These DIY Seed Ornaments Are Irresistible to Backyard Birds in Winter – Treat Them With This Easy Recipe

When the cold weather forces us to slow down in the garden, it's the ideal time to keep busy indoors and lend nature a helping hand. DIY bird seed ornaments are a fun winter craft and a lovely way to nurture nature in your backyard. They also make a charming feature when hanging from bare branches or evergreen boughs.

Taking time for feeding birds isn't just about helping wildlife through the leaner months; it's also about taking note of which feathered friends are visiting your garden. Many birds are just visiting, but you can encourage some varieties to make a home by adding bird houses – the best smart bird houses with cameras will even let you keep an eye on them, sending live footage right to your phone.

The great thing about making your own bird seed ornaments is that you can improvise with whatever you have to hand. Whether you use your usual Christmas cookie cutters or a silicone mold – like this cute heart-shaped design from Amazon – you can create an end product to be proud of. It's also a thoughtful way to reduce waste – especially if you're looking for creative ways to use up old seed. Bring joy to backyard birds this winter with this easy recipe.

What You Need

• Bird seed – See below
• Fat – Plain suet (beef fat) is the classic choice as it sets firm in cool weather and holds seed well. Vegetable shortening is a good alternative.
• Silicone molds – Such as stars, hearts, and mini trees, or festive cookie cutters
• Baking sheet and parchment/wax paper
• Saucepan – or microwave-safe bowl
• Mixing bowl and spoon
• Twine/jute/cotton string – or ribbon for a prettier look
• Drinking straw or skewer – to make a hanging hole

Which Seed is Best?

Choose a seed mix tailored to common backyard birds, like this Nature Anywhere Wild Bird Seed with no fillers from Amazon.

• Black-oil sunflower seeds are ideal as they are packed with energy and loved by many species.
• White proso millet is a favorite for sparrows, juncos, doves, and other ground-feeders that will happily visit low branches and feeders.
• Cracked corn offers good winter calories, but just use a little bit so ornaments don’t crumble.
• Nyjer/thistle is great for finches, but best used as an add-in rather than the main seed because it’s tiny and can fall out if the ornament is too loose. Go easy on tiny seeds in general as they can make ornaments more fragile
• Chopped peanuts or nut pieces are high in fat and protein, but use them chopped, rather than whole, so the ornaments hold together.
• Avoid seed blends heavy on red millet, wheat, or lots of “filler” grains – they’re often tossed aside and can create waste under the tree.

How to Make Bird Seed Ornaments – Step by Step

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper so the finished ornaments will lift cleanly.
2. Choose your seed blend. For sturdy, crowd-pleasing ornaments, aim for a mix that’s mostly black-oil sunflower plus millet, with a smaller portion of extras (cracked corn, nyjer, chopped nuts). A mostly sunflower blend tends to combine together better than very fine seeds alone.
3. In a saucepan over low heat, gently melt your suet or shortening just until liquid – it shouldn't start bubbling or spitting.
4. Pour the melted fat into your bowl of seeds and stir thoroughly. You need the consistency to be just right: it should clump when you squeeze it. If it seems too dry or crumbly, add a bit more melted fat; if it seems too loose or runny, stir in a little more seed.
5. Spoon the mixture into silicone molds and press down hard with the back of a spoon. Really firmly compact it, as this will help the ornaments to stay intact through wind and pecking.
6. While the mix is still soft, create a hole near the top of each ornament to serve as a hanging point. Push a straw, skewer, or chopstick straight through. Wiggle slightly, then remove. If your mold shape is thick, angle the hole slightly upward so the string doesn’t tear through later.
7. Place the filled molds on the baking sheet and chill in the refrigerator until the mix is firm. If they still feel soft when unmolded, give them more time – fully set ornaments should feel solid and cool to the touch.
8. Flex silicone molds gently to release the ornaments. If an edge crumbles, press it back together and chill again – once the fat re-firms, it usually holds.
9. Run twine or cotton string through the hole and knot securely. Keep loops modest so ornaments don’t blow around too much in the wind.

Using Cookie Cutters

Cookie cutters make charming ornaments – think stars, boots, or gingerbread people – but you’ll need a simple trick to keep the mix contained while it sets:

1. Line a tray with parchment, then set your cookie cutter on top.
2. Then, create a “collar” by wrapping the outside of the cutter with a strip of parchment and taping it.
3. Press the mixture in and then place a small square of parchment over the top and pack firmly so there are no airy gaps.
4. Make a hanging hole with a straw/skewer near the top.
5. Chill until very firm, then lift the cutter straight up. If it sticks, warm the outside of the metal cutter briefly with your hands to loosen it.

Where to Hang Bird Seed Ornaments

Hang your ornaments on a tree branch where birds can feel safe. Ideally, branches near shrubs, hedges, or evergreen trees offer birds some protection – but shouldn't be so close that predatory cats can ambush. They also need to retain a clear line of sight.

Hang the ornaments 5–6 feet high. If squirrels are frequent visitors to your yard, hang the ornaments a bit farther out on a branch rather than close to the trunk. If possible, they should be spaced apart to reduce conflict and gives more timid species a chance to feed.

A little winter sun is fine, but avoid spots with strong afternoon sun, especially in milder climates, as fat-based ornaments can soften. Choose a spot with some protection from heavy rain, which will break down the ornaments faster.

When to Take Them Down

As the ornaments are pecked, they’ll naturally become ragged. Once they’re crumbly, moldy-looking, or heavily soiled, it’s time to take them down. Leftover ornaments can be composted if made with plain seed and natural fats, or just discarded. If seed builds up underneath, rake it away. Old, damp seed can attract unwanted pests and isn’t good for birds. Rotating hanging spots every so often helps prevent buildup.

These ornaments are ideal to use in late fall through winter, when birds need extra calories and cooler temperatures keep the fat firm. In spring and summer, switch back to traditional feeders or seed blends designed for warm weather.