Below is a small collection of recipes for seed bells. A web search will reveals dozens of variations, should you be looking for something a little different.
Gelatine Recipe
Ingredients:
Plastic Cups for moulds
Cooking oil or spray
1 1/2 cups water
30 gms. Knox unflavored gelatin
8 cups birdseed
One piece of safe wire, small hooked at top and big loop at bottom (ie 2" 90% base angle)
Directions
Boil 1 1/2 cup water.
Empty the gelatin into 8 tablespoons of cold water in a large bowl.
Let the gelatin sit for 1 minute.
Add the boiling water and stir for 2 to 3 minutes or until the gelatin has dissolved.
Stir 8 cups of birdseed into the gelatin, mixing thoroughly.
Let the mixture set for a few minutes, then stir again. Repeat this process a few times allowing the seed to absorb the liquid.
Spoon the mixture into a greasedcups
Press wire hook into mixture and press seed down firmly into cup.
Refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
Egg Recipe
Ingredients:
One small terracotta pot (unused) with hole in bottom
One oven bag side (ie 1 oven-bag makes two seed bells)
One cup of your bird's favourite seed mix (ie millet/sunflower/safflower/poppy/hulled oats)
One egg white, lightly beaten.
One piece of safe wire, small hooked at top and big loop at bottom (ie 2" 90% base angle)
Directions:
Mix seeds and egg-white together in bowl.
Line pot with one sheet of oven bag
Pour most of seed mix in pot
Poke hooked end into mix and through hole at end of pot (I said SMALL hook, remember?)
Make sure flat base of wire is firmly into mix, top up with remaining mix.
Place pots on oven rack in upright position with wire hanging down below
Bake in slow oven (ie low heat) for 90 minutes
Remove with oven gloves (the wire will be hot so be careful!), tip out of pots, remove paper and PRESTO! You have healthy birdie-snacks that cost very little and will keep your baby amused for hours/days!
PVA Glue Recipe
Ingredients:
1cup water
30 ml. PVA Exterior Glue - Non Toxic
5 cups birdseed
Directions:
Place 30ml of PVA Glue into a cup and then fill cup with water. Mix well until all glue disolves.
Place 5cups of birdseed into a mixing bowl (ice cream container) and stir in glue solution,mixing thoroughly.
Line cups with an oil spray or similar cooking lubricant.
Spoon the mixture into a greasedmoulds,press wire hook into mixture.
Press mixture into cup firmly and leave to dry for 24 hours.
