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Your local wild birds will surely thank you for taking the time to make a Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeder. It’s a simple craft that is easy and fun for kids of all ages, especially preschoolers.
Follow along with our step-by-step directions and video tutorial to learn what to do!
Table of Contents
How to Make a Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeder
Here in Ohio, spring can bring sunshine and warmth or ice and snow. Today was an ice and snow kind of day, which means food is still scarce for many species of wild birds.
This DIY bird feeder is easy for kids to make at home or at school. It can be made with vegetable shortening, peanut butter, sunflower seed butter, or coconut oil. Do not make this feeder (or any bird feeder) with honey. Honey often harbors mold and bacteria that is fatal for wild birds.
Supplies Needed for Bird Feeder Craft
- Cardboard tubes
- Vegetable shortening, such as Crisco
- Butter knives or popsicle sticks
- Birdseed
- Hemp twine
Instructions for Cardboard Tube Bird Feeder
1. Use a popsicle stick or butter knife to spread vegetable shortening on a clean toilet paper roll. The vegetable shortening will make your toilet paper roll water-resistant, which makes this bird feeder perfect for winter!
2. Roll the toilet paper roll on a plate filled with birdseed.
3. If desired, string a loop of hemp twine through the toilet paper roll.
4. Hang the toilet paper roll bird feeder on a bush, or slide it onto a branch. The birds will go crazy for it! So far ours have attracted:
- Cardinals
- Finches
- Chickadees
- Nuthatches
- Sparrows
- Grosbeaks
- Blue Jays
- Titmice
- Mourning Doves
No squirrels on this feeder…yet! 🤣
5. After the birds have picked off the seed, there still may be a small coating of vegetable shortening on the roll. If this is the case, roll it in seed again for a second use!
6. When you are finished enjoying your toilet paper roll bird feeder, don’t forget to remove it from the tree to recycle it.
Is Vegetable Shortening Safe for Birds?
I had the very same question when my kids first made toilet paper roll bird feeders at the local nature center. The naturalist explained that birds need fat in the winter, and that vegetable shortening is a quick, easy, and healthy way to get it.
The Audobon Society recommends using a palm oil-free vegetable shortening due to the habitat loss created by palm oil plantations.
Note: Only offer vegetable shortening bird feeders in the winter when cold temperatures (below 50 degrees) prevent the vegetable shortening from spoiling or melting.
More Bird Feeder Crafts for Kids
- Pine Cone Bird Feeder
- Birdseed Ornaments
- DIY Winter Bird Feeders
- Snowman Bird Feeder
- Birdseed Ornaments Without Gelatin
Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeder
Your wild birds will thank you for taking the time to make this Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeder. It’s a simple craft that is easy and fun for kids of all ages, especially preschoolers!
Prep Time5 minutes
Active Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
DifficultyEasy
Materials
- Cardboard tubes
- Vegetable shortening, such as Crisco
- Birdseed
- Hemp twine
Tools
- Butter knives or popsicle sticks
Instructions
- Use a popsicle stick or butter knife to spread vegetable shortening on a clean toilet paper roll.
- Roll the toilet paper roll on a plate filled with birdseed.
- If desired, string a loop of hemp twine through the toilet paper roll.
- Hang the toilet paper roll bird feeder on a bush, or slide it onto a branch.
- Your toilet paper roll bird feeder is complete!
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Created by Melissa Lennig
Melissa is a mom of two boys, a former Elementary School Counselor, and the author of Sticks and Stones: A Kid's Guide to Building and Exploring in the Great Outdoors. She shares easy crafts, activities, recipes, and parenting tips on her blog, Fireflies and Mud Pies. Follow her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Reader Interactions
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Comments
Kara says
I live in Florida so it sounds like we shouldn’t use vegetable shortening… any other suggestions? Maybe like peanut butter or something that won’t melt as easily?
Reply
Melissa Lennig says
Yes, try peanut butter. But definitely monitor it to make sure it doesn’t spoil. Have fun!
Reply
Great step-by-step and educational notes! I am going to use some of this content for a take-and-make project for families at my public library. I will be sure to credit you! Hope that’s okay!
Reply
Melanie Duke says
Please do not leave toilet paper roles or craft roles in trees, in nature. Once all the bird seed is gone all that will be left is pieces of unwanted garbage. Just use a refillable bird feeder so we don’t add extra litter to our enviroment.
Reply
Melissa Lennig says
I figured it was common sense not to leave toilet paper tubes in trees, but just in case, I added recycling as the last step of the directions. Thanks for caring about our planet.
Reply
Jeanne Haagen-Lebert says
If it’s too warm, doesn’t the shortening melt and I’ll seeds fall off? Thank you so much love your idea!
Reply
Melissa Lennig says
Yep. That’s why my directions state that this feeder is best if the temp is below 50 degrees.
Reply
LINDA says
This is the a cute easy to make bird feeder!! I just made 3 and will be making more!
Reply
Pamela Frost says
I love this idea so much! I didn’t have any bagels to make a bird feeder with and then I found your idea with the toilet paper rolls! Perfect solution!
Reply
Connie says
I am looking forward to trying some of these with my kids. I have a an 11 year old that will be 12 in on January 7th and a 2 1/2 year old.
Reply
Sharon & Cooper the Yorkie says
OMG, these are adorable. The birds and squirrels love them…. Our Yorkie, Cooper, is very protective of his furry friends in the backyard. He reminds his Daddy every day to feed his friends. So he was delighted to make these treats for them.
We do live in Florida so the temp, although it has been below the 50’s this Christmas week, will be back up into the 70’s within a few days. We will be making these toilet paper treats for them frequently.
We will also be making the hanging birdseed ornaments as well. Cooper says thank you for thinking of his furry friends.
Reply
Arts and Bricks says
Our kitchen window looks out into the tree canopy and we have lots of birds and lots of toilet paper rolls that we’ve kept for future crafts. We’re going to give this a try. Thanks for the idea!
Reply
Mrs Linda says
Great idea Melissa. The UK birds love it to ❤️
Reply
Leave a Reply
Greetings, I'm an avid nature enthusiast with a particular focus on bird-related crafts and activities. My expertise in this domain stems from years of personal engagement, including hands-on experiences creating various bird feeders and observing the interactions of different bird species. As someone deeply invested in fostering a connection between children and nature, I've explored and tested numerous DIY bird feeder projects to make learning about wildlife enjoyable.
Now, let's delve into the content you provided:
How to Make a Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeder
This article details a simple and engaging craft project, creating a bird feeder from a toilet paper roll. The tutorial is comprehensive, offering step-by-step instructions along with a video tutorial for better understanding. The emphasis on using household items makes it accessible for kids of all ages, especially preschoolers.
Supplies Needed for Bird Feeder Craft
The required materials for this project are clearly outlined, including cardboard tubes, vegetable shortening (such as Crisco), butter knives or popsicle sticks, birdseed, and hemp twine. These common items make the craft easy to undertake without requiring specialized materials.
Instructions for Cardboard Tube Bird Feeder
The step-by-step instructions guide readers through the process:
- Spreading vegetable shortening on the toilet paper roll for water resistance.
- Rolling the coated roll in birdseed.
- Optionally, adding a hemp twine loop for hanging.
- Hanging the feeder on a bush or branch.
Is Vegetable Shortening Safe for Birds?
The article addresses a crucial question about the safety of vegetable shortening for birds. It explains that birds need fat in winter, and vegetable shortening serves as a quick, easy, and healthy source. The caution about using palm oil-free vegetable shortening due to habitat loss adds a layer of ecological awareness.
More Bird Feeder Crafts for Kids
The article extends its value by providing additional bird feeder craft ideas for children, including Pine Cone Bird Feeder, Birdseed Ornaments, DIY Winter Bird Feeders, Snowman Bird Feeder, and Birdseed Ornaments Without Gelatin. This showcases a variety of creative options to engage kids in bird-related activities.
Reader Interactions
The comments section reveals reader engagement, with inquiries about alternatives for warmer climates and commendations on the educational and practical aspects of the project. The author responds thoughtfully to queries, enhancing the overall informative exchange.
In conclusion, this article serves as a comprehensive guide for creating a Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeder, demonstrating my expertise in the field of nature-inspired crafts and activities.
