Craft: Recycled toilet roll bird feeders

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Here is another activity for making bird feeders with toddlers and school aged children. Previously, we have made cookie cutter bird feeders that used bird seed and lard to hold the desired shape, however this activity is far quicker and easier. Best of all, it is likely that you will have everything you need to make recycled toilet roll bird feeders already.

We love doing our bit for local wildlife. Previously we’ve created an awesome bug hotel from our recycling that was really easy and fun to make! Watching the birds in our garden quickly became something new and exciting at the beginning of last March when we moved into our new house and, for the first time ever, had a garden. 

Spring is on the way…

As spring is on the way, we’ve been seeing more and more birds land on our bird feeders. There have been lots of magpies, blackbirds, sparrows, and blue tits. As soon as the sun came out and we could begin to spend more time in the garden, I knew it would be a really fun and educational activity for kids if we made recycled bird feeders. 

All you need is empty toilet roll tubes (a staple in many of our Lukeosaurus and Me craft activities), some peanut butter, and some bird seed*. For some extra treats, you could also use peanuts – make sure they’re bird food peanuts*- and mealworms*. 

Tips and tricks for making recycled toilet roll bird feeders. 

Spreading all the ‘ingredients’ out on a big tray* or plate makes it easier for the toilet rolls to pick up all the little bits. 

It’s a lot easier to spread the peanut butter on the toilet roll tubes if you use smooth peanut butter. Of course I don’t think the birds mind a little extra crunch if you only have crunchy PB in the cupboards! 

You can also use the inner tubes of kitchen roll, tin foil, cling film etc. As long as the material you use is fully degradable (will degrade on its own with time). 

Use string or twine* threaded through the tubes to hang up your recycled toilet roll bird feeders. You may also want to place them on any low tree branches you have in your garden, or you sticks you have found on walks to help hold them up.