Birds need steady sources of food throughout the year to survive cold nights, migration, and harsh weather. While there are many options available for feeders both online and in stores, sometimes the best thing to do is to make your own. Here is a simple, inexpensive feeder that can easily be made with household items!

What you will need:

• String, pipe cleaner, or twist tie
• Pine Cones (can be found outside or bought in craft stores)
• Peanut butter
• Lyric Wild Bird Food

Directions:

Gently brush off any lingering dirt from pine cones.

Tie a string in a secure loop around the top of the pine cone, leaving enough to tie it to a tree or pole. Alternatively, use a pipe cleaner or twist tie.

Carefully spread a generous layer of peanut butter on the pine cone, making sure that the outside is well covered. Note: If you have peanut allergies to consider, try using Crisco.

Roll your pine cone in bird food until it is well covered. Using blends that contain smaller seeds like millet, milo, and nyjer will ensure that everything sticks better. We recommend Lyric Fine Tunes Wild Bird Mix or Lyric Finch Mix.

Hang your feeder on a tree branch or pole between 3 and 15 feet from a window. This will allow you to watch the birds enjoy their winter feast while helping to prevent fatal window collisions.

*Note: Squirrels love this kind of feeder so be sure to hang it somewhere it will be difficult for squirrels to reach like on thin branches several feet off the ground.