Give birds a place to bathe and drink by converting an old teacup and saucer into one. They will love DIY birdbaths. It’s also a great way to attract birds that don’t eat seeds in your garden. All you need to do is glue a cup to the saucer and attach the pair with a dowel. Push the dowel into the soil, and voila, you’ve created a beautiful and attractive shelter for birds.
Not only is this mini outdoor tub easy to build, but it’s also inexpensive, since you don’t need much for the project. Just grab a saucer, a teacup, a drill with a long spade (or hammer) and a wooden dowel, plus epoxy or strong glue, such as Gorilla Glue, to hold everything together. You can easily find cute teacups and saucers for under $10 at a thrift store, flea market, or online. And don’t worry if you can’t find a matching cup and saucer set — mixing and matching adds whimsy to your garden (and the birds won’t mind at all). But why not? Reuse old coffee mugs And appetizer plates to make a big birdbath?
How to make a teacup birdbath
First, choose a spot in your garden that is partially shaded and near shrubs or low-branching trees—because Placing your birdbath in the wrong place can deter birds. Shade will help keep the water from overheating during the summer, while bushes or branches will provide some protection from predators. Next, prepare the dowel. Consider making it a vibrant color or train the vine to climb up for a decorative touch. Either way, you’ll want to drill a hole in the soil for the dowel, push it into the ground, and then shake it a little to make sure it’s secure. If you don’t have a drill, hammer it into place.
Coat the top of the dowel rod with a thin layer of your chosen glue and center the saucer on top. Let it dry according to the package instructions. Then, add a dab of glue to the bottom of the teacup and set it on the saucer. When it dries, fill the tea cup with water. To give birds plenty of bathing options, build multiple birdbaths and place them at different levels and locations around the garden. Do not forget to change the water daily. This will keep the feathered visitors happy, healthy and returning as well as prevent mosquito larvae from hatching.
