How to hang a bird feeder without a tree
While common backyard birds can appreciate foraging up a tree, such as they do in the wild, birds can certainly be tempted to use random objects in your yard.
How to hang bird feeders without a tree is with use of a bird feeder pole. Bonus being its usually 4-5 feet off the ground with multiple bird feeders hung in a group - which will grab birds attention. You can hang feeders off a clothesline or why not on a bracket - with an option to use guttering or backyard objects.
Without the natural cover of a tree you can still attract birds to a bird feeder, providing birds are regularly seen to visit your yard.
What you will do then is buy a bird feeder pole to hang many bird feeders off. You'd use many bird feeders that are grouped together as its more likely to be seen by birds. Whereby a solitary bird feeder is unlikely to be spotted.
Where to place the bird feeders on the pole is preferably in the center of the lawn - yet near to any shrubs - so birds can quickly dive for cover.
Bird feeder poles remain mobile so can be moved if you don't get much interest.
Better than a bird feeder pole in my opinion is a clothesline hung up at two points for you to hang several bird feeders on a line, that is normally up to 20 feet long.
On one hand bird feeders for common songbirds can be hung on one side or in the middle of the clothesline - while hummingbird feeders can be kept well away from other birds - as hummingbirds don't like to feed with other species.
Clothesline I recommend the most while a bracket screwed onto the side of the house or an outbuilding in the yard would be an good alternative.
While you can consider using a window bird feeder to tempt birds too; why waste time when random outdoor backyard objects - such as guttering - can be used to safely hang all kinds of bird feeders on.
Meanwhile, don't risk wild birds life by placing them within reach of predators, as you must still hang all bird feeder up to 4-6 feet off the ground to keep bird out of reach.
Hang off bird feeding station pole
Did you know 86% of Americans surveyed report they have a yard, of which 81% still value having a lawn - which is vital to know as its where a bird feeder pole must go.
Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves just yet as I understand many of you in apartments or in limited space have no possibility of using a bird feeder pole of any kind.
In which you can refer to my attracting birds to an apartment balcony guide, which will also apply to making the most out of your deck railing or a railing of any kind.
Back to use of a bird feeder pole, or to be more precise, you can still hang a bird feeder if there's no tree in your yard - with a reliable yet practical bird feeding station pole - or what is called Shepherd's Hook.
Bird feeder poles such as this can be impaled into the ground quickly and efficiently; that is if your have a yard of course with a lawn or soft ground available. Alternative would be a bird feeder pole still, yet it can be balanced on legs.
Hang up to four or five types of bird feeders to attract as many different wild birds as possible - as they all have their own special dietary needs.
Make sure the bird feeder pole is out in the open, is close to shrubs if any, yet you can always piggyback off a neighbors tree or greenery if it overhangs your property.
Tie rope across two locations
You know the clothesline that tie on two ends, usually tied up to your house and across the length of your yard - well this clothesline is going to come in useful without a tree.
Similarly, no bird feeder pole would be needed if only securing a clothesline up the normal way. To hang a number of bird feeders I still ask you to be sure the line can keep the bird feeders 5-6 feet off the ground.
What you will do then is mount one end of the clothesline, preferably with use of a retractable clothesline - then pull it down or across the yard to a post, a pole or anything the other end can be hooked over.
At this point you will have possibility 10 to 20 feet or more of a bird feeder hanging line.
With that in mind this technique is useful for keeping bears away from bird feeders, as bears have no chance of demolishing the setup as its always out of reach.
What I recommend you do at this point is use this length of clothesline to your advantage.
You can use one end for bird feeders that contain suet, peanuts or seeds, while the other end can hang a hummingbird feeder - seeing as hummingbirds don't like to feed near other common backyard birds.
An unused clothesline can be used or why not hang bird feeders off one side of a used clothesline, baring in mind your laundry risks birds pooping all over it.
Mount high up on wall
How you can hang a bird feeder without use of trees or natural greenery in your yard is with a simple heavy duty wrought bracket.
Why heavy duty because the wrought iron really can compliment the yard, while an iron bracket will not risk collapsing if hanging super heavy bird feeders.
What you will do is mount this metal bracket - usually be screwing in masonry screws into the wall - 5 to 6 feet up. It can be the wall of a house or outbuilding, although if your structures are wood - I would advise against use of an heavy duty iron bracket.
Made in plastic or wooden structures can use a PVC bracket or a corresponding wooden bracket that can be painted to match the decor of your wooden structure.
Personally if the option of a bird feeder pole is not possible in your limited space, a bracket can really be effective.
Mount it on the side of any structure that is within sight of passing birds, while favoring plenty of shade to sustain the bird food in use.
Never mount a bracket along with the corresponding bird feeders on a low level wall, or similarly a low fence post - as it would mean the bird feeders are within reach of wildlife predators or cats who can be within less than a foot of these hanging bird feeders.
Hang or mount on window
What can be fun for many of you in an apartment or restricted complex with bird feeders out of bounds - is the use of a stuck on window bird feeder.
I understand it can be difficult to attract birds to your windowsill, let alone a bird feeder that is stuck on or can hang off the window, but its worth giving it a try.
Best window bird feeders will be an open tray where you can add peanuts, seeds with a handful of dried mealworms - to cater to as many wild birds as possible.
How to attract birds to a window bird feeder can take time yet needs a lot of patience on your part.
But remember if you don't have the yard space then your window can really be an attractive prospect for visiting birds.
Choice of window must be visible to wild birds who pass over above or perhaps land on an object near by to rest.
You may need to replenish bird food before its even touched as it will still rot. Yet its vital to place stickers on the glass window to prevent birds come crashing into it.
Backyard structures
I can assure you, you don't have to use what you believe you must use to attract birds to a bird feeders.
OK birds will guarantee to feed off bird feeders hanging up off a tree branch, but because you don't have a tree in use - less natural places to hang a bird feeder can be used - and used quite successfully as it happens.
It does rely on your personal setup in your yard but one object a bird feeder can hang off is guttering, providing its in optimal condition with no signs of aging.
Guttering must be avoided on a two-story buildings yet an outbuilding like a garden shed can be useful.
Similarly, a hook or bracket can be screwed on to a wooden outbuilding which a single bird feeder can be hung.
You can also hang bird feeders under a hanging flower basket, or remove an unused flower basket to replace it with a much used bird feeder.
Its advisable to use up to four bird feeders that are grouped together to get a birds attention, while a single bird feeder can be hard to see, thus it would end up being used far less than you expected.
With a porch roof available you can hang bird feeders off a hook screwed onto the ceiling, with a bird feeder possibly hung off under eaves with use of an additional hanger or wire to hook it over a larger section.
Children's outdoor playing equipment
While this won't apply to many of you, old children's outdoor playing equipment needn't go to waste when it opens up many bird feeding possibilities.
Now you cannot hang bird feeders in an area where young children occupy, to which I only recommend you hang bird feeders off outdoor playing equipment if the kids or now teenagers are well past playing on children's toys.
Equipment such as this can offers many hanging possibilities, with a wooden or made in metal frame equipment suitable to hang bird feeders by default.
What can be included is horizontal bars that may be too thick to hang a bird feeder off, yet an additional hanger to get it over can be used - plus use of wire or rope - in which can certainly guarantee you'd get the bird feeders hung over it safely.
Where you hang a bird feeder without trees doesn't have to follow the usual places, as its vital you use any object at your disposal - providing its safe for people while keeping bird feeders well off the ground.
Hang bird feeders on unused children's outdoor play equipment - including on the frame of a trampoline - if the bird feeders still hang 5-6 off the ground.
To summarize
While a tree can really attract a large number of backyard birds, as its a place where they forage up in the wild, equipment we use in our yards will guarantee use.
To begin with you can impale a no nonsense bird feeder pole in the lawn. It can be a bird feeding station pole, or a Shepherd's hook - which is usually made with one bracket.
I'd advise you to use a multiple bracket bird feeding station pole, because more bird feeders grouped together is going to be seen over an isolated bird feeder hanging up all on its itself.
Locate the bird feeder pole on the lawn that is open to the sky so passing birds can spot it, while favoring shade to keep the bird food cool, while preventing it overheating under the heat of the sun.
To bad you don't have a tree as it provides natural shade if hanging bird feeders within a tree, or the tree itself would provide us a shaded spot.
Let's not dwell on what could of been, because a bird feeding pole is sure to bring a wide range of bird species to it; if only you use one of a suet, seed and peanut bird feeder.
Hummingbird feeders can be used only you'd have to hang it up separately, as hummers won't feed near other bird species.
Other than a bird feeder pole, a length of clothesline tied up on two ends of the yard can be an effective way of hanging multiple bird feeders. Bonus of this technique is bears or nuisance animals won't be able to access the bird feeders if its hanging high.
You can also refer to a wrought iron bracket to screw on a wall, or use a plastic or wooden bracket if mounting to wooden structure.
Random backyard objects can make great alternatives to a tree, including the guttering or children's outdoor play equipment.
When hanging bird feeders without a tree in use, its vital you follow a strict rule of hanging bird feeders 5-6 feet off the ground at all times - with an option to hang higher if bird feeders are still within reach of pets or wildlife.
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