Solihull Arts Complex

For a fun and environmentally friendly craft, it is really easy to make these cookie cutter bird feeders, and it’s a great craft to get children involved with!

 

You will need

Equipment

Microwaveable Bowl

Kitchen Scales

Spoon

Paper Straws

Cookie Cutters or Doughnut Moulds

Twine or String

Cardboard (if using cookie cutters)

 

Ingredients

150g Lard

300g Bird Food (Wild Bird Food can be purchased, but if you are making your own, make sure all of the ingredients are wildlife friendly)

 

Method

1. Melt 150g of lard in a microwave (using a microwavable bowl). Put it in for 30 seconds at a time until it has become a clear liquid.

2. Use oven gloves to remove the bowl from the microwave – it will be hot so don’t let any bare hands touch the bowl! Leave it to cool for 5 minutes, but still be careful if children are helping.

3. Slowly add 300g of bird feed to the melted lard.

4. Stir together the bird feed and the melted lard, mixing thoroughly. Make sure that all of the bird seed is covered.

5. Place your cookie cutters on a piece of cardboard and spoon in the mixture carefully. If you are using doughnut moulds, simply fill these with the mixture (no need for cardboard). Use a spoon to pat the mixture down and make sure it’s compact.

6. If you are using cookie cutters (and not doughnut moulds), use a paper straw to make a ‘hole’ in your feeder. Don’t do this too close to the edge or it will not hold the weight later.

7. Place in the freezer for a few hours – this sets the lard. Make sure the lard has fully set before you remove the bird feeders from the moulds.

8. 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 with the straw (or through the centre of your bird feed ‘doughnuts’)

9. Hang in a tree, and see if any birds come to visit!