Make a Christmas Cake Bird Feeder

Make a Christmas Cake Bird Feeder

This season is all about giving, why not make something for our little friends, the birds in your garden.

Make a Christmas bird feeder to help make sure they have enough food during the cold winter months.

christmas cake bird feeder

Photo Credit: Simple Joy

Don’t worry, no baking is required. Our Christmas cake bird feeder is super easy to make, it’s a quick and simple project to do with your children as a festive craft activity. You don’t need fancy ingredients either. You can use whatever you have handy to make your own recipe, yet your bird feeder will be packed full of energy to keep birds going. This quick and easy treat is packed full of energy to keep birds going. Once the weather turns colder, food is harder to find so it is especially important to help birds during the winter months. Your hungry feathered friends will thank you for the yummy Christmas treats and it will attract many different species of birds to your garden. Here’s is our step-by-step guide on how to make a Christmas cake bird feeder. Follow our quick and easy recipe below and help out a feathered friend this winter. 

Ingredients:

  • ¾ cup bird seed mix - you can buy this or make your own from sunflower seeds, millet, peanut pieces and dried fruits. You can even add cooked rice, breadcrumbs or grated cheese
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 gelatine sachet (or 4 leaves)
  • String
  • Cookie cutters in Christmassy shapes
  • Baking paper

Things to avoid:

  • Uncooked rice
  • Salted nuts or other foods
  • Whole nuts or fruit which small birds could choke on

Method

  • Follow the instructions on the packaging to prepare the gelatine but use less water (1/4 cup instead of one pint)
  • Remove gelatine mixture from the heat and let it cool for 1 minute
  • Stir in the ¾ cup birdseed mix, you can add a little more if there is liquid still in the bottom of the pan, you’re looking for a firm paste
  • Lay your cookie cutters out on baking paper and fill them half way with the birdseed mixture - a great activity for kids, if a bit messy!
  • Cut your string, tie a knot at the end and push the knot down into your birdseed mix
  • Cover the knot with more seed mix and continue filling your cookie cutters until full
  • Push the birdseed evenly to fill your cookie cutters
  • Once done, allow to dry overnight turning them over a few times
  • When dry, remove your bird cakes from the cookie cutters and you’re ready to hang them in your garden!

Something to drink?

While a well-made fat ball or bird cake will keep the birds in your garden well-fed throughout the freezing winter months, you help even more by giving your feathered visitors something to drink too. A source of fresh water is essential for them, and can be especially hard to find once a frost has set in. It’s as simple as putting some water out regularly and checking it hasn't frozen over. If the water does freeze you can simply pour a glass of hot water over the surface once a day to help melt any ice. Want to know more? Head to the Woodland Trust website where you can download their Brilliant Bird Feeder Activity Sheet!
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