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How to Make a Natural Bird Feeder With Unflavored Gelatin

Many birds, such as chickadees, cardinals, titmice and nuthatches, love bird seed cakes. Making your own natural seed feeders with unflavored gelatin provides an indoor activity for cold winter days and saves money. Once you've mastered the basic method, experiment with different shapes and designs and try a variety of fruits, seeds and nuts. For a basic science experiment, children can note the types of birds attracted by different ingredients. Homemade bird feeders, decorated with ribbon, acorns or dried flowers, also make inexpensive, useful gifts.

Things You'll Need

¾ cup flour
½ cup water
3 tbsp. corn syrup
1 package plain, clear gelatin
Bag of commercial bird seed
Cookie cutters
Drinking straw
Wax paper
String
Optional:
Raisins
Nuts
Dried fruit pieces

Instructions

- 1
  Mix together the flour, water, corn syrup and gelatin in a large bowl. Use ice cold water to help the gelatin set quickly.
- 2
  Add bird seed, a little at a time, to the gelatin mixture. Keep adding seed until the dough is thick and workable. Consider adding nuts and fruit pieces.
- 3
  
  Use a variety of shapes when cutting out the seed cakes.
  
  Scoop the mixture onto wax paper and spread it out until it is about the same thickness as your cookie cutters. Cut out the shapes and remove the extra mixture from around the molds. Spread this excess mixture onto another sheet of wax paper and cut in the same way.
- 4
  Poke a hole near the top of the cut shapes with a drinking straw. Let the seed cakes dry for eight hours. Then, turn the cakes over and let them dry for another eight hours.
- 5
  Loop a small piece of string through the hole once the cakes are completely dry. The feeders are now ready to hang from trees and bushes in your yard.

Animals & Science