Pine Cone Bird Feeder - Fireflies and Mud Pies (2024)

During the cold winter months, food becomes scarce for many species of wild birds. Making bird feeders at home is an easy and fun way to provide a nutritious food source for birds while experiencing and enjoying nature. In this post, learn how to make a childhood classic: the Pine Cone Bird Feeder.

This DIY bird feeder is simple for kids to make at home or in the classroom, and can be made with or without peanut butter! Continue reading for full directions, supplies, tips, and tricks.

How to Make a Pine Cone Bird Feeder

If you are a child of the 80s or 90s (or earlier), you’ve probably already had the pleasure of making a pine cone bird feeder! I remember making these at home, school, and at Girl Scouts…and for good reason.

Pine cone feeders are inexpensive, easy to make with large groups of kids, and are truly beneficial to birds in the winter. Not only will the process help develop fine-motor skills, but the end result—watching birds feed—builds empathy, environmental stewardship, and appreciation for nature.

But it can be a messy craft, so having supplies such as paper towels and wipes on hand is essential. If kids will be taking their bird feeders home, we recommend having a stash of paper lunch bags handy. Kids can carry their bird feeders in the paper bags, rather than stuffing them into backpacks where they may be crushed.

Related: Birdseed Sensory Bin

Materials Needed for Pine Cone Bird Feeder Craft

• Pine cones, clean and dry
• Natural peanut butter, crunchy or smooth
• Butter knives or popsicle sticks
• Birdseed
• Hemp twine
• Paper plates
• Scissors

Directions for Pine Cone Bird Feeder

1. Grab a basket or bag, then head outside to collect pine cones. We gathered pine cones that had fallen from Eastern White Pines. They are perfect for bird feeders because of the long peduncle, or stem (the part of the pine cone that attaches to the tree).

Here’s the thing— insects love living in pine cones! If you are you going to be making your pine cone feeders indoors, you may wish to clean, or prepare, your pine cones first. If you don’t, you may end up with spiders and mites all over your table. Ask me how I know! 😂

Here is what to do:

• Drop the pine cones in a bucket of water.
• Stir the pine cones to release insects, dirt, and pine needles.
• Remove the pine cones from the water and let them air dry on a rack for about 30 minutes.
• Place the pine cones on a parchment-lined cookie sheet, then bake at 200°F until they are dry and the scales are opened.

2. Tie a piece of hemp twine around the peduncle. We used a square knot.

3. Place the dry, clean pine cone on a paper plate. Use a popsicle stick or butter knife to spread peanut butter around and under the scales of the pine cone.

4. When the pine cone is covered in peanut butter, you can either sprinkle birdseed on top of it or roll it around in a tray of seed. Both methods are effective!

5. Hang the pine cone outside by tying it to a branch! We like to hang ours on a deciduous shrub so it’s easy for birds to find.

Are Pine Cones Safe for Birds?

Pine cones that you’ve collected outdoors are safe for birds. Avoid using store-bought pine cones which may have been treated with dyes, glitter, paint, chemicals, or fragrance oils.

Is Peanut Butter Safe for Wild Birds?

Yes, peanut butter that is considered safe for human consumption is also safe for wild birds.

We prefer to use natural peanut butter that does not contain salt, sugar, or hydrogenated oils, but many reputable sources, such as the Audobon Society and the Cornell Lab of Orthinology, do not make this specification.

It is recommended to only offer peanut butter feeders in the winter when cold temperatures (below 50 degrees) prevent the peanut butter from spoiling or melting.

What Kind of Birds Like Peanut Butter?

Our peanut butter pine cones have attracted:

• Cardinals
• Finches
• Chickadees
• Nuthatches
• Woodpeckers
• Grosbeaks
• Blue Jays
• Titmice

Not a bird, but squirrels love them too!

How Do You Make a Pine Cone Bird Feeder Without Peanut Butter?

If your child is allergic to peanut butter or you do not have peanut butter, make the feeder as directed above, but with the following substitutes:

• Suet or lard, softened
• Vegetable shortening, such as Crisco
• Sunflower seed butter, such as SunButter
• Coconut oil
• Other nut butter, such as almond butter

More Bird Feeder Projects for Kids

• Birdseed Ornaments
• DIY Winter Bird Feeders
• Birdseed Ornaments Without Gelatin
• Mason Jar Lid Bird Feeder, a guest post I wrote for Inner Child Fun
• Snowman Bird Feeder Craft for Preschoolers from How Wee Learn