Homemade Birdy Bread

Whether it be for your pet cockatoo or some visiting wild birds, making your own bird bread is a simple process that can produce a nutritional result for your fine-feathered friends. "Birdy bread" can be made from a number of common ingredients ranging from cornmeal to peanut butter to bacon grease to jam, raisins and fresh vegetables. One batch of bird bread makes a number of servings which are easily frozen or stored.

Things You'll Need

  • Food processor
  • 1 cup dry cereal (corn- or wheat-based)
  • 1 cup finely chopped peanuts
  • Heavy saucepan
  • 2 cups peanut butter
  • Wooden spoon
  • 2 cups cornbread mix
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1 cup wild birdseed
  • Wax paper
  • 8-inch-by-8-inch pan
  • String (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

    • 2

      Combine the cereal and peanuts in a food processor. Make sure that the cereal is a simple corn-, rice- or wheat-based recipe, like Corn Flakes, Rice Crispies or Chex. Pulse the cereal and peanuts until course but not fine.

    • 3

      Melt the peanut butter over medium heat until smooth, constantly stirring with a wooden spoon.

    • 4

      Add the cornbread mix, stirring until blended. Add the honey and heat until glossy, but not boiling.

    • 5

      Remove mixture from heat. Add the cereal/peanut mixture and gently fold with wooden spoon. The mixture should thicken.

    • 6

      Fold in the birdseed until mixed thoroughly.

    • 7

      Line the 8inch-by-8-inch pan with waxed paper. While still warm, pour the bread batter into the pan and place in the oven.

    • 8

      Bake 10 minutes and remove from the oven, allowing the bread to cool for 20 minutes. Place in the refrigerator and cool for several hours.

    • 9

      When cool, remove from refrigerator and cut birdy bread into 1-inch cubes. Store in airtight container or freeze.

    • 10

      Place one cube in a domestic bird cage, cutting in half for smaller birds. For wild birds, tie a string around the cubes and tie to tree branches.