This DIY Bird Feeder is the perfect easy craft to do with your kids. Made with safe and easy to find ingredients, this homemade bird feeder is a project that I’ve loved to do with my kids since they were little and I know you will love to do with yours as well!
Happy Sunday, friends! This weekend was full of fun fall activities with the kiddos: soccer games, bike races, lunch with family, trick or treating! Life is so busy when your kids are this age. But, we are also wrapping up a couple activities and I know our weekends will be slower paced coming up. So I am already thinking of things we are going to be doing on days when it is just too cold to be outside (guys, that’s like every day below 40 for me . . . . and 40 is a stretch).
These DIY Bird Feeders are such a great project to do with the kids on cold winter days. They are great to hang up for the birds in the winter, and they are also super cute and make perfect holiday gifts for neighbors, teachers, and friends. We love doing these easy to make bird feeders with the kids! This is a slight adaptation to my Valentines Day Birdfeeders because we are using a star so it can be made for holidays year round and I also decided to double the gelatin and really loved how much sturdier it made them.
What are Bird Feeders Made of?
You only need a few simple things to make these homemade bird feeders. All of them (except maybe the birdseed) can be found at the grocery store and all of them are non-toxic, which makes this the perfect craft project to do with the kids. Additionally there is no peanut butter in these diy bird feeders, so they are a perfect classroom project.
DIY Bird Feeder Supplies
- 4 cups birdseed
- 3/4 cup flour
- 2 0.25 ounce packets of unflavored gelatin (or 5 teaspoons)
- 3 tablespoons corn syrup
- 1/2 cup water
- cooking spray
- parchment lined baking sheet
- skewer
- thick sided cookie cuter
How do you Make Bird Feeder with Gelatin?
The unflavored gelatin is what holds this whole thing together, so it’s pretty important. You can find it in the canning aisle of the grocery store in a little box that contains four of the packets you see pictured above. You mix it in with the other dry ingredients and in the end it holds together your bird feeder perfectly!
How to Make a Bird Feeder
- Mix together the dry ingredients (the birdseed, flour, and gelatin mix) in a bowl.
- Stir in the wet ingredients (the corn syrup and the water). You will probably need to use your hands to get it sufficiently mixed.
- Spray a cookie cutter (any shape as long as it has thick sides) with cooking spray.
- Press the bird feed mixture into the cookie cutters. Then use a skewer to make a hole.
- Gently remove the cookie cutter.
- Allow it to dry overnight.
- String a ribbon through it and give it away or hang it in your trees.
I love these because of how easy they are, and they also turn out perfect every time!
If you are looking for more winter crafts to do with your kids you could check out this post on 39 awesome winter activities for kids. These Gingerbread Man Christmas Ornaments are also a huge hit!
Ronel says
Hallo
I have tried the bird feeders, but they get mold on them so quickly, I do make sure to let it dry completely.
Any suggestions?
Lisa Longley says
I’m so sorry, Ronel, I haven’t had that problem. Are they molding after hanging in the trees or in storing them?
Nancy says
How many bird feeders does the recipe make?
Lisa Longley says
It depends on how big your cookie cutters are and how thick you make them – between 8 and 12.
Jodee says
What is the temperature of the 1/2 cup water
Lisa Longley says
Room temperature.
Carrie says
Our recipes we have made also mold very quickly when stored for about a week. Any advice on tweaking the recipe? We usually double the batch so we make alot at one time.
Lisa Longley says
Hi Carrie! I haven’t had the problem with them molding. Are they completely dry before they are put away to be stored? They really need to be left out overnight to completely dry. If you are making a double batch, you could try freezing what you aren’t putting out.
Kathy Harding says
How long do you leave in the cookie cutters?
Lisa Longley says
After pressing them in, I lift the cookie cutter away right away to make more and then let it set.
Jess says
What is the purpose of the corn syrup ? Corn syrup isn’t good for birds. Can I eliminate it from the recipie?
Lisa Longley says
The corn syrup holds the recipe together. If you want to replace it you would need to find a substitute that is just as sticky.
Karen says
Mine crumbled. I followed the recipe to a tee. How can I make them not crumble?
Lisa Longley says
I’m really surprised to hear that. My best guess is that there was too much flour. If you scoop the flour right from the container with the measuring cup, it can compact it and then you have too much. I’m so sorry this didn’t work for you!
Roxanne Humphreys says
Love this idea as a gift. Can I use molasses instead of corn syrup?
Lisa Longley says
I haven’t tested this with molasses but I suspect it won’t hold the feeder together as well.
Theresa Scoggins says
I just love your ideas
Lisa Longley says
I’m so glad to hear it!
Carol says
I am wondering about how many bird feeders one recipe makes. Thank you
Lisa Longley says
It all depends on the size of the cookie cutter you use. But roughly between 6 and 10.