How to Make Bird Houses Covered in Bird Seed

Draw them to your yard with food and shelter.

Two of the most popular and successful ways of attracting birds to your lawn are bird houses and bird feeders, providing the local feathered population with food and shelter. To more greatly increase your chances of visitors, create a birdhouse that also acts as a feeder by coating it in a solid layer of dense bird food cake. Such a bird house can be re-coated once the food is eaten and will ensure a happy, well-nourished start for a new family of birds.

Things You'll Need

• Large dried gourd
• Oscillating power tools
• Router cutting bit
• Grinding bit
• Flexible wire brush
• 1 cup shortening or lard
• ½ cup bird seed
• ½ cup rolled oats

Instructions

1. Cut a four inch diameter round hole in the gourd using the router tip. Insert the wire brush into the gourd and vigorously brush to loosen the dried insides of the plant. Shake out the debris. Continue until you can shine the penlight into the gourd and see that it's mostly empty, with enough room for a bird to sit inside comfortably and build a nest.

2. Use the router to cut a hanging hole through the top (narrow portion) of the gourd. Thread a piece of bent wire hanger through the hole to twist into a hanging loop, then tie some twine to the loop.

3. Switch to a grinding bit on the oscillating power tool.

4. Cut shallow horizontal grooves into the side of the gourd using a low speed setting on the oscillating tool. These will provide texture that the seed solution will stick to, so don't worry about their shape or angle, but cover as much of the gourd's surface as you can, spacing the grooves close together (about a quarter inch apart).

5. Make a birdseed cake mixture. Melt the shortening on the stove over medium heat, then mix in the bird seed and oatmeal. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 to 20 minutes, or until the shortening starts to set up again and makes the mixture pasty.

6. Hang up the birdhouse. This will allow you to spread the coating over the whole thing at once.

7. Spread the birdseed mixture on the outside of the gourd using a rubber scraper. Apply as much as you can get to stick. Grease your hands with butter or lard, then shape and pat the mixture into place, making it smooth all over and of an even thickness. Let the mixture dry for 24 hours.

References

• Precious Little Birdy: Make Your Own Bird Seed Cake