Fun And Easy DIY Bird Feeders To Make With Your Kids This Easter
Keeping the kids busy during the Easter holidays can sometimes feel like a full-time job. If you are looking for something fun, easy and different, why not have a go at making your own bird feeders? It is a great excuse to get crafty, and you will be helping the local birds too.
Why Kids Love Making Bird Feeders
Kids love anything hands-on and a little messy, so making bird feeders is a winner. They can squish, spread, and sprinkle to their heart’s content. It’s also a lovely way to show them how important it is to look after animals and the environment. Watching the birds come to visit afterwards makes it even more exciting.
What You Will Need
You do not need a long shopping list for this one. A few simple items will do:
- Toilet roll tubes
- Peanut butter (check it is bird-friendly with no added salt or sugar)
- Bird seed
- String
- Clean yoghurt pots or plastic cups
- Lollipop sticks or spoons
You can also grab some cookie cutters, old mugs or even pinecones if you want to get extra creative.
Easy Bird Feeder Ideas
The Classic Toilet Roll Feeder
Take an empty toilet roll tube and cover it with peanut butter. Then, roll it in a plate of birdseed until it is nice and sticky. Thread a piece of string through the middle and hang it from a tree branch. It’s easy peasy, and the birds will love it.
Yoghurt Pot Surprise
Poke a little hole in the bottom of a clean yoghurt pot and tie a string through it. Fill the pot with bird seed mixed with melted suet or fat. Leave it to sit in the fridge. Once it is solid, it’s ready to hang outside. The birds will soon sniff it out.
Fun With Cookie Cutters
If you have any fun-shaped cookie cutters, use them to make your feeders even more special. Fill them with a mixture of seeds and melted suet on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper. Remember to poke a hole near the top before it sets so you can hang it up later. Once they are firm, pop the feeders out and get them hanging.
Little Tips To Make It Even Better
Try to hang your feeders somewhere quiet and a bit sheltered so the birds feel safe. Keep an eye on them and swap them out if they start to go soggy. Nobody likes soggy snacks.
If you have a bird book at home, let the kids spot which birds come to visit. They could even draw pictures of what they see or make a little scrapbook.
A Lovely Way To Spend The Holidays
Making bird feeders is one of those simple activities that ticks all the boxes. It keeps the kids busy, does not cost much, and gets everyone outside for some fresh air. Even better, it teaches children about kindness and patience as they wait for the birds to arrive.
Next time you hear the dreaded words ‘I am bored’, grab some seeds, some string and a bit of peanut butter and get stuck in. The kids will have a blast, and you might even spot a few new feathered friends.