Holiday Ornaments For The Birds

Homemade birdseed ornaments for the wild birds are a fun winter project.

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If you search "birdseed ornaments" on Pinterest, you'll get a plethora of results.  It's clearly a popular winter project. 

Two years ago I made frozen versions with water, seed, and fruits.  Of course, they melt, so they don't last very long, but they were fun to make, and the birds did enjoy them while they lasted.

This year I decided it was time to try a more durable recipe, although they will still melt if it rains, or gets too far above freezing. ​They are best served in very cold weather. Perfect for winter in Wisconsin.

I researched several recipes, and decided to give it a try.  My recipe is similar to most out there, but I did not use suet or corn syrup.

Frozen birdseed hearts are a welcome treat for wild birds during winter.

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Chickadees were quick to find the frozen birdseed and fruit heart treats.

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It's popular to use cookie cutters to make these ornaments, but I opted to use silicone molds. These come in a variety of shapes, usually with several good-sized cups for filling. 

​I decided to use snowflake and heart shapes. Since they are silicone, I didn't even bother with spraying or applying any non-stick cooking oil or spray. 

Silicone molds are easy to use, and a quick clean-up.

TO MAKE THESE YOU WILL NEED:

2 silicone molds - I used 2 6-pc molds
1 roll of twine for hanging, cut into 12 strips
A dozen  paper straws or sticks to make the holes for string to go through.
2 pouches of unflavored gelatin
1 large bowl for mixing together
1 spatula
1 tablespoon 
1 cookie sheet that will hold both silicone molds for refrigeration (in the freezer).
1 sheet of parchment paper
1 cookie cooling rack for drying/hardening
1/2-cup cold water
​1/2-cup boiling hot water
3 cups of Wild bird seed mix - I used Wild & Strong** brand peanut mix, which includes peanuts, black oil sunflower, millet, sunflower pieces, and corn pieces. I also added in safflower seed. 

**You can use whatever brand you prefer, but be sure to include black oil sunflower seeds, and peanuts or peanut pieces, as they are enjoyed by most songbirds, and woodpeckers.

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INSTRUCTIONS:

Heat about a cup of water to boiling in the microwave. I heated it for 3 minutes. You will use 1/2 cup of the boiled water.

To begin: Add 1/2-cup cold water to bowl.

Pour in both pouches of unflavored gelatin. Stir until gelatin is mostly dissolved.

Add 1/2-cup hot water, stir for 2-3 minutes until fully dissolved.

Pour in 1/2-cup cold water, two pouches of gelatin, stir.

Add in 1/2-cup hot water, stir for 2-3 minutes until fully dissolved.

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Next pour all birdseed into the bowl and stir continuously until seeds are well coated, and you do not see any standing liquid in the bowl.

This should take 3-5 minutes.

If there is still liquid, add additional birdseed, maybe a 1/4-cup at a time and stir for another couple minutes until any standing liquid is gone.

Add the birdseed to the bowl of dissolved gelatin.

Stir the mix together until seeds are well coated, and no standing liquid remains.

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Spoon the mix generously into the silicone molds, pressing with the back of the spoon to fill the entire space.

Once you have the molds full, use a paper straw to make a space for a hole. Placement of the straw should be far enough away from the edges so that the hole is surrounded by the seed mixture. Maybe a 1/2-inch or so.

​Press the mixture snug around the straw with the back of the spoon.

Spoon the mix generously into the molds.

Add the straws to create holes. Press snugly around the straw with the seed mixture.

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Now place the filled molds onto the cookie sheet, for stability, and place in the freezer for about an hour to begin the hardening process.  After an hour, you can remove them, carefully, from the molds, and place them on a sheet of parchment paper.

At this point, they should be hard enough so that you can add the twine for hanging. Then, place each one on the cookie cooling rack as you go.  They will need to sit on the open rack to fully dry and harden for a good 24 hours or so.

​Drying is important, as it will keep the ornaments from developing any mold (which you cannot feed to the birds).

Place the filled molds on a cookie sheet for stability before putting into the freezer.

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Once the ornaments have fully dried and hardened, you can hang them outside for the birds, or gift them as you wish.  It's best to keep them in the freezer in order to keep them fresh until they will be gifted and/or used (again, to avoid molding). Any moisture or humidity, or excessive heat should be avoided.

I stored mine in the freezer in a sealed container with a sheet of wax paper in between layers. To gift, wrap in wax paper, or  cellophane goody bags, and box securely to avoid breakage.

Fully dry, looking delicious, and hung outdoors for the birds to enjoy!

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FINAL THOUGHTS: 
Don't be intimidated by the possibility of mold. I was, initially, but by making sure the ornaments were placed on an open rack and allowed to dry fully, I have avoided any mold.

​They are nice and solid. And, they look delicious! I can't wait to witness the birds enjoying them.