You want to make bird feeders? It's so easy to make your own bird food from seeds, kernels and fat on pine cones and help native wild birds through the winter!
Yesterday, as I was walking through the neighborhood, I saw something I'm dying to show you. My neighbor has turned fir and pine cones into bird feeding stations.
Because I thought it was such a great idea, I asked her how to use pine cones for birdseed. Since it seemed to be quite simple, I tried it of course. And lo and behold, such a bird feeder pine cones are made in just a few minutes.
On my apple tree now hang lots of homemade food cones, which are very popular especially with sparrows and titmice. And that gives me a lot of pleasure. Because we humans have taken away many natural habitats from the birds.
Especially in the city and suburbs, they hardly find food when the ground freezes.
Now I'll show you how to make bird feeder pine cones.
For tit dumplings really do not need to buy. The filled cones look much nicer and can also be tinkered with children. And of course also by all who are not good at crafting and have two left hands. :)
Table of contents
But first let's clarify a few basic things. Namely, which seeds, which fat and which cones are best suited for making bird food yourself.
Which seeds and grains are particularly suitable for making your own bird food?
The more different birds sit outside on the apple tree and help themselves to the seeds and kernels, the more exciting it is. But because each bird prefers something different, it's best if you use different seeds, grains and pips.
So there is guaranteed to be something for every bird. Some birds feed on insects and sweet treats like raisins. With a colorful mix of ingredients, you'll attract everything from woodpeckers and sparrows to titmice and even robins.
Seeds, grains and nuts that are particularly well received
- Wheat
- Buckwheat
- Spelt
- Oats
- Flakes like oatmeal, dinke flakes, Soy flakes*
- Flaxseed*
- Hemp seed
- Nuts like hazelnuts, peanuts or walnuts
- Unhulled sunflower seeds
If you want to incorporate insects, it's best to buy dried mealworms. You can order them online or buy them in a pet store.
How to make a Christmas tree out of wood!
Where can I find the best cones for birdseed?
You can use spruce cones, pine cones, and really just about any cone you want. Pine cones are especially good because they are large and therefore offer a lot of space.
Next time I have a choice from the different cones, I will definitely choose pine. Spruce and fir look beautiful, but are the most difficult to fill with seeds.
Pine cones hold seeds and kernels particularly well because of their shape. Firs and spruces drop a lot.
You can find the cones while walking in the park or forest. If you can't find any, go to a flower store. Here you can often buy them individually.
When making bird food myself with pine cones, I am particularly careful. Because sometimes it can be that the cones still contain resin. Sort out such or let them dry.
Good to know: Cones are closed when it is very humid. Put them in the house to the window sill or on a radiator and leave them here a little. Often they open after a few hours, sometimes it can take two to three days.
Only when they are fully open do they provide space for the mass of food that we now need to accommodate.
You'll love these DIY tea bags!
One cord per peg
Do not forget to prepare a string. You will need to attach it directly to the peg. Therefore, you should look for cones that are easy to attach.
Completely smooth cones are impractical. You can not attach to it the string, nor do the seeds and seeds stick.
It is better to use string that is a little too long than too short. It looks best if you use strings of different lengths.
What grease do I need to attach birdseed to the pine cone?
You need a fat that solidifies at cool temperatures. Therefore, olive oil, sunflower oil and co. are not suitable.
Margarine, beef or pork lard and Coconut oil* or coconut oil are the best fats for your feed cones. I recommend using either margarine or coconut oil.
Coconut fat has the great advantage of being completely odorless and tasteless. It melts quickly and becomes very solid at low temperatures. Thus, it holds the kernels together best.
I plan on making a lot of food cones in the next few weeks, so I ordered a bucket of coconut oil from Amazon. I have this in use:
Coconut oil* has the same effect, but it is more expensive. Margarine also works well, but doesn't set as well and is greasy. My recommendation is therefore quite clear: coconut oil.
Beef and pork lard is very well received by birds. It gives them a lot of energy. You can buy it at the butcher, however, you should think twice if you want to have this smell in the house.
You can make these 35 DIY gifts in minutes!
Make food cones yourself
Du benötigst
- 100 g Sunflower seeds
- 80 g Unhulled buckwheat
- 80 g Flaxseed
- 100 g Wheat
- 80 g Oats
- 40 g Pumpkin seeds
- 4 EL Raisins
- 500 g Coconut oil
- 8 Pin
Anleitung
- Weigh the seeds and grains and put them in a bowl. Stir well so that they are well mixed.100 g sunflower seeds, 80 g unhulled buckwheat, 80 g flaxseed, 100 g wheat, 80 g oats, 40 g pumpkin seeds, 4 tablespoons raisins
- Heat the coconut oil in a bowl. But be careful: it must not get hot, but only liquid. After all, we do not want to deep-fry the cones!500 g coconut fat
- Tie a string to the cone. It works best at the narrowest point. Make a double knot so that the birds can sit on the cone later.8 pegs
- Take the pot off the stove. Pull the cone through the oil. Also take a tablespoon and pour coconut oil over the cone from top to bottom.
- Now it's off to the seeds and seed mixture. I have noticed that it works best if you use a spoon for this and virtually douse the cone with it.
- Don't be irritated if not many seeds stick. The first layer usually does not work out so well. That's why the cones are now placed outside to cool. Put them on a baking tray, which you line with baking paper. Depending on the temperature, they will be ready to be covered with more seeds in 5 minutes.
- Pour a little more oil on the cones for this. And give with a spoon again seeds and kernels on the cones. Caution: The coconut oil must not be hot, otherwise the seeds that already stick will fall off again!
- After 2-3 passes the maximum is reached. Make your own birdseed can be so simple!
If you let the cones cool down outside, you can hang them up. But a little tip for letting them cool down: In my case, the birds were already very curious and have already grabbed the first seeds before I had given the release for it.
So think carefully about where you let them cool. Hide the cones, if there is no other way, from the birds. They should already bring a little patience :)
What is the shelf life of bird food pine cones?
As you can see, making your own birdseed is quite simple. That's why I always make it fresh. It's best to do it in the afternoon, let it cool outdoors overnight and hang it up in the morning.
Of course, you can also pre-produce and give away the cones. The only important thing is that you store the feed cones in a cool place throughout, otherwise they will simply melt away.
I will again give cones for Christmas and prepare them fresh two days before. Because it's very quick, it's no problem at all and no witchcraft. Stored on the cool balcony, they last forever, as long as they do not melt or are discovered by hungry birds.
Alternatively, you can store them in the refrigerator.
You have to be careful when transporting them. Especially if you use pine cones for birdseed. They can not hold the core mixture so well. This works better with pine trees, pines and the like.
How to make tit dumplings yourself!
Our conclusion
Make your own birdseed on the pine cone or pine cone is anything but complicated. They also look much better than store-bought tit dumplings and can be reused countless times.
Simply mix the bird food yourself if you have leftover seeds or buy a special bird food. You can find the cones while walking in the forest or hiking.
Have fun making the feeders and watching the birds. :)
To browse further:
* Advertising & affiliate links: Our website is financed by advertising and affiliate links. As a partner of linked stores (e.g. Amazon) we earn from qualified sales.
Read more
