One of my favorite take-it-easy pastimes is backyard bird watching. It is relaxing to sit on the deck with drink in hand and watch them flitting from here to there. Feeding birds during the winter is one of my favorite way to Enjoy the Garden in Winter. It is so much fun to look out the window and watch the cute little birdies enjoying their meal on a cold wintery day.
I buy the largest bag of sunflower seeds I can find. It’s their favorite kind of seed and it’s cheaper to buy in bulk. During a cold spell, the birds will really go through a bag in no time. But how do I store those seeds without feeding mice?
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When fall arrives in the South, mice try to move inside and I don’t like that. I am not a fan of mice. And if they find a bag of sunflower seeds, they will assume they have checked in to the Ritz Carlton and they will never leave!
Ask me how I know.
I also buy smaller bags of Safflower seeds and Niger seeds. Offering a variety of seeds will help attract more variety of birds to your feeding area.
My bird feeders hang right outside of my kitchen window. So I wanted to keep my seeds in a convenient spot and that means they need to be on my deck. But how to store them?
I first used a plastic tub, but if you know Southern Mice, they can eat right through plastic if they catch a whiff of yummy sunflower seeds. So I bought 2 of these galvanized buckets.
Now, that these buckets are too shiny and new for this gal! So I had to age them. I wish I had in-progress pictures to show you but I don’t. All I did was place one of the buckets in a dishpan and poured 1/2 gallon of vinegar over it. Then I let it sit for an hour or two. I did have to turn it every 15 minutes or so since it wasn’t totally covered. But after a couple of hours it was nice and rusty!
After I got them all rusted up, I then wanted to give them a little color so I dry bushed them with paint. I did one in yellowish-green. And the other one I dry bushed with a little light blue
So this is my bird seed storage on my upper deck. I keep the two small bags inside of one bucket.
Inside the other one are the sunflower seeds. The whole bag doesn’t fit inside though, so I want get get a third bucket this year.
I love the look of my “old” bird seed buckets. They fit right in with the blue and yellow color scheme of my upper deck. And the mice have had to find somewhere else to party.
Do you feed birds? Would you like to get started? Find out how by reading Beginning Bird Watching.
Did you know you can easily and quickly age galvanized metal?
Do you have mice???
Oh yes – I know all about mice and their love of birdseed! If only that was all they liked. I’ve gotten dead mice out of the attic and a kitchen cabinet this week. I keep our birdseed in a plastic rubbermaid bin. Not nearly as pretty and interesting as your buckets! I have never thought about painting the metal. (I have one like it where the dog food is stored.)
Oh my. As bad as removing dead mice is…. at least they aren’t alive. I have to say that I am amazed that they haven’t chewed through your rubbermaid bin. You know they make a spray paint for plastic… 🙂
WOW! Had no idea you could make galvanized metal look aged with vinegar! Shared ♥
We feed our feathered friends in the Winter too and fortunately we don’t have mice, our kitties keep them away but I do love the plan you came up with to store your bird seed and the way you turned them from “new and shiny” to “vintage and gorgeous”. So much prettier.
You taught this old dog a new trick! Your buckets are beautiful. Well done, well done. They look like something you would pay high dollar for at HobLob.
I really have mixed feelings about birds. I seem to get pooped on a lot by birds. A lot. Happened just the other day again. So for a long time I have shunned them. But some real cuties have been hanging around our yard early this spring. So I might be having a change of heart.
Maybe I will set up one tiny little feeder (I do have a hummingbird feeder) and take baby steps this spring. You have inspired me.
XO
Thanks Leslie! I actually let one of them get a bit rustier than I wanted but I’m ok with rust. haha Hummingbirds are my favorite! I have that feeder in a different location. 🙂
We’re in the process of moving the bird feeders closer to the house (there were a bunch out in the yard when we bought the place, but waaaaay out for some reason), but we do it for the entertainment of our cats. I’m not much for bird watching, but the cats go bonkers for it. We call them “bird theatres,” even though I don’t particularly care when squirrels and field mice get in there for a nibble—the cats like watching those just as much, after all!
Either way, having the seed outside in an attractive-yet-sealed bucket is the sort of genius idea that I come here for. Brilliant, as always!
Hello! So good to see you again Chase! Have you ever had an opossum in your bird feeder?! Now that’s an experience. I love the cat theatre idea, as long as the cats are inside. I had to stop feeding hummingbirds a couple of years ago because our neighborhood cats thought it was a dinner and a movie! 🙂
Great tips about the vinegar. I’m looking for some type of old pot and have thought of using a can like this. Visiting from Snickerdoodle Sundays.
This will sure give you instant old Victoria! Thanks for visiting with me. 🙂
ooh! I love the aged buckets! I’ll be using that tip, thank you!
So quick and easy! I’d love to see what you do Ali. 🙂
We have a Hummingbird feeder in our yard. I love seeing the hummingbirds every day.
I love hummingbirds! They are the cutest things ever! I have a couple of feeders for them too but they are in a different place. Thanks for visiting with me Elise. 🙂
That’s so awesome that you take such great care of the birds. I’m sure it keeps them coming back. I wouldn’t be able to handle mice coming and snagging the goods though. Ah!
Noooooo mice are the WORST! I’ve got to keep them out if I can! 🙂
I love birds and we have a little house made for birds with seeds on that they can fly into in the winter to get food and treats.
Sounds perfect! I love watching them. Thanks for visiting! 🙂
I love sitting outside and watching the birds with my coffee and my Bible. It’s still a little cold in the mornings, so I have to watch through the window right now. We haven’t had any mice problems, but we do keep the seed in a plastic container. Your buckets are much prettier I must say!
Thanks Donna! I was afraid the mice would chew through plastic so I went with metal. Thanks for visiting with me. 🙂
We love your tips to create cute rustic buckets out of inexpensive new ones. You gave them so much charm and character. Lots of good advice in one blog post! Thanks so much for sharing. We hope you’ll link up every week to our Friday Friends Parade Linky Party! Hope to see you next week. Blessings, Julie & Jodie
Loved your post. Thanks for linking at the
Fabulous Party. I am featuring your post this week!
The buckets turned out so nice and are such a good idea for seed storage. I love to watch my little birds flitting around my birdfeeder too. Which reminds me, I need to buy more seed! Thank you for sharing on Party in Your PJ’s. Pinned!
Gail,
Love this idea for storing bird feed. Please stop by Over The Moon Linky Party since you are being featured.
https://eclecticredbarn.blogspot.com/2019/01/over-moon-linky-party.html
Hugs,
Bev