How to Make Peanut Butter Bird Feed

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If you enjoy watching birds hanging around in your backyard, lure them in with some tasty peanut butter and bird seed! Try coating a pinecone (or a corn cob or toilet paper tube) with peanut butter, rolling it in bird seed, and hanging it outside. Or, create a peanut butter and bird seed suet mix, then serve it as-is on a hanging plate or freeze it into a cake to put in your suet cage.

Ingredients

Pinecones with Peanut Butter and Bird Seed

  • 4-6 pinecones
  • 2 cups (480 g) of creamy peanut butter
  • 2 cups (480 g) of bird seed (any variety)

Peanut Butter and Bird Seed Suet

  • 1 cups (240 g) of creamy peanut butter
  • 2 cups (480 g) of bird seed (any variety)
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Pinecones with Peanut Butter and Bird Seed

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  1. Look for pinecones that are in one piece, fairly dry, and have lots of openings to press peanut butter into! Depending on where you live and what time of year it is, they may be easy to find on a nature walk. Otherwise, you can buy them at a craft store. [1]
    • If you collect your own pinecones, shake off and wipe away any excess dirt and debris. If the pinecones are damp, leave them in a dry, sunny place for 1-2 days to dry them out.
    • If you buy pinecones, make sure they have not been coated or treated with any chemicals. Stick with all-natural pinecones.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peanut Butter Bird Feed
    If the pinecone has a sturdy stem, simply knot the string around the stem. Otherwise, feed the string underneath the protruding scales of the pinecone (near the stem side) and tie it against the interior of the pinecone. [2]
    • If you use lengths of string shorter than this, it will be easier for squirrels to access the pinecones.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peanut Butter Bird Feed
    Adding peanut butter to the pinecones is a messy job! Also, it’s possible the pinecones might scratch up your work surface. [3]
    • This is a great activity for kids to help out with, but make sure you’re ready with cleanup supplies!
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peanut Butter Bird Feed
    Use a small spatula or butter knife to press the peanut butter into all the gaps between the pinecone’s scales. Then, spread a thick coating of peanut butter over the entire surface of the pinecone. [4]
    • Don’t be shy here—really load it on!
    • Creamy peanut butter works best here, but you could try working with chunky peanut butter.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peanut Butter Bird Feed
    The entire bottom of the pan should be covered in a layer about 0.5–1 in (13–25 mm) deep. You can use any type of bagged bird seed you like. [5]
    • If you’re hoping to attract a specific type of bird, shop for a bird seed that is better suited for that bird type.
    • You can also search online for recipes for making your own bird seed mix .
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peanut Butter Bird Feed
    Keep rolling the pinecone back and forth in the pie pan until bird seed is embedded in all of the exposed peanut butter. Add more bird seed to the pie pan if needed as you coat all the pinecones. [6]
    • Kids love this part of the job—just be ready to sweep up lots of spilled bird seed!
  7. Take the coated pinecones outside and hang them from tree branches or your gutters. It won’t take long for the birds to show up! [7]
    • If you don’t want to put the pinecones out right away, line a baking sheet with wax paper, lay the pinecones on it, and place the pan in the freezer. You can hang them outside straight from the freezer.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peanut Butter Bird Feed
    No pinecones? No problem! Try one of these:
    • After serving corn on the cob , save the kernel-free cobs. Leave them in a dry, sunny spot for 1-2 days to dry out. Then, coat them with peanut butter and bird seed and hang them outside.
    • When you finish a roll of toilet paper, save the tube. Poke a hole in it to tie a string, then coat it with peanut butter and bird seed. Or, coat it with the peanut butter and bird seed and just slide the tube over the tip of a tree branch!
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Peanut Butter and Bird Seed Suet

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peanut Butter Bird Feed
    You can use either creamy or chunky peanut butter, and any type of commercial or homemade bird seed mix you prefer. Use a spoon or spatula to stir the ingredients together in a mixing bowl. [8]
    • If you’re using especially thick peanut butter, put it in the microwave for 10-second increments until it softens up a little. [9]
    • While “suet” technically refers to a specific type of beef fat (that was traditionally used in bird feed cakes), any bird feed cake that combines fats and seeds is usually called suet.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peanut Butter Bird Feed
    Poke holes at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock into a sturdy disposable dinner plate. Cut 4 pieces of string to 2 ft (61 cm) lengths. Tie an end of each string to the plate, and tie the other ends of all 4 together above the plate. Spread ⅓ to ½ of the suet mixture in the center of the plate. Hang the plate by its connected strings on a tree branch.
    • Make 1-2 more serving plates for the remainder of the suet mixture.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Peanut Butter Bird Feed
    Place the mixture on a sheet pan covered with wax paper. Use a spatula or your hands to shape the suet mix into one or more rectangles that will fit into your suet cage. Pop the tray into the freezer for 12-24 hours, or until the suet cake is frozen solid. [10]
    • A suet cage is a rectangular wire cage with a chain attached for hanging on tree branches. You can get one at any retailer that sells bird seed.
  4. Peel the frozen block of suet from the wax paper, then open the suet cage and place it inside. Close up the suet cage and hang it from a tree branch or your gutter. Your neighborhood birds will thank you! [11]
    • Don't try to keep squirrels away because that is cruel. Keeping squirrels away removes their liberty to eat there. If you still don't understand it, think of it this way: You wouldn't want to be the only person not allowed to eat at a certain restaurant, would you?
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Could I use carrots or apples instead of pine cones?
    Marion Moldovan
    Community Answer
    Carrots are a lovely treat for birds, as are apples. The only concern with apples are the seeds, as they are highly toxic to birds. Carrots and apples (without the seeds) can definitely be used in peanut butter bird feed as long as they are used in moderation.
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  • Question
    What about salt in the peanut butter. Is that okay?
    Matthew Yang
    Community Answer
    No. Salt is bad for birds. The same applies for roast pumpkin seeds for birds. You should never add salt to any food meant for birds.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3
  • Question
    Does the peanut butter need to be unsalted or organic or is regular peanut butter okay?
    Matthew Yang
    Community Answer
    It has to be unsalted and organic, as salt and pesticides can cause trouble for birds consuming it.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 3
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      Things You’ll Need

      • Sheet pan
      • Wax paper
      • Spatula
      • Mixing bowl

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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.birdsleuth.org/diy-feeders/
      2. ↑ https://sciencing.com/make-peanut-butter-bird-feeder-2352513.html
      3. ↑ https://sciencing.com/make-peanut-butter-bird-feeder-2352513.html
      4. ↑ http://www.birdsleuth.org/diy-feeders/
      5. ↑ https://sciencing.com/make-peanut-butter-bird-feeder-2352513.html
      6. ↑ https://sciencing.com/make-peanut-butter-bird-feeder-2352513.html
      7. ↑ https://sciencing.com/make-peanut-butter-bird-feeder-2352513.html
      8. ↑ https://www.juliehoagwriter.com/2017/12/30/diy-peanut-butter-bird-seed-suet-cake/
      9. ↑ http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/gardening-with-wildlife/suet-diy.html
      1. ↑ https://www.juliehoagwriter.com/2017/12/30/diy-peanut-butter-bird-seed-suet-cake/
      2. ↑ http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/gardening-with-wildlife/suet-diy.html

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