Winter Crafts: How to Make Simple Bird Feeders

Image via: Spoonful

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Use Up-cycled Materials for your Bird Feeders

You can use nearly any container to make a bird feeder out of it. Empty cans, plastic bottles or cups are all great items. Use also some wooden sticks or spoons on which the birds can stand to reach the food. You can fill them either with loose seeds or make a mixture out of peanut butter and seeds to make it stick into the container.

Image via: Spoonful

Here are some great ideas for a sticky mixture, but you can whatever is in your house and can be eaten by the birds. You will need peanut butter or molasses, cornmeal or rolled oats, breadcrumbs, croutons, cereal or crackers. Also, use dried or fresh fruit pieces, nuts and seeds. Toss everything into a bowl and mix until you have a sticky mixture. For example, use ½ cup peanut butter, 1 cup rolled oats, ¼ cup raisins and ¼ cup of sunflower seeds. Adjust with some fruit juice or more peanut butter for moisture if needed.

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Use Citrus Rinds as a Bird Feeder for Bird Seed

Oranges and Grapefruits are great for these birdfeeders. Cut the fruit into half and empty the halves from the fruit so you end up with two rind bowl. Fill it with seeds. Again you can either fill it with loose seeds or make a mixture to stick it into it. Before filling the orange cup, make sure to make holes and secure some twine or cord to hang the cups. If you like, drive one or two wooden skewers through the rind to provide the birds a sitting opportunity.

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Using Cookie Cutters and Molds as Hummingbird Feeders

Another idea is to use your cookie cutters, molds or mini bundt pans to make beautiful bird feeder cookies or wreaths. All you will need is:

¼ ounce package of unflavored gelatin

2 cups of birdseed

Water

Non-stick spray

Ribbons

Molds or cookie cutters

Image via: Design Dazzle

To make them, bring 6 tbsp. of water to a boil. Empty the gelatin into 2 tablespoons of cold water in a big bowl. Now let it sit for about 1 minute and then add the hot water. Stir for a couple of minutes until the gelatin has completely dissolved. Now, stir in the birdseed and stir well. Let the mixture sit a couple of minutes, then stir again and repeat this a few times. Coat the molds or cookie cutters with non-stick spray. Now spoon some of the mixture into the molds or cookie cutters, which you’ll have placed on waxed paper. Make holes with straws for the ribbon. Let them set 2-3 hours in a cold room. Remove the birdfeeders and put them onto wax paper. Let them dry overnight. Turn them upside down at least once during drying.

Cut your ribbon or twine and carefully put it through the hole or wrap it around the birdfeeder.

Image via: Spoonful

These homemade bird feeders are great for giving away as a gift, too! Hang them from a somewhat protected tree branch or another protected spot, so the rain won’t melt them. Now, all you need to do is waiting for your little guests to come and to observe them!

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, click here.