Homemade bird feeders are really easy to make following our step by step homemade bird food instruction. These easy diy bird feeders for kids to make are made using just 3 ingredients and they are shaped using a cookie cutter! They are really easy to make in just a few steps so they are great bird feeder for preschoolers to make. These diy bird feeders can be hung up in the garden with some pretty ribbon or they could be made as a special homemade gift that kids can make, they would make great little homemade christmas presents!
An old flower pot will make a beautiful bird feeder. You will need to drill holes in the pot so that the birdseed will come out. You will need a plastic bottle with the top cut off and this will need holes drilled in as well. Get creative when you are drilling the holes and make a pattern so that they are functional and decorative.
We love these homemade bird feeders so much that we come back to this activity to make more diy bird feeders each year! You can see in the video below how easy it is to make this homemade bird food. Take a look at the step by step diy bird feeder instructions below for full details on how to make them.
We love making DIY gifts for family and friends and these homemade bird feeders make perfect little gifts as well as being easy enough to make with the kids.
If you are looking for more bird activities for kids take a look at our bird puppet craft, cheerio bird feeders, footprint bird craft or our salt dough birds.
If you are making these homemade bird feeders with preschoolers as part of a winter project take a look at all our other winter activities for kids.
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To make homemade bird feeders you will need:
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- Bird seed mix,
- Gelatine,
- Boiling water,
- Mixing bowl and spoon,
- Cookie cutters,
- Tray covered in foil,
- Ribbon,
How to make homemade bird feeders:
STEP 1: Get your bird feeder supplies ready
![Bird Bird](http://theselfsufficientliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/A-Lantern-Bird-feeder.jpg)
Before starting these diy bird feeders for kids to make I'd recommend getting all your supplies ready. You can see in the video above how easy it is to make this homemade bird food when all your supplies are to hand.
Harry and Daisy were both 3 years old when they first made this homemade bird food so they are perfect bird feeders for preschoolers to make. They would be great to make as part of a winter project. (more winter activities)
As well as collecting your bird seed, gelatine and a jug of hot water you will need a mixing bowl and spoon and a tray that has been covered in foil. (see image below)
STEP 2: Mix the gelatine and boiling water
Pour boiling water into a bowl (adults only). We used 1 pint of water, but if you only want to make a few bird feeders use less water as we made a LOT !!! You need roughly the same amount of water as bird seed.
Pour 2 sachets of gelatine into the boiling water and stir until all the gelatine had dissolved. If you are letting kids help with this step you will need to supervise them very closely.
STEP 3: Add bird seed
Slowly tip your bird seed mix into the liquid. Add a small amount of the bird seed at a time and give it a stir.
STEP 4: Add the homemade bird feeder mixture to cookie cutter moulds
Now it is time to use the bird food mixture to make your homemade bird feeders. Using cookie cutters as moulds for the bird feeders means you can easily make the hanging bird feeders any shape you choose. We went with hearts, bird shapes, butterflies, stars, a whole mixture of shapes!
Place the cookie cutters on top of a tray covered in foil and fill each of the cookies cutters with the homemade bird food mixture. Use the back of a spoon to make sure the mixture is packed into the cookie cutter tightly.
STEP 5: Make a hole in the diy bird feeders
Push a cut up straw through the bird food mixture in each cookie cutter to make a hole ready for hanging your bird feeders once they have dried out.
STEP 6: Dry out the homemade bird feeders
To dry out these homemade bird feeders you need to place the tray full of bird feeders in the fridge for a few hours and then take them out and leave them in a warm room to dry overnight.
STEP 7: Push the bird feeders out of the cookie cutters
You need to really take your time with this step to avoid breaking any corners or delicate areas of your shaped bird feeders. REALLY carefully and slowly push the bird feeders out of the cutters using your fingers.
STEP 8: Add Ribbon and hang up your homemade bird feeders
Thread ribbon or twine through the holes that you made at the top of your bird feeders. Tie a knot in the top of the ribbon or twine and you are ready to hang your homemade bird feeders out in the garden.
Harry (aged 3) couldn't wait to hang a few of the bird feeders up in the garden for the birds.
These easy diy bird feeders work really well as homemade gifts for kids to make. Just add a gift tag to the ribbon and they make great little Christmas gifts from kids.
Have fun making these homemade bird feeders and hanging them out for the birds enjoy! These easy diy bird feeders for kids to make would be great as part of a winter project and don't forget to take a look at our other bird activities for kids!
If you're looking for a fun craft project that will let your child explore science and nature while their creative muscles get a workout, try making your own bird feeder. There are plenty of simple bird feeder plans that are easy for kids to make, from a pine cone bird feeder to a toilet paper roll bird feeder. Most of these feeders use materials found in your home or after a quick trip to the grocery store.
These bird feeders will continue to bring joy long after your little one has created it. Hang the bird feeder in a spot in your yard where you can enjoy it and watch the birds eat.
Before You Start
As with any craft that you do with your child, make sure you read through the instructions prior to starting the craft. Then, lay out all the supplies and cover all work surfaces first with old newspaper or a tarp. These crafts can get messy, so if it's an option, work outside.
Note: Some of these bird feeders use peanut butter, so if you have a child with an allergy, you may want to use another ingredient like lard or leftover cooking fat (such as bacon fat).
Pine Cone Bird Feeder
One of the most common bird feeders for kids to make, the pine cone bird feeder is also one of the easiest.
- Gather up a few pine cones from your yard and tie strings to the top of them. Tip: Do this step first, as the pine cones can get sticky and messy!
- Using a butter knife, have your preschooler spread peanut butter or cooking lard all over the surface of the pine cone.
- Roll the pine cone through a bowl of bird seed.
- Hang the pine cone from a high surface, such as a tree or a porch.
Bagel Bird Feeder
This one uses a stale bagel, so it's great if you have leftovers from a brunch party.
![Feeders Feeders](/uploads/1/2/4/9/124931896/213647095.jpg)
- Cut the bagel in half lengthwise and secure it with a string or ribbon through the hole.
- Have your child spread either peanut butter or cooking fat over the bagel.
- Dredge it through the bird seed.
- Hang the bagel in the yard.
Cereal Bird Feeder
This is a great craft for working fine motor skills. It also makes use of any stale round cereal you might have in the house.
- Take a long length of string and tie a knot at the end that's big enough so the cereal can't drop through.
- Ask your preschooler to put circle-shaped cereal, such as Cheerios, onto the string.
- Once the string is full, tie the ends together and secure it to a tree or porch.
Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeder
Start saving your empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls. This is a great recycling project to teach kids about reusable materials.
- Run a long piece of string through an empty toilet paper roll and tie together at the ends.
- Have your preschooler smear peanut butter all over the surface of the roll.
- Roll it through bird seed and hang your toilet paper roll bird feeder for all to see.
Orange Half Bird Feeder
Another fun project, this is a good use for those oranges that have been around a little too long. You will be using the orange peel to create a hanging boat for the bird seed.
- Cut an orange in half and clean out all of the fruit and pulp. Take care not to rip or tear the rind.
- Poke two tiny holes across the diameter of the orange, directly opposite from each other.
- Thread a string through and secure at the top.
- Fill the orange with a mixture of peanut butter and birdseed (or lard or leftover cooking fat) and hang.
Milk Carton Bird Feeder
Use this project to create a temporary bird feeder that the kids can decorate however they like.
- Clean and dry an empty milk carton.
- Cut a hole big enough for a bird to fit.
- Punch a hole in the top of the feeder and thread a string through. Tie at the top and secure.
- Let your child decorate as she wishes. Construction paper is fine, but it will likely get ruined in inclement weather. Instead, try acrylic paint or crayons.
- Once the bird feeder is dry, fill with birdseed and hang.