Six Versions of a Bird Feeder Tray

This project consists of a set of tray-type bird feeders that I have deployed on my deck.

The basic square tray is 120mm on a side, and the long trays are 120mm x 240mm. The long trays come in single and double compartment versions. All trays also come in a version with a perch. The perch is flattened on the bottom, so you won't need supports

All versions have recessed holes to take #8 deck screws. They attach easily to fence rails and balcony/deck cap rails. Slots in the corners to drain water. You might want to close the unused screw holes with a dab of silicone sealer.

I use these feeders in conjunction with a couple of tube type feeder. I attached the version with the perch outside my kitchen window. I recommend using three 3-inch corner brackets (to reduce sag) with sheet metal screws up into the tray on the ends and in the middle. I can reload the feeder by just opening the window and adding seed. The perch accommodates birds as large as scrub jays.

If you have squirrels these feeders may not be for you. They can be mounted on a pole, but since they don't have mesh bottoms, they will be difficult to keep clean -- you might be better off with a larger screen-bottomed tray

Printed in PLA/PLA+ you might expect one or two seasons at most, depending on your local UV light. PLA prints could be treated with a UV shielding finish. Better yet, print with PETG. Print with a 0.30 nozzle height to give the edges and perch a little more grip, and also look a little more rustic with brown or green filament.

I've also included a file for a 4 x 10 x 120mm spacer that you can use under the tray if you are concerned about rot developing underneath.

Update July 2020: (1) I updated all the seed trays, based on six months of use outdoors. The drain slots were widened a bit and I filled in the top of the slot to make the rims of the trays continuous. This should reduce the tendency of the trays to sag and "pinch" the top of the drain slots (no supports when printing). (2) I added a printer config file. This is a corner of a tray and will allow you to check your printer settings without wasting time and filament.

Update December 2019: I've added two non-marring mounts for the two sizes of tray. These can be zip-tied to either a 2x4 or 2x6 cap rail. The tray can then be attached to the mount using #6 x 1/2" flat head screws. A dab of silicone adhesive/sealant can be applied to the recessed circles to help bed the tray, reduce wobble, and reduce pulling at the screws. Infill of 30% to 40% is recommended to give the screws better "bite". Don't over-torque the screws. The long tray version is big -- 286mm / 11 1/4".