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A gabled open-platform bird feeder from one cedar fence picket — six cuts, glue, and brads. The beginner project that ends up in everyone's yard by spring.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gable walls Top cut to a center peak with 45° angles both sides. | 2 | 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 7 3/4" | Cedar fence picket | ☐ |
| Floor | 1 | 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 7" | Cedar fence picket | ☐ |
| Shorter roof panel Rip 1/2" off one edge — the narrower panel tucks under the wider one at the peak. | 1 | 1/2" × 5" × 10" | Cedar fence picket | ☐ |
| Longer roof panel | 1 | 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 10" | Cedar fence picket | ☐ |
| Side rails Measure and cut to fit your assembled feeder, then rip into 1-1/2" strips. | 2 | 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 8" | Cedar fence picket | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar fence picket, 5-1/2" x 72" (Cedar) Dog-eared is fine — the eared end becomes offcut. Nominal 1/2" thick; the plan absorbs the variation. | 1 each | ☐ |
| Exterior wood glue, rated for oily woods Cedar's oils defeat ordinary glue — the rating matters. | 2 oz | ☐ |
| Finish nails or brads, 1-1/4" Small exterior screws work too. | 30 each | ☐ |
| Eye hook For hanging from the roof peak. | 1 each | ☐ |
Overall cost: $. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Miter Saw, Pencil, Speed Square. Materials: Cedar fence picket, 5-1/2" x 72", Exterior wood glue, rated for oily woods, Finish nails or brads, 1-1/4"
Mark the peak on each wall piece with the speed square — 45° from each side to a center point — and cut. Then glue and brad both walls to the ends of the floor, square and flush at the edges.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Circular Saw. Materials: Cedar fence picket, 5-1/2" x 72", Exterior wood glue, rated for oily woods, Finish nails or brads, 1-1/4"
Rip the shorter roof panel to 5" wide, then glue and nail it to one slope of the gables, its top edge landing at the peak line.
Tools: Brad Nailer. Materials: Cedar fence picket, 5-1/2" x 72", Exterior wood glue, rated for oily woods, Finish nails or brads, 1-1/4"
Glue and nail the full-width panel to the other slope so it overlaps the narrow panel's top edge — that overlap IS the ridge, and it sheds rain away from the seed. Nail into both the gables and the narrow panel's edge.
Tools: Brad Nailer, Circular Saw, Drill Bit Set, Tape Measure. Materials: Cedar fence picket, 5-1/2" x 72", Exterior wood glue, rated for oily woods, Finish nails or brads, 1-1/4", Eye hook
Measure the assembled feeder's platform length, cut the rail stock to fit, rip into two 1-1/2" strips, and glue and nail one along each open side. The rails keep seed on the platform and double as perches.
Add the eye hook at the peak (pilot it — 1/2" cedar splits), hang it in view of a window, and leave the cedar raw: it weathers to silver and the birds could not care less.