DIY Pinecone Bird Feeders

This classic project is a fun craft and a creative way to feed the birds in your backyard. Kids will love making these DIY pinecone bird feeders with just peanut butter and birdseed. It is a simple, hands-on activity, and it is so fun to watch the birds visit afterward.

We have lots of trees around our home, with birds and squirrels living in them. My kids made these bird feeders using pinecones they picked up right off the ground. After just a few days, the backyard birds had picked almost all the seed off of them! Here is how to make pinecone bird feeders with your own kids.

Pinecone Bird Feeder Materials

• large pinecones
• peanut butter (smooth or chunky)
• string or ribbon
• birdseed

How to Make Pinecone Bird Feeders

1. Add a hanger. Select a few large pinecones in good condition. Tie a loop of string or ribbon around the top of each one. Do this first, before the peanut butter, since it is much harder to tie the string once the pinecone is coated.

2. Spread on peanut butter. Spread a generous layer of peanut butter over each pinecone. The thicker the layer, the more birdseed will stick. I had my kids work on little plates and use a butter knife to spread the peanut butter.

3. Roll in birdseed. Roll each peanut-butter-covered pinecone in loose birdseed until it is well coated. Finer birdseed tends to stick more densely than large seeds.

4. Hang it up. Use the loops of ribbon or string to hang your bird feeders on tree branches. Then watch and wait for the birds to visit!

A quick tip: peanut butter is a fun, kid-friendly choice, but if anyone nearby has a peanut allergy, you can swap in a peanut-free nut butter or solid vegetable shortening. Birds enjoy those too, and they hold the seed just as well.

A Great Creative Kids Project

Making pinecone bird feeders is a wonderful afternoon activity. We did this craft as part of our homeschool routine. It is simple enough for little kids and satisfying for older ones too.

We have a lot of wildlife in our backyard, and it is fun to find simple ways to care for the critters. Since birdseed is made for birds, these feeders are a natural, appropriate way to feed them.

The peanut butter hardens over time and holds the birdseed in place. Once the birds started eating, I noticed they picked off the seed and left much of the peanut butter behind.

Backyard Bird Watching

Hanging up the finished feeders is the best part. After we made ours, my kids loved watching to see if any birds would come. Making bird feeders is a great way to teach kids about caring for wildlife and feeding animals appropriate foods. A backyard feeder is also a fun, easy way to enjoy bird watching as a family.

The birdseed we used had a lot of large seeds. Next time I would like to try a finer seed mix, which I think would coat the pinecones more densely. Either way, the birds in our backyard have happily visited our feeders for a snack.

Pinecone Bird Feeder Tips

1. Choose large pinecones that hold plenty of peanut butter and birdseed.
2. Tie the string loops on first, before the peanut butter.
3. Spread on a generous layer of peanut butter so the seed sticks well.
4. Finer birdseed coats the pinecone more densely than large seeds.
5. Have fun! There is no wrong way to make these.

Pinecone bird feeders are a simple, screen-free activity that connects kids with nature. Which birds visit your backyard? For more ideas, see our creative art projects for kids!