Bird Feeders; Tray Type

Last crawled date: 4 years, 3 months ago

Six Versions of a Bird Feeder Tray
This project consists of a set of tray-type bird feeders that I have deployed on my deck.
The basic square tray is 120mm on a side, and the long trays are 120mm x 240mm. The long trays come in single and double compartment versions. All trays also come in a version with a perch. The perch is flattened on the bottom, so you won't need supports
All versions have recessed holes to take #8 deck screws. They attach easily to fence rails and balcony/deck cap rails. Note the slots in the corners to drain water.
I use these feeders in conjunction with a large tube type feeder. I attached the version with the perch outside my kitchen window on a couple of three-inch corner brackets -- with sheet metal screws up into the sides on the ends. I can reload the feeder by just opening the window and adding seed. The perch accommodates scrub jays when they load up with whole peanuts.
Consider where you deploy these feeders. If you have squirrels these may not be for you. They can be mounted on a pole, but since they do not have mesh bottoms, that will make them difficult to keep clean and you might be better off with a larger screen-bottomed tray. Since these are on my deck, it is easy for me to keep an eye on them.
Printed in PLA/PLA+ you might expect one or two seasons, depending on your local UV light. PLA prints could be treated with a UV shielding finish. Better yet, print with PETG. Don't be afraid to print these with a 0.30 nozzle height. That gives the edges and perch a little more grip, and looks a little more rustic if you use brown or green filament.
Depending how you mount a tray, you might want to close the screw holes with a dab of silicone adhesive.
I've also included a file for a 4 x 10 x 120mm spacer that you can use under the tray if you are concerned about rot developing underneath.
Update #1: I added drain slots at the interior wall of the two-compartment trays.
Update #2: I added a small (120 x 120mm) version with a perch for those with smaller build surfaces. This could also be a handy size for multiple trays with some separation.
Update#3: I've added two non-marring mounts for the two sizes of tray. These can be zip-tied to either a 2x4 or 2x6 cap rail. The tray can then be attached to the mount using #6 x 1/2" flat head screws. A dab of silicone adhesive/sealant can be applied to the recessed circles to help bed the tray, reduce wobble, and reduce pulling at the screws. Infill of 30% to 40% is recommended to give the screws better "bite". Don't over-torque the screws. The long tray version is big -- 286mm / 11 1/4".