Homemade Pine Cone Bird Feeders
Making a pine cone bird feeder to hang in your outdoor Christmas tree is fun, messy (the kids love that part) and provides food for your outdoor feathered friends. Once these are in place, they are easy to refill, keeping the birds coming back for more --- and hopefully also bringing some friends. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Plastic gloves
- Light-gauge wire (florist's wire)
- Tin snips or heavy scissors
- Pine cones
- Peanut butter
- Bird seed
Instructions
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Making Pine Cone Bird Feeders
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1
Cut a piece of wire 6 inches long for each pine cone. Put on gloves to avoid getting the pitch on your hands, because it is hard to remove. Wrap the wire tightly around the end of the cone. Birds have an easier time getting to the food if the cone is hung with the stem-side down, so wire the end that does not have the stem.
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2
Dip your fingers into peanut butter and spread it into each cavity in the cone. The more the birds have to search for it, the longer they stay to give you a show. Let the cones sit in a cool place for 30 minutes.
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3
Pour the bird seed into a pan and roll the pine cones in the seed. Pat the seeds lightly to make them stick.
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4
Wire the pine cones onto the branches of a tree, or wherever you have chosen. If your feeding location is in a wide-open area, provide some area close by that the birds can fly to if they feel threatened.
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Tips & Warnings
You can also tuck dried berries into the pine cone feeders. Make a string of popcorn and dried cranberries and the birds will come from everywhere.
Use caution with letting children use the wire; it can easily cut small fingers.
Wire the cones to the branch tightly so squirrels don't run off with them.
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
