Appropriate age group(s):
Preschool and Younger
Elementary School
Middle School
High School & Beyond

Estimated time to make this gift:
20-30 minutes plus drying time

Materials:
plastic milk jug(s), clean and dry

scissors

hole punch

acrylic paint(s) and brushes

string or twine

(sunflower seeds, cracked corn...whatever attracts the birds native to your region)

Instructions:
Cut 'windows' in the 4 sides of the milk jug, about 2 inches up from the bottom. (Circles that are often embossed on the sides offer a good general shape, but they needn't be perfect. Smooth vs. rough edges is good, though.)

Use a hole punch to create a small hole beneath each 'window'; these holes will later be outfitted with twigs that serve as perches.

Punch a hole in the top of the jug (in the 'threaded' area where the cap screws on).
This is where you'll later attach a loop of string or twine, for hanging the birdhouse from a tree.

Cover a table with newspapers; provide aprons or other coverage for 'artists at work', plus paints, water and brushes.

Step back and watch as each bird feeder takes on a different and colorful exterior, everything from brown and green camouflage looks to Flower Power, stripes, or words like 'Tweet!' 'chomp' 'munch' 'lunch' and 'Yum!' (Permanent markers can be fun, for a group old enough to work with them.)

Leave the feeders on Fresh newspaper to dry (letting 'em sit in a puddle of paint isn't recommended ;-) Overnight works best; some little artists will actually paint the Inside of the bird feeder, too...

When dry, insert natural twigs into the 'perch' holes
(pieces of wooden dowel might also work---or cut 'slits' instead and insert wooden 'popsicle' type sticks).

Other comments or suggestions to consider:
This project initially sounded so simple and budget-minded that it made me think anyone over the primary grade levels would say 'that's baby stuff!', but I was soooo totally wrong about that!

When our group led this crafting experience in Vacation Bible School, the holes were pre-cut for the children. This enabled them to get right to the painting. A model of a finished bird feeder was shown, and the process was discussed briefly before the children went to the work table(s).

Laying out materials prior to their arrival (small puddles of paint go amazingly far! Just squirt on a paper plate) seems to make for manageable chaos. Some children finished ahead of others, and they were escorted outside by an adult, to select twigs for the perches. Those who were enraptured by the painting and could do it forever needed to find their perch materials at home ;-)

Tempera paint isn't permanent enough for this project. Acrylic is fine; you simply need to protect clothing, or wear old clothes you're not fussy about.

Some children chose to paint designs; some chose total coverage of the surface. Everyone enjoyed the project immensely, even (much to my surprise!) the fussy 5th and 6th graders. When I saw the color riot of bird restaurants laid out in a blaze of glory, I wanted to build one, too! ;-)

At home, I poked holes in the bottom of the milk jug, for drainage/air circulation. Even if the cap is re-attached to the top of the jug, water is likely to find its way to the interior. (That hole-poking thing is definitely a parent job).

The VBS crafts coordinator had kept 80 milk jugs in her garage until the day the craft was carried out with the children.

It pays to have a few extra; while we had counted them, we somehow found ourselves 2 jugs short. Sometimes materials just sprout legs and take off; with freebie/inexpensive materials, it's just best to allow for that reality.

Half gallon jugs might work; they would just have less 'floor space' for seeds. Sunny Delight or other juice jugs may work just as well; it's always fun to experiment.
The birds will eventually indicate which shape, color and location pleases them most.

Hang the feeders well out of reach of cats, for bird feeders can easily become 'cat feeders' otherwise ;-)

An adult can rinse the feeder out with a water hose from time to time. But generally, when the bird feeder becomes totally nasty/disreputable, inside or out (we're talkin' bird doodie here ;-) it should be placed in the garbage, for the health of the birds, and the humans who love them. You can easily make more!!