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How to Make Bird Feeders Out of Bread

How to Make Bird Feeders Out of Bread
Making bird feeders out of bread is a great family activity, giving kids a chance to see their work in action as birds gather to eat their creations. It's a quick and inexpensive activity as well, perfect for those times of year when birds need the extra protein provided by peanut butter, suet or sunflower seeds. Once you're all done, sit back and watch your local birds enjoy the feast.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:
  • Slices of white or wheat bread
  • Straw
  • Large cookie cutters
  • Peanut butter
  • Suet (usually beef fat)
  • Butter knife or plastic knife
  • Yarn, ribbon or twine
  • Bird food
  • Pie plate
Step 1
Use the cookie cutters to cut the bread into fun shapes.
Step 2
With a straw, punch a small hole in the bread at the top where you'll be threading yarn, ribbon or twine to hang it. Thread the material through the hole and tie the ends so you can hang this loop on a pole or tree branch.
Step 3
Let the bread shapes sit out on the kitchen counter for a day until they harden.
Step 4
Spread peanut butter or suet, or a mix of the two, on the bread, either on one side or on both sides. Make a thin layer so the birds do not find it too thick to eat.
Step 5
Pour birdseed into the pie plate. You might want to include safflower seeds, sunflower hearts, millet or cracked corn, depending on the type of birds you want to attract. Most birds are very happy with black-oil sunflower seeds.
Step 6
Place the bread with the peanut butter or suet side down into the seeds. Make a nice thick layer of seeds on the bread.
Step 7
Hang the bread bird feeders outside on tree branches or anywhere else you choose.
Step 8
Sit back and watch the birds enjoy eating your homemade bird feeders.

Tips & Warnings

 
Hang the feeders under some type of shelter if it's going to rain in the next few days.
 
Don't use peanut butter if anybody involved in the project has a peanut allergy.
 
Use suet in cool or cold weather only so it does not become rancid.

Article Written By Shelley Moore

Shelley Moore is a journalist and award-winning short-story writer. She specializes in writing about personal development, health, careers and personal finance. Moore has been published in "Family Circle" magazine and the "Milwaukee Sentinel" newspaper, along with numerous other national and regional magazines, daily and weekly newspapers and corporate publications. She has a Bachelor of Science in psychology.

Write for Trails.com

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