Choose one of these styles for a bird feeder that pleases the eye as well as the birds
To make the folded-roof model fold the mud flat in half along the center ridge.
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.
The shed roof is the same dimension as the mud flat.
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.
This model cuts the mud flat in half and butts the two halves together along their short ends.
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.