mixes can also be found in the pet aisle.
Method:
Start by placing the suet in a pot over a low heat and allowing it to melt completely for around five minutes.
Next, put some birdseed into a bowl, pour in the melted suet, and combine thoroughly. You’re aiming for a ratio of one part suet to two parts birdseed.
Spoon the bird food mixture into a mug, packing it down firmly so the surface appears smooth. Push a few twigs or broken sticks into the edges of the mug, giving birds somewhere to perch while they feed.
Pop the mug in the fridge for a couple of hours until the bird food has set firmly, and it’s then ready to be placed outside in the garden.
Attach some string to the mug’s handle and suspend it from an elevated spot in your garden, such as a tree branch or fence post.
Alternatively, the mug can simply be placed on the ground or a garden table – just pop a big stone inside before adding your bird feed to prevent it from being blown over in the wind.
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