Beautiful Bird Feeders

Saxon Holt

Folded-roof model

To make the folded-roof model fold the mud flat in half along the center ridge.

Folded-roof model

1. Build the 11- by 14-inch base from a 12-inch-long piece of 1-by-12, ripped to 9 inches wide, then edged with 1-by-2s.

2. Draw and cut two support pieces from 8-inch pieces of 2-by-8.

3. Construct the shallow-pitched gable roof. You'll need two 17 1/2-inch-long pieces of 1-by-12, ripped to 8 inches, for the roof bottom, and 1-by-3s for the roof sides. The bottom pieces meet at the center peak with edges cut at 75°. The same angle repeats in the mitered side pieces, which should extend 1/8 inch past the bottom edges to create the drainage slots.

4. Center and attach supports along the long sides of the base. Center and attach the roof. Position the roof so the drain slots clear the base.

Saxon Holt

Shed-roof model

The shed roof is the same dimension as the mud flat.

Shed-roof model

1. Build the 14-inch-square base from a 12-inch-long piece of 1-by-12 edged with 1-by-2s.

2. Draw and cut two support pieces from 9-inch pieces of 2-by-8.

3. Build the 18-inch-square roof. You'll need two 16-inch-long pieces of 1-by-12, ripped to 8 inches wide, for the roof bottom, and 1-by-3s for the sides. Leave a 1/8-inch gap for the drainage slot at the lower edges.

4. Center and attach supports along opposite sides of base. Position the roof so the drain slot clears the base.

Saxon Holt

Half-and-half roof model

This model cuts the mud flat in half and butts the two halves together along their short ends.

Half-and-half-roof model

1. Build the 8- by 18-inch base from a 16-inch-long piece of 1-by-12, ripped to 6 inches wide, then edged with 1-by-2s

2. Draw and cut one support piece from a 12-inch piece of 2-by-8.

3. Construct the gable roof so each side is the size of one half of the mud flat. You'll need two 16-inch-long pieces of 1-by-12, ripped to 8 inches wide, for the roof bottom and 1-by-3s for the roof sides. The bottom pieces meet at the center peak with edges cut at 60°. The same angle repeats in the mitered side pieces, which should extend 1/8 inch past the bottom edges to create the drainage slots.

4. Center and attach the support on the base. Center and attach the roof. Position the roof so the drain slots clear the base.

3 flowering bird feeders

Folded-roof model

Folded-roof model

Shed-roof model

Shed-roof model

Half-and-half roof model

Half-and-half-roof model