Homemade Bird Feeders - easy diy bird feeders for kids to make

Homemade bird feeders are really easy to make using our step by step homemade bird food instruction. These easy diy bird feeders for kids are made using just 3 ingredients and you can make them in any shape you like using cookie cutters! Hang your bird feeders up in the garden with some pretty ribbon or use this bird feeders recipe to make easy homemade gifts that kids can make!

We love these homemade bird feeders so much that we come back to this activity over and over again, we make 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.

You might also want to take a look at our list of over 20 DIY Bird Feeder Ideas that includes lots of fun homemade bird feeder ideas such as pine cone bird feeders. 

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

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.  

  

It is important to make sure that all of the bird seeds are fully coated in the water and gelatine mix as this is what will help the bird feeders stick together when the mixture is added to the cookie cutter moulds.

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!