Learn how to make birdseed ornaments! Easy DIY bird feeder ornaments are an easy and useful craft idea for fall, winter, holiday season, Valentine’s and Mother’s Day. Homemade bird treats are perfect to feed garden birds in winter.

And this healthy bird food recipe is a great kid crafts idea and kids activity for school and kindergarten. Add a ribbon and gift tag and you have lovely handmade Christmas gift or sustainable wedding favour.

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Birdseed ornaments – How to make DIY bird feeder ornaments

Winter is almost here. The air is chilly, the trees in our garden are almost empty and it’s time to make birdseed ornaments. This bird food recipe is very simple to whip up, plus homemade bird seed ornaments look very decorative, too.

Most of us think about feeding garden birds during the winter months, but experts suggest that birds can be fed all year long: “Food can be hard to find at any time of year for a wild bird so giving them an easy meal when they need it can help boost their survival rate.”

Making bird feeders ornaments is also a fun and easy craft idea for kids. My niece Paula turned 3 recently and she loves doing crafts with her auntie. The birdseed ornament recipe is so easy that she could do most of the steps on her own. I just helped with warming the ingredients.

Afterwards, we had the best fun watching the little birdies eating from the ornaments.

How to make birdseed ornaments – Step-by-Step Tutorial

How do you make a bird seed ornament? From start to finish, you can make DIY birdseed ornaments in about 30 minutes, which makes them great craft project for kids and an easy DIY holiday gifts idea.

Here’s how to make healthy bird seed ornaments:

Prep work

• Line a baking tray/sheet with wax/greaseproof paper.
• Spray the inside of cookie cutters with baking spray. Alternatively, grease with coconut oil.
• Arrange the ornaments on the lined baking sheet/tray.

Note: It isn’t absolutely necessary to grease the cookie cutters. But a thin coat of cooking spray or oil makes it easier to release the birdseed ornaments.

Make the bird feeder ornaments mixture

• Pour the water into a medium-size saucepan and sprinkle with the gelatin.
• Warm over medium heat until the gelatin has dissolved, for about 3 to 5 minutes. Stir continually to avoid burning. Once the gelatin has dissolved, take off the heat.
• Stir in the bird seeds, dried fruit and nuts.
• Stir until the dry ingredients are completely coated in gelatin mixture.

Form the DIY ornaments

• Fill each cookie cutter with bird feeder mixture. Pack and press down tightly until the ornament is full. Pay special attention to the edges and corners.
• Poke a skewer into each ornament to make a hole for the ribbon. Make sure the hole goes all the way through.

Tips: The mixture is sticky, so grease your fingertips with a little coconut oil or cooking spray.

If the mixture cools down too much, re-warm on the stovetop for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the gelatin is liquid again.

Dry and unmould the handmade ornaments

• Let the ornaments dry for a couple of hours or overnight.
• Carefully release the DIY birdseed ornaments from the cookie cutters.
• String with a ribbon or twine for hanging.

How do you get bird seed to stick together?

These natural holiday ornaments are made with bird seeds, dried fruits and nuts. But how do you get bird seed to stick together? All it takes is one simple step: simmer water and a little gelatin and you have a natural “glue” that will hold the ornaments in shape.

Although you may prefer a birdseed ornament recipe without gelatin, gelatin acts like an adhesive and makes the ornaments stick together.

Is gelatin safe for birds?

Is gelatin OK for birds? I didn’t find any information that would suggest that gelatin is bad for birds. Gelatin is a natural product and safe for birds.

I read, however, that corn syrup, a highly-processed sweetener, shouldn’t be fed to birds. Corn syrup consumption isn’t healthy for humans, let alone wild animals. But I’m happy to report that these are birdseed ornaments without corn syrup.

How long do birdseed ornaments last?

Like any food, birdseed ornaments can spoil over time, especially if they’re stored improperly. Store bird feeder ornaments in an airtight container or zip-top back in a dry, cool place, away from moisture and heat.

If stored correctly, birdseed ornaments will last for 4 to 6 months. Always check that older ornaments aren’t spoiled before hanging them outside.

Birdseed Ornaments – How to Make DIY Bird Feeder Ornaments

Yield: 12 - 16 birdseed ornaments

Active Time: 30 minutes

Drying Time: 6 hours

Total Time: 6 hours 30 minutes

Difficulty: easy

Learn how to make birdseed ornaments! Easy DIY bird feeder ornaments are an easy and useful craft idea for fall, winter, holiday season, Valentine’s and Mother’s Day. Homemade bird treats are perfect to feed garden birds in winter. And this healthy bird food recipe is a great kid crafts idea and kids activity for school and kindergarten. Add a ribbon and gift tag and you have lovely handmade Christmas gift or sustainable wedding favour.

Print

Materials

• 2 cups / 300 g / 10.5 oz birdseeds* (see note below)
• 1/4 cup / 40 g / 1.4 oz raisins, chopped
• 1/4 cup / 35 g / 1.2 oz dried cranberries, chopped
• 1/4 cup / 30 g / 1 oz peanuts, chopped
• 1/4 cup / 15 g / 0.5 oz dried apples, chopped
• 3/4 cup / 175 ml / 6 fl oz water
• 3 sachets unflavoured gelatin
• cooking spray or coconut oil

Tools

• saucepan
• cooking spoon
• skewer
• cookie cutter
• wax/grease-proof paper

Instructions

1. Line a baking tray/sheet with wax/greaseproof paper.
2. Spray the inside of cookie cutters with baking spray. Alternatively, grease with coconut oil. A thin coat of cooking spray or oil makes it easier to release the birdseed ornaments.
3. Arrange the ornaments on the lined baking sheet/tray.
4. Pour the water into a medium-size saucepan and sprinkle with the gelatin.
5. Warm over medium heat until the gelatin has dissolved, for about 3 to 5 minutes. Stir continually to avoid burning. Once the gelatin has dissolved, take off the heat.
6. Stir in the bird seeds, dried fruit and nuts.
7. Mix until the dry ingredients are completely coated in gelatin mixture.
8. Fill each ornament with bird feeder mixture. Pack and press down tightly until the ornament is full. Tips: The mixture is sticky, so grease your fingertips with a little coconut oil or cooking spray. If the mixture cools down too much, re-warm on the stovetop for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the gelatin is liquid again.
9. Poke a skewer into each ornament to make a hole for the ribbon.
10. Let the ornaments dry for a couple of hours or overnight.
11. Carefully press the DIY birdseed ornaments out of the cookie cutters.
12. String with a ribbon or twine for hanging.

Notes

*Bird feeder ornaments ingredients

Instead of using 2 cups bird seeds and 1 cup dried fruits and nuts, you can also skip the dried fruit and prepare this bird food recipe with 3 cups / 450 g / 16 oz bird seeds.

Storage and shelf life

Like any food, birdseed ornaments can spoil over time, especially if they’re stored improperly. Store bird feeder ornaments in an airtight container or zip-top back in a dry, cool place, away from moisture and heat.

If stored correctly, birdseed ornaments will last for 4 to 6 months. Always check that older ornaments aren’t spoiled before hanging them outside.

More holiday kids activity ideas

Need more great ideas of things to do with the kids this holiday season? Check out these ideas from our blogger friends:

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