Alright, I can’t take credit for this darling old farmhouse birdfeeder made from horseshoes and an old icebox. It was given to a friend of ours over 20 years ago, and he gave it to us. It was love at first sight when I laid eyes on it, and this was waaaay before “farmhouse” came into vogue.
The Prized Farmhouse Birdfeeder
This has been hanging on a tree limb in the back yard for over 20 years, and it finally rotted after being exposed to our searingly hot summers, torrential rains, and the occasional snow storm.
Rotted yes, falling apart yes. It even retired from birdfeeder duty because the seed fell out through the cracks. It was that bad. Even before that, once the squirrels discovered it, seed was gone in 15 minutes. Just a mite discouraging when you want to feed the birds.
We couldn’t stand the thought of further retiring this to the trash heap, so hubby took on the task of restoring it, and now the seed doesn’t fall through the cracks, but it’s still open season for squirrels.
Isn’t this the coolest! Maybe you’d like to make you one! Hubby thinks it’s made with zinc-coated metal from an old refrigerator (icebox). Barbed wire, or as we say in the South…”bob wahre”…forms the hanger. The horseshoes aren’t real iron ones. He says they’re aluminum. New old wood has re-fortified it for another 20 years. 4 screws hold down each side of the deliciously rusty roof.
See that thing that looks like hose on the hanger? It is exactly that! Â My one and only contribution to the farmhouse birdfeeder. Since I originally hung it on a tree limb, I didn’t want the wire growing into the tree…hence the hose.
A Few More Views of the Construction~
So the birds are flocking to it, and I’m sure the squirrels will too eventually. I’m resigning myself.
WILL YOU PIN? THANK YOU!
A True Birdseed Story~
Talking about birdfeeders today, I have to tell you my true birdseed story.
A few years ago, hubby & I went by “Wild Birds Unlimited” where we usually bought seed. While there, we spied lovely looking suet cakes made with raisins, seed, and other things delicious to birds. They looked so tasty, I was about ready to chow down on one myself!
An impulse buy brought us a special metal feeder and 4 suet cakes. The special feeder was a hook on one end to loop over a tree limb, and a spike long enough to hold all 4 suet cakes. So we thought, “why not?” We’ll just put all 4 on there & be able to enjoy a constant show of birds coming to feast on the suet. HA! WE THOUGHT!
Next morning, we got up and to our horror, and unbelieving eyes, all 4 suet cakes were completely gone! Not even a plastic wrapper left! NOTHING! Only the hanger.
I would like to have witnessed the “show” of seeing the possum…raccoon…squirrel, or whatever…remove those suet cakes one by one, and carry them off into the woods! That’s the show I would like to have seen! Well, the joke’s on us. We never bought another single suet cake.
Florence
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Absolutely fabulous! What a great treasure, I am glad you were able to restore it. It’s too fun for the trash heap! 😉
Thanks Kim!
Love it Florence! I’m so happy you were able to save that bird feeder. It’s very cool! That suet story is so funny to me because the same thing happened to us last summer. It was the first time we’d ever bought suet bells, and the last. 🙂
My goodness, you too? So funny!
Love the style of the birdhouse. I may just have to copy that one. So happy you restored it. Thanks for sharing the funny story too. I have never put out suet.
You’re welcome to it Audrey! About the suet, if you ever buy one, guard it with your life…LOL
Oh goodness, I can see why you went to efforts to salvage that awesome bird feeder! Whatever the possum, it realized it hit the jackpot that night. Hilarious! Not suet related but last weekend I went into our shed to get something and looked up and was face-to-face with a rather large squirrel with a pine cone stuck in its mouth. I disturb him building his winter nest IN OUR SHED. Sadly, he won because I ran off screaming like a wild woman and I’m sure the whole neighborhood could here me!
Oh yes, whatever critter took it, he did hit the jackpot! Laughed out loud at your story! I would like to have seen that squirrel in your shed! Marie, you’re not afraid of a squirrel??? Heehee. I guess you were just surprised, right? That would have been me if I’d seen a big spider.
My wife ventures to say that aluminum horse shoes might be used for racing, although that is just a guess.
We had to purchase a hunk of suet for our birds. It’s mainly for the 3 different kinds of woodpeckers, but some of the smaller birds like it, too. It is hung high on a crook, so the neighborhood raccoons and possums can’t climb very well. The squirrels feed on the ground of seed lost at the feeder and peanuts I sprinkle about. We have names for some of our birds. It’s certainly fun to watch them, if I have several especially attentive cats at the window with me!
Really? I didn’t know they used aluminum horse shoes at all, or on horse racing. I had no idea what those were in a previous life. Yes we had ours on a high enough tree limb, we had to get the ladder out to hang it. Didn’t know possums & coons didn’t climb trees well. Hmm, must have been a squirrel then. Well, I hope he enjoyed his feast. Love to hear your bird names.
I love the bird feeder!!! It would make a great bird house, too!!! Our birds need to stand up for their feeders!! I love to watch them eat from the feeders! My mother use to make her own suet cakes.
Thank you Florence for ALL the great ideas and things you show us!! Thanks to your hubby, too!!!
Thank you so much Susan! Your sweet comment made my day! I agree birds should stand up for their feeders…at least dive-bomb the squirrels or something!
I love the bird feeder but the story about the suet disappearing overnight. We try to keep our bird feeder full but the squirrels give a run for our money.
Oh absolutely! Dreading having to chase squirrels away all the time.
Aww Florence that is too bad about the suet cake but at least you fed someone. I love that old bird feeder and am so glad you managed to save it.
Hey that is a good perspective on the suet cakes! Instead of grinding my teeth over it, should have just had your attitude!
We had squirrel problems, too. I hung one feeder where the squirrels could not get it and the nuthatches keep emptying it. This morning, there were 7 of them; I am sure some were this years’ babies. A few months ago, I came home and the bird feeder was on the ground (a 10 ft drop) and was empty. A squirrel had apparently jumped from the roof, hit the wooden roof of the feeder and the extra sudden weight had broken the cord supporting it and all fell.
Had to double the cord. Today, the nuthatches were scattering seed as 6 or 7 of them kept flitting in and out. The seeds on the porch and the ground below attracted a fat squirrel. The puppy dog went crazy, so I let her out. After repeating that, the squirrel stayed away. The little black half Shih Zu-Poodle mix barks like she is the largest thing around and tears after squirrel, deer, rabbits and anything else she can get at. Everything runs from her. So maybe the bird feed is safe for a while, since a “mad” dog protects it. 🙂
Never had any luck with suet either. The birds never got much of what we put out, so we don’t anymore.
Dave
David! So nice to hear from you! We haven’t put birdseed out for years because of squirrels, but we really enjoy seeing them at the feeders, so we’re giving it another go. Isn’t it wonderful that you have a “guard dog” now??? Wish I had one! We have a dog, but he doesn’t guard anything. Pesky squirrels for knocking your feeder on the ground. Surprised it didn’t break considering it fell so far. Oh well…lesson learned with the suet.
Did you see the eclipse today over your way?
Hope y’all are doing well. I see you on facebook sometimes.
That’s such an adorable bird feeder, I’m glad you hubby could rescue it so the squirrels, urmmmm I mean birds can enjoy it for many more years to come. Are squirrels a big pest where you stay Florence? I’ve always wanted one, they just so cute but we don’t really get them here in South Africa and if we do they must be the really quiet relatives of the ones you get there.
Thank you Michelle! Yes, squirrels are a huge pest here & not just with birdfeeders. They eat new growth plants & can be destructive if they get in your house, like the attic, and they knock birdfeeders over trying to get to the seed, break them, etc. I like squirrels, but don’t like what they can do. Hey, I’ll be glad to send you some of ours! I can’t believe they seem to be scarce there. I thought squirrels were universal.
We usually only see ground squirrels here. They’re called meerkats and they’re the cutest things ever, but they can be destructive, which is probably why they’re referred to as a gang 😀 Our garden birds never have to compete against them though
I’ve heard of meerkats…didn’t know they were squirrels or similar to squirrels. Oh yeah, just looked them up…they do look a bit different from squirrels. They sort of look like little dogs in the face. You would think birds could dive-bomb the squirrels trying to take seed…LOL
This is perfect! It’s rustic and so famhousey!
Thanks Lisa. That’s what I thought too. Thanks for coming by to comment!
Oh, Florence!
My father and mother would certainly feel your pain with critters running off with all the seed and suet cakes! Daddy was always looking for the perfect feeder that would thwart hungry squirrels.
I did have a thought: what about adding that heavy-duty 1/2″ wire cut into squares to the insides {or just outside} of each horseshoe??? That wire is heavy enough that squirrels hopefully wouldn’t like to bite through it. They’d still get some but maybe the birds would have a chance. 🙂
Oh! And since we’ve talked trailers before… did I ever mention that an evil squirrel ate some engine wires in our Camry last year? Luckily auto insurance covered most of it though we had to fight for a brand new 10-year old part to replace the one eaten!
Have a fun day watching your birds,
xoxo Barb 🙂
Barb, that sounds like a great idea for the birdfeeder! I’m going to mention it to my hubby & maybe he can rig something up. No, you didn’t tell me about your Camry! That’s terrible! I didn’t know squirrels would go after something like that. They are so pesky!
Florence,
You can see the wire I’m talking about here: http://www.frenchethereal.net/2016/08/critter-proofing-garden-garden-project.html.
I used it to line the planter boxes that needed reinforcing at our host camp site at Lake Skinner last year. No critters will be eating anything from underneath again… 😉
Oh I see! You’re talking about hardware cloth! Yes, I know that stuff. I think we have some around here. I’ll tell the hubs about your idea. Thanks for the tip Barb!
That birdfeeders is just the coolest feeder I’ve seen. I love it! I’m glad that y’all were able repair it.
I made a box feeder for the squirrels, but they still get in my birdfeeders. And I think at night a racoon or opossum gets the rest of the food that I put out for the squirrels. Because it’s always all gone the next morning.
Thank you Linda! Yes, those pesky critters!
Oh, my goodness! I love * L O V E * this bird feeder! It would be absolutely perfect at my old rock farm house! ‘Definitely need to build something similar! Pinned! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
Yes this would be perfect at your farmhouse! I think so too! This is why I was showing it, even though we didn’t make it. Thought someone might get ideas. Good luck with the project!
Florence, that is just the cutest thing! Isn’t it funny when something you’ve treasured for years is suddenly on trend?! What really matters is that you love it and I can see why you do! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm–pinned!
Thank you Cecilia! I do enjoy Vintage Charm. Thanks for coming by to comment. Yes that old birdhouse has been a long-time favorite.
The bird feeder is so lovely and worth the repair. It would have been a shame to throw it away. We don’t have any squirrels here. I would love to see them running around. It’s a shame that you didn’t get to film the little or not so little suet cake robbers.
No squirrels? I’m sorry you don’t have them…be glad to send some your way…wink, wink. Thanks for the compliments on the feeder…definitely worth saving in my book too. Wish I’d had a video ready to film that little thievery too.
Love, love love you bird feeder. Those critters will do whatever it takes to get at food. I love using horseshoes and barbed wire so I might have to try and make one of these.
Stop by Thursday Favorite Things tomorrow since I am featuring your bird feeder.
Hugs,
Bev
Thanks Bev! Oh, I’m so excited to be featured! Thanks so much!