Everyone knows that in winter, it’s a lot harder for our wildlife to find the food they need. That’s why it’s lovely to give our birds a little helping hand and a free meal! These easy cookie cutter bird feeders are really simple to create and make the perfect winter activity for parents or carers to do with children.

In terms of child development, there’s lots of stirring, spooning, transferring and patting involved, which helps boost those all-important motor skills. In addition to this, creating these cookie cutter bird feeders is a fantastic way to teach children how to care for our wildlife and learn more about the environment.

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How To Make Cookie Cutter Bird Feeders

These cookie cutter bird feeders are really simple to make, but as simple as they are, they’re still great fun to make with kids! I’ve shared the ingredients list and recipe below, although I have to admit that the measurements are only rough estimates. I’ve given estimated measurements due to the variety of birdfeeds available on the market – bear in mind that some birdfeed may require more or less lard during the mixing stage.

You may also like: Craft: Recycled toilet roll bird feeders

FAQ For Cookie Cutter Bird Feeders

When making these DIY cookie cutter bird feeders, you may find that something doesn’t work as it should – but don’t worry, I have all the solutions right here! Here are some of the most frequently asked questions, and their answers:

Why are my cookie cutter bird feeders not setting?

Ensure that when you are mixing your ingredients together, you have more bird feed mix than lard. The lard is like glue, and it holds everything together. If you use too much lard, it won’t set properly.

Why are my cookie cutter bird feeders crumbly?

Make sure that you pack your cookie cutters well with the bird feed mix. Fill in all the nooks and crannies to ensure that when they bird feeders are set, there are no crumbly bits.

Can you use suet instead of lard?

Suet is a great ingredient to use instead of lard when making these DIY cookie cutters! Suet is a high-energy fat source and is especially great for the winter months.

Ingredients Needed To Make DIY Cookie Cutter Bird Feeders

To make DIY cookie cutter bird feeders, you only need a few items and ingredients.

• Lard
• Bird Food Mix
• Cookie Cutters (Plastic or Metal)
• A Heat Proof Bowl
• Freezer Proof Tray/Chopping Board

How To Make These DIY Cookie Cutter Bird Feeders:

1. Melt 150g of lard in a saucepan on a medium heat. You don’t need to worry about stirring it, it will all just melt on it’s own.

2. Once all the lard for the cookie cutter bird feeders has melted, pour all the lard into a heat-proof bowl.

3. Slowly add 300g of bird feed to the lard. Listen carefully, and you will hear some of the seeds popping!

4. Mix the bird feed and the lard together thoroughly. Be careful, as the lard may still be hot!

5. Place your cookie cutters on your freezer-proof tray/chopping board and spoon in the mixture carefully.

6. Make sure you get in all the nooks and crannies and pat the bird feed down so it’s all compact. Use a pencil or straw to make a hole whilst the mixture is still soft.

7. Place the cookie cutter bird feeders in the freezer for a few hours until the lard has set.

8. Make sure the lard has set fully before removing the cookie cutter bird feeders from the cookie cutters.

9. Once the lard has set, carefully remove the bird feeders from the cookie cutters and thread some twine or ribbon through the hole you made.

10. That’s it! Hang your cookie cutter bird feeders in an area where the birds will easily be able to see and access them.

Other Nature Activities To Do With Kids

Hang up in your trees, on your birdhouses, or wherever else your birds like to hang out and wait and watch! If you like this, how about trying out these great Pine Cone Bird Feeders from Whimisical Mumbling’s blog? You could also try your hand at making these Recycled toilet roll bird feeders.

If you liked this nature activity, you may also like these Free Nature Printables For Kids | British Wildlife Tracks Worksheets and our Summer Garden Minibeast Hunt + Free Printable.

You can also learn more about Helping Your Local Wildlife During Winter and How To Help Your Local Wildlife During Spring.

You may also like: 5 Of The Best Summer Plants For Kids To Grow In The Garden

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