DIY BIRD FEEDING IDEAS

Get creative with everyday objects and recycle and reuse to create a new feeder.

Download our ‘How To’ guides and give them a go

• Create a plastic bottle seed feeder
• Make a bird seed Wreath
• Hang half an orange filled with seeds and lard
• Make ab ice cream stick food holder
• Use an old tea-cup as a feeder
• Save seedheads and leave them out in the garden
• Fill coconut shells with homemade suet mix
• Make a simple peanut butter and seed toilet roll feeder

MAKING SURE THERE'S WATER FOR ALL

• Provide clean fresh water all day.
• When its freezing, place a small ball in the dish to help stop icing over.
• Think carefully where to place the water so it is away from potential predators.
• Almost anything can become a water source or bird bath-repurpose garden dishes as ground level water source.
• Try upturned plant pots with plant dish for a water bath
• How about an upturned bin lid secured on a wooden post/stake

IDEAL FOODS FOR WINTER ENERGY

• Use a high quality mixed seed – sunflower, maize and peanuts are good. Limit pulses
• Ideally provide seeds without husks as this takes energy to remove them
• Fat Balls are a favourite containing lard/suet nuts, seeds and cereals.
• Combine high quality seed with kitchen ingredients to make it go further. Try our seed cake recipe.

A SAFE PLACE TO SHELTER

Birds need shelter from the cold, especially on cold, winter nights.

• Dense, evergreen conifers, trees and shrubs are especially good, as is mature ivy.
• An old Christmas tree, or a pile of branches or foliage can be placed on the ground to provide shelter from wind and snow
• If you have space and permission, install a bird box for birds to sleep in and have a safe place to nest in this spring. Some birds, including tits and wrens, will shelter in empty nest boxes, snuggling together for warmth.
• Follow our how to make a bird box guide
• Learn more about different types of next boxes for different songbirds