Bird seed blocks are a great way to provide food and attract birds to your backyard These compact blocks contain a nutritious mix of seeds, nuts, fruit and fat that birds love Making your own bird seed blocks allows you to customize the recipe for the bird species in your area while also being a fun DIY project.
In this comprehensive guide, we will walk through the entire process of crafting high-quality bird seed blocks from start to finish using simple household ingredients.
Why Make Bird Seed Blocks?
There are many great reasons to make your own bird seed blocks:
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Customize the ingredients – You can tailor the seed mix specifically for the birds in your yard. Different seeds attract different species.
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More cost effective – Homemade blocks can cost significantly less than store-bought ones. Buying ingredients in bulk helps maximize savings
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Mess containment – The blocks prevent loose seeds from making a mess that needs frequent cleaning up.
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Creative options – From cookie cutter shapes to decorative molds, you can get as creative as you want with homemade blocks!
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Great activity for kids – Making the blocks is a fun family project and teaches kids about nature and wildlife.
Step 1: Choose the Right Ingredients
The basic components of a bird seed block are:
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Birdseed – A mix of sunflower seeds, millet, cracked corn, etc. Tailor the mix to attract your target bird species.
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Binding agent – Ingredients like suet, peanut butter, or gelatin to hold the block together.
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Extras (optional) – Dried fruit, nuts, or mealworms to add extra nutrition and appeal.
Make sure all ingredients are fresh. The quality directly impacts the nutrition and appeal of the block.
Step 2: Prepare the Binding Agent
For suet or peanut butter, slowly melt over low heat until liquid. For gelatin, mix powder with hot water per package instructions to dissolve completely.
Allow liquid binding agents to cool slightly before mixing with seeds.
Step 3: Add Seeds and Extras
In a large bowl, combine 1-2 cups of birdseed with any supplemental ingredients like dried fruit, nuts or mealworms.
Thoroughly mix the cooled binding agent into the dry mixture until all seeds are evenly coated.
Step 4: Prepare the Mold
You can use silicone molds, mini muffin tins, or even cookie cutters to shape your blocks. Lightly coat the molds with non-stick spray for easy removal.
If using cookie cutters, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Step 5: Fill the Mold
Firmly pack the seed mixture into the molds, pressing out any air pockets. For hanging blocks, insert a loop of string into the center before filling completely.
Overfill slightly, then compress again to ensure a dense, cohesive block.
Step 6: Allow Time to Set
Leave blocks in molds for at least 2-3 hours until completely firm and hardened. Refrigerating accelerates the process for gelatin-based blocks.
Once hardened, gently remove from molds. Repeat with remaining mixture until it is all used up.
Step 7: Consider Proper Storage
For short term storage, an airtight container in the fridge prevents blocks from drying out. For longer storage, consider freezing blocks to maintain freshness.
Step 8: Hang Birds Seed Blocks Outside
Look for spots near trees or shrubs that offer birds shelter yet allow them easy access. Use attached hanging loops to place on branches, feeders, or posts.
Make sure blocks are securely attached and won’t fall. Monitor often as birds start pecking away!
Helpful Tips for Bird Seed Block Success
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Mind the weather – In warm months, avoid ingredients that spoil quickly like fresh fruit. Focus on longer-lasting seeds and nuts.
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Mix it up – Trying different seed and ingredient combinations lets you find out what your local birds like best through trial and error.
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Freshen it up – During peak feeding seasons, refresh blocks frequently to provide the best nutrition possible.
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Pay attention – Observe activity around your feeder to identify patterns and adjust block contents accordingly over time.
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Clean up – Keep the feeding area clean and mold-free to prevent disease and encourage birds.
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Be patient – It may take some time for birds to discover new food sources. Persist and they will come!
Recipes for Delicious Homemade Bird Seed Blocks
Here are a few sample recipes to get your inspiration flowing:
All-Purpose Bird Block
- 1 cup black oil sunflower seeds
- 1⁄2 cup millet
- 1⁄2 cup cracked corn
- 1⁄3 cup peanut butter (binding agent)
- 1⁄4 cup raisins or dried cranberries
Finch Fruit & Nut Block
- 1 cup nyjer thistle seed
- 1⁄2 cup finely chopped peanuts
- 1⁄2 cup finely chopped walnuts
- 1⁄3 cup suet (binding agent)
- 1⁄4 cup raisins
Suet & Mealworm Block
- 1 cup sunflower chips
- 1⁄2 cup peanuts
- 1⁄4 cup suet (binding agent)
- 2 tablespoons mealworms
- 1 tablespoon orange peel
High Energy Suet Block
- 2 cups wild birdseed
- 1⁄2 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1⁄2 cup bacon grease or suet
- 1⁄4 cup dried fruit
- 1⁄4 cup nuts
Making your own bird seed blocks provides an engaging opportunity to help local birds while expressing your creativity. Follow this comprehensive guide for fool-proof results. Customize recipes to your yard’s unique bird species and habits. Once you get the basic steps down, the possibilities are endless! With a little trial and error, you will discover the perfect blocks to attract a lively flock to your feeder.
DIY Make Your Own Homemade Birdseed Blocks or Cylinders Featured
Ok… I admit it. I am a cheapskate. Not one of those dumpster diving behind the grocery store to get free expired groceries kind of cheapskates (ewww!). I just hate paying premium prices for things that are poorly made, or just overpriced. Sometimes I think I can just make it myself. It doesnt always turn out that way, but for this project it was great! This summer we moved to a great new house (well, new to us, but built in 1962!). It is located in a golf course community and our backyard has huge mature citrus trees and great view of the golf course fairway pond and the green on the first hole. One of the side benefits that we didnt expect was the backyard wildlife we have right off our porch. The golf course and pond is home to a huge flock of Canadian Geese (even in the summer!). We also have white cranes, a few variety of ducks, pigeons, doves, quail, cardinals, wood peckers, hummingbirds, all kinds of finches, wrens and our favorite: the famous peach-faced lovebirds! They are little green, blue and peach parrots. We have as many as 20 at a time in our backyard. Its great! So, now we have decided to put up some bird feeders! Yay. I went to a “Wild Bird” retail store in the are and bought a big round birdseed cylinder and feeder and hung it from the big grapefruit tree so we can sit on the porch in the evening, soak in the sunset and and watch the birds frolic just a few feet away. But then.. those pesky bastards ate all that stuff up lickety split and it was time to get a refill. Dang! I learned that those silly blocks are proprietary to this feeder (cant get replacements at Walmart or Home Depot) and they cost $17-18 each depending on the flavor. It is the birdseed version of the old HP Printer Marketing plan. Sell the hardware cheap and make tons of money selling ink refills. I hate that. So… I set out to the inter-webs to see if I can make my own. There are plenty of suet cake recipes, and a few one time “experiments” made by some attention starved Pinterest Whores. No real instructions. No real recipes and nothing the size of my block. We love the feeder, but hate paying $20 a crack for a couple pounds of birdseed.
In my Google surfing adventures I learned a little bit from a lot of different sources and then adapted it to fit what we are making. You should be able to do this pretty easily too. Here are some specs.
This is my feeder: http://shop.wbu.com/p/wbu-large-cylinder-feeder?pp=12 This is the seed block: http://shop.wbu.com/p/large-supreme-seed-cylinder/specialty-bird-feeders
The block is a 6″ diameter x 7-3/4″ tall cylinder with a 1″ hole in the middle… probably so you can place it on a feeder with a dowel.
I read a few posts online and learned a bit about how other folks have tried to home-brew bird seed blocks: A Birdseed Wreath: http://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-make-a-bird-seed-wreath/ Another wreath: http://www.thegardenroofcoop.com/2012/12/birdseed-wreaths.html
Some small blocks: http://www.themakeyourownzone.com/2013/11/recipes-diy-birdseed-cakes.html
Nothing about making BIG BLOCKS like I need.
The common thread in all these recipes is that you just need some gelatin, a mold, and a bunch of seed. Its not really rocket science. But… what can I use for a mold to make a 6″ x 8″ round cylinder. BOOM.. then I saw it at Home Depot when I was working on some plumbing problems. A 6″ x 24″ PVC Pipe!! http://www.homedepot.com/p/VPC-6-in-x-2-ft-PVC-SDR-35-Riser-Pipe-6006-2/202564459
I bought it, and then chopped it into three 8″ long pieces. That took about 5 minutes on my table saw. It too longer to cleanup all the little white chips from the saw blade that got everywhere! UGH. While I had the saw out I decided to chop up the handle from an old rusty rake that I got for free at a yard sale to form the middle hole.
So here is the recipe to make a WBU-Style Birdseed Cylinder:
14 cups of birdseed. (my blend weighed about 4-1/2lbs) 3 cups water 8 1/4oz packets unflavored gelatin (2oz total)
1. Combine the water & gelatin in a pan. Heat to about 160°F to dissolve and active the gelatin. 2. Meanwhile put your seeds in a giant bowl and mix together as you wish. 3. When the gelatin is up to temperature pour it onto the seeds in the bowl and stir to coat every seed with the liquid gelatin. 4. Spray the inside of your PVC Cylinder with some PAM spray cooking oil so the block will slide out easier when it is set. 5. Place a cylinder on a cookie sheet (I used a toaster oven sized one to fit in the fridge) and pack about 3-4″ of seed in the bottom of the cylinder. Tamp it down to pack tightly and jam the dowel in the middle. Re-tamp so the seeds will hold it up. Then fill cylinder with the rest of the seed-gelatin mixture. Tamp down every 2-3″ so it will all fit. Place in the fridge for a day or two to set the gelatin. 6. After a day or two in the fridge you can remove it and un-mold the seeds from the cylinder. I made my dowel 12″ long so it could function as a handle to assist in the un-molding. 7. Now you need to air-dry the block to remove the moisture and harden the gelatin. How long this takes depends on your environmental conditions. I live in Arizona… so I just set it in the garage and pointed a fan at it. Tips: You want the thing to dry out as quickly as possible to prevent mold growth. A nice warm dry place with alot of moving air is great. A cool dry place is ok, but put a fan on it and turn it a couple times a day. The dowel hole helps air get to the insides too. Dont use your oven to dry the block. The heat will just melt the gelatin and you will have a loose pile of crumbly seeds. Maybe a giant fruit dehydrator would work. My garage is a giant fruit dehydrator in the AZ Summers. Your mileage may vary. You can make these ANY size you want, and use ANY kind of mold… think Tupperware or Bundt Pan. Using the recipe I provided the seed-gelatin mix should be nice and coated, but not sopping in excess liquid. Use about 1/3 cup of water for each 1/4 oz gelatin packet for every 1-3/4 cup of seeds. Fill your favorite mold with loose seeds. Measure how many seeds that took and then calculate how much water & gelatin you need.
Doesnt matter what kind you use. You can blend different ones together. The birds will eat whatever you put out there. I am providing a recipe chart so you can scale your batch to fit your mold volume. Dont get scared… its 5th grade math. You can do it, or go ask your kid.
How to make backyard bird “Seed Logs” Backyard Birds Len Quelland
FAQ
What holds bird seed blocks together?
Empty 1 package of unflavored gelatin into a bowl with 2 tablespoons of cold water. Let this sit for 1 minute. Add 1/3 cup of boiling water to the gelatin, stirring for a few minutes or until the gelatin is dissolved. This is the binder that keeps seeds together.
How to make bird seed blocks without gelatin?
- Melt the lard or peanut butter over low heat.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour and any other dry ingredients (oats, cornmeal).
- Stir the melted lard/peanut butter into the dry ingredients until well combined.
- Add the birdseed mix and stir until all seeds are coated.
- Press the mixture into molds or a container, and let it cool and harden.
How to make bird seed blocks glue?
- Empty one packet of unflavored gelatin into a bowl with 2 tablespoons of cold water and let sit for 1 minute.
- Add 1/3 cup of boiling water and stir until dissolved.
- Add 2 cups of birdseed and mix thoroughly.
- Pour the mixture into cookie cutters or molds, press firmly, and refrigerate for a few hours.
- Once set, warm slightly, pop out of molds, and hang.
How do you make seed balls for birds?
- Mix 1/3 cup unflavored gelatin with 1 1/2 cups of water until it’s dissolved and clear.
- Remove from heat and stir in 8 cups birdseed, making sure all of the seeds are lightly coated.
- Shape the treats, packing the mixture tightly, refrigerate for two to four hours and dry for three days.
How do you make bird seed blocks?
The first step in making bird seed blocks is selecting the right ingredients. A basic bird seed block typically includes birdseed, a binding agent, and optional extras such as nuts, dried fruit, or mealworms. The type of birdseed you choose can attract different birds.
Are homemade birdseed blocks a good choice?
Homemade birdseed blocks are an economical option. They are cheaper than store-bought birdseed blocks. If you’re on a tight budget, they can be an affordable alternative for expensive bird feeders. These blocks can prevent bird seeds from falling or leaving messy remnants. They can serve as beautiful tree ornaments. They are easy to make!
What are bird seed blocks made of?
Bird seed blocks are held together by a binding agent such as gelatin, corn syrup, or peanut butter. How do you make bird seed blocks without gelatin? To make bird seed blocks without gelatin, you can use alternatives like corn syrup or peanut butter as a binding agent.
How to make bird seed blocks with gelatin?
Gelatin is one of the most commonly used bird seed blocks glue. You can purchase it almost anywhere and at a cheap price. Here are other things you need and the steps to follow. Mix 1 cup of cold water with one pack of gelatin. Then, stir the mixture in the cup. Put the gelatin and water in a pan.
How do you make bird seed blocks with corn syrup?
To make bird seed blocks with corn syrup, mix bird seeds with corn syrup until well coated, press the mixture into molds or shapes, and let it dry and harden before hanging it for the birds to enjoy. Can you use honey as a binding agent for bird seed blocks?