Here is how to make a bird feeder with a pinecone. Bird feeders are great for the wild life, and also for decorating your home. They are also very simple to create. Here are the supplies you will need and what you will want to do.
What you will need:
- large open pinecone
- Vegetable lard, shortening, suet, or peanut butter
- Oats or corn meal
- Birdseed
- Few feet of string, twin or yarn
- Pan to use to help apply the seed to the pine cone
You can do this yourself or you can have the kids help you with the crafting. Either way it is simple and fun.
Instructions for the project:
Start with the pinecone. Make sure it is clean, and mostly free of any debris. Be sure the pinecone is completely dry. Then you will want to smooth on the lard, shortening, suet, or peanut butter on to the pinecone. Push the lard, shortening, suet, or peanut butter as far down into the petals of the pinecone as possible. This will be what holds the birdseed on.
This is where you will want to fill the pan with the birdseed and oats or cornmeal. The pan you will be looking to use is going to large enough and flat enough to hold the seed, but to make it so that you can spread the seed over the pinecone well.
Now, shake off the access of birdseed. This way, there is enough seed on the pinecone, but then the remaining amount that would just fall off, will not be dripping all over.
Next you will want to tie the string around either the base of the pinecone, or the top of the pinecone. You will want to make this a very tight knot. The tight not is necessary because the birds will be hanging from or around the pinecone.
Now you can hang this beautiful work of art outside where the birds, and or squirrels can get the food.
You can add variations to these types of pinecone bird feeders.
Some people like to tie the string on the pinecone first. Before you do anything else. This will help with making it easier to keep neat after you put all of the seed and peanut butter on.
Instead of using full peanut butter as a coating, mix in the shortening with it, this way you can prevent the birds from choking. However, that is just what a few people would say. It could be just fine to use only peanut butter. Also, you can use chunky peanut butter instead of creamy. This is especially a fun idea if you want to use the feeder for squirrels.
Add a little popcorn to the feeder if you want to show a few colors in with white. It causes a nice contrast to go along with the beauty of the seed.
These are some great ways you can create a pinecone birdfeeder. The main thing is that you can use all sort of creativity to make this exactly what you want. The key will be to make sure that no matter what you add to the feeder that it is good for the birds and squirrels.
This is how to make a birdfeeder with a pinecone. You can check online and find there are several options out there. Make it fun, and keep it safe. Then you will be helping nature and creating great decorations for your home.