How to Make a Pinecone Bird Feeder

Instructions

• 1

  Choose Pine Cones
  
  Start the project by gathering or buying pine cones. Make sure you use cones that are fully opened. If your cones are not fully opened, open them yourself. Just place the cone on a cookie tray lined with aluminium foil and bake at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for about an hour. Occasionally check the cone for smoke or fire.
• 2

  Prepare the food for the birds
  
  After having opened your cones properly, prepare the food for the birds. Start by stirring up a suet mixture. Suet is a solid fat removed from mutton or beef and can be easily found at the nearest supermarket meat counter. Cut the fat into smaller pieces and heat it in a double boiler or over low heat to melt. Keep on heating and stirring the suet until it is mostly liquid. Now strain the liquid suet into a bowl and allow it to cool. Once the fat is cold enough to handle, mix it with other ingredients.
• 3

  Coat the Pine Cone
  
  Use a butter knife to press the suet-peanut butter mixture into the pine cone. Once you have applied the mixture to the cone, spread the birdseed in a pie plate and roll the pine cone over them until thoroughly covered.
• 4

  Hang the feeder outdoor
  
  Cut the desired length of a heavy string or yarn and tie a knot at the top of the pine cone. You can also tie more than one cone per string. Hang the feeder from a tree or a stand outdoor.
• 5

  Feed the Birds
  
  This bird feeder will attract a variety of birds. Have fun and keep a record of what kind of birds visit your backyard to feed from this innovative pine cone feeder.