Make Mini Frozen Bird Feeders with Kids

To make your own mini frozen bird feeders you’ll need:

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How to Make Mini Frozen Bird Feeders – DIY Instructions:

Follow our simple step-by-step tutorial to make your own easy frozen birdseed ornaments.

1. Fill an ice cube tray or similar with birdseed, fruits, or nuts.

   

   Fill measuring cups or small bowls with birdseed, a variety of bird-friendly fruits, or nuts.

   Pour or place the seeds and fruits into an ice cube tray (I prefer the large cube silicone tray because it’s easier to pop the cubes out) small bowls, yogurt cups, or similar. Only fill about three-quarters of the way full – you’ll want to leave room for water.

2. Fill with water.

   Once you’ve added your bird seed and fruit, add water to each cube or bowl until full.

3. Add ribbon or twine hangers.

   

   Cut 6-8 inch strips of ribbon or twine. Make a loop with your ribbon, then push the ends down into the middle of a cube, making sure to push them all the way through to the bottom. This will ensure that your hanger is frozen throughout the whole length of your cube and won’t fall out the minute your bird feeder begins melting.

   Note: I used raffia for a few feeder hangers and would NOT use it again because a few loops started to separate while being put on the branches. It made it a little more challenging to place, which would be frustrating for kids, but I wouldn’t want to risk a bird getting a foot or beak caught in the segments (even if it’s fairly low risk).

4. Freeze the mini feeders.

   

   Place the tray in the freezer for one to two hours until your bird feeder cubes are fully frozen.

   Remove the tray and pop out each mini bird feeder cube. Put them in a bowl and head outside to hang them!

Why Smaller-Sized DIY Bird Feeders Work So Well as a Kids’ Craft

There are a few specific reasons these smaller DIY bird feeders help this craft to be a fully kid-led process or independently-achieved activity...

• Their size makes them easier for kids to handle. From gathering the supplies and putting the feeders together, to hanging them in a tree, these mini feeders are much easier for little hands to work with. The small amounts of seed and fruit are easy for kids to prep and pour on their own, and their weight makes them perfect for hanging on smaller branches of bushes or low trees that kids can reach.
• Making small ice bird feeders is a reasonably quick, uncomplicated process. Because these frozen feeders are mini-sized, you don’t need to wait for more than an hour or so for them to freeze, allowing this to be a true finish-in-an-afternoon activity.
• Frozen feeder-making is wonderful practical skill practice. Scooping seeds, pouring water, prepping fruits, and hanging up the feeders all provide wonderful practical skill practice.
• Activities like this encourage nature-friendly creativity. These simple DIY bird feeders only require natural and scrap supplies, and allow some room for creative color-mixing or pattern-making. Encouraging kids to put thought into the supplies they’re using for art and crafts fosters out-of-the-box, resourceful consideration and empathetic approaches to projects.

More Bird Activities for Kids

For more bird-themed fun, visit our BIG lists of bird-themed kids’ crafts or pair your feeders with a fun read from our collection of children’s books about birds.

Kids Winter Nature Play

Winter is a fantastic time to get a headstart on gardening. Introduce little ones to the growing process with an adorable mini greenhouse-themed egg carton seed starter.

Learn about the winter hibernation habits of mammals, reptiles, and more with paper bag dens or a mini hibernaculum.