Make Your Own Birdseed Ornaments

For those who love watching garden birds, these decorative bird seed ornaments will bring you some joy and encourage new wild birds into your garden. They are pretty and simple to make, even the kids can help and get involved. Here is our simple step-by-step guide of how to make your own ornaments.

What you will need

Roughly makes around 8 ornaments

2 cups of mixed bird seed

2 packets of powdered gelatin

250ml of water

Greaseproof paper

Some cookie cutters in various shapes

A few plastic straws cut into pieces

Ribbon or twine for hanging

How to make

STEP ONE

Combine the powdered gelatin and 250ml of water into a saucepan. Bring to a slow simmer and stir well. Once the gelatin has dissolved, remove from the heat and set aside to cool for a minute or two.

STEP TWO

Add the 2 cups of birdseed and stir to mix well and ensure all the birdseed has been coated.

STEP THREE

Place cookie cutters of choice on top of some greaseproof paper and scoop the birdseed mixture. Fill the cookie cutters halfway, pressing down firmly with the back of the spoon.

STEP FOUR

Insert a straw into the cutter shapes, where you would like to hang the birdseed ornament with your ribbon or twine. Then fill the cutters all the way to the top and then some, pressing firmly to pack tightly. Use a square of parchment paper to press the birdseed mixture into each cookie cutter with your hands.

STEP FIVE

Allow the birdseed ornaments to dry for a couple of hours or overnight. You can put trays of them in the freezer to speed up this process. Then when they are ready, gently push them out of the cookie cutters and take the straws out. Make sure that the straws have punched a hole all the way through.

STEP SIX

Tie the ribbon or twine through the hole and then hang outside, ensure you hang them near branches allowing birds to perch.

Simple and easy to make, not only do they look pretty but they are practical ornaments that your new feathered friends will enjoy. Don’t forget to share your birdseed ornaments on our Instagram page @gatesgardencentre, as we love to see your creations.

If you would like to do more to help the birds during winter, take a look at our selection of wild bird care products.