3 DIY Bird Feeders Anyone Can Make
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Bird feeders attract different species of birds to your yard. You can appreciate their beauty while they appreciate the easy snack. It’s especially nice to have bird feeders in cooler months when food is more challenging for them to come by. You don’t have to spend much money to make great do-it-yourself (DIY) bird feeders that your feathered friends will love!
Here are three DIY bird feeders that anyone can make.
Cookie Cutter Bird Feeder
You can make a beautiful bird feeder at any age with a cookie cutter and a few ingredients.
You’ll need:
- Parchment Paper
- Cookie Cutter
- Bowl
- Two 8-ounce packs of gelatin
- Two cups of birdseed
- Spoon
- Toothpick
- String
Place parchment paper on a flat surface and put the cookie cutter of your choice in the center.
Boil your water before pouring it into a bowl, and add in your gelatin packets. Stir together until the gelatin dissolves completely.
Pour your birdseed in and mix until it’s completely covered. You can add more bird seed as needed to scoop the mixture.
Scoop the mixture into your cookie cutter and pack it until there is no space left. Take your toothpick and stick it through the top of your birdseed cookie. This will allow you to thread the string through at the end.
Next, you wait for them to dry. Let the mixture solidify on top before flipping the cookie to finish drying. It could take several hours, so patience is key! Once it’s dry, thread the string through, and you’ll have a custom bird feeder cookie to hang in your yard.
Tea Cup Bird Feeder
If you have an old tea cup and saucer you never use, why not turn it into a fun craft that benefits nature?
You’ll Need:
- Tea Cup and Saucer
- Strong Adhesive Glue
- Birdseed
Clean your saucer and teacup if needed and dry thoroughly. Place a small amount of the glue on the saucer’s edge, and place the cup on top of it sideways. Ensure that the mouth of the cup is facing the saucer.
Let the cup and saucer sit for around 24 hours until the glue is dry and the pieces are solidly stuck together.
Then, pour your birdseed into the feeder and place it where desired. You can use glue to attach a string or wire for hanging. You can also glue it on a hook or securely attach it to the top of a post to serve your feathered friends. The
Pine Cone Bird Feeder
This bird feeder has an adventure component that’s fine for the young and young-at-heart.
You’ll Need:
- A Pinecone
- Peanut Butter (Substitutes include another nut or sun butter, vegetable shortening or coconut oil.)
- BIrdseed Mix
- Shallow Dish or Parchment Paper
- String, Ribbon or Twine
- Butter Knife
- Nuts and Fruit Pieces (optional)
To make this feeder, you’ll first need to go outside and search for some fresh pinecones. If you have kids, this is a wonderful opportunity to get some fresh air and learn about nature. Once you’ve picked the perfect pinecone, bring it inside with the rest of your ingredients.
Once inside, gently rinse the pinecone with water to remove any mud or insects. Pat it dry before using the butter knife to cover it with the peanut butter or a peanut butter substitute.
While it’s sticky, pour some birdseed into a shallow dish or in the center of some parchment paper and roll the pinecone until the seed sticks to the peanut butter, coating the pine cone. Gently dust off the excess seed.
Tie the string or ribbon of your choice to the pinecone’s stem. If your pine cone is missing a stem piece, You can use a small amount of adhesive glue to attach the string to the top or bottom of the pinecone.
If you want to attract more bird species, consider adding some small pieces of fruit and nuts to the pine cone’s crevices.
Hang it up and watch the birds enjoy your creation.
Making a Homemade Bird Feeder
Creating DIY bird feeders is a great craft to enjoy alone or with loved ones. Any age can help use items around the house to make something for birds to visit and enjoy.
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About the author
Jane Marsh
Starting from an early age, Jane Marsh loved all animals and became a budding environmentalist. Now, Jane works as the Editor-in-Chief of Environment.co where she covers topics related to climate policy, renewable energy, the food industry, and more.