How to Make a Bird Seed Hanger

A bird seed hanger is nothing more than a molded lump of bird seed and something to hang it with. These can be shaped in any way you like. You can make large bird seed hangers to use as outdoor bird feeders, or smaller hangers to give your indoor pet birds a treat. Just be sure to vary the seed content to accommodate what is healthy for your birds and what they enjoy.

Things You'll Need

  • Thin wire coat hangers
  • Pliers
  • Wire cutters
  • Lemon
  • Mixing bowl
  • Wax paper
  • Baking sheet
  • Syrup
  • Rubber spatula
  • Hot pad
  • Bird seed
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Instructions

    • 1

      Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not put anything in the oven until it is fully heated.

    • 2

      Untwist the wire hangers. Use the pliers if necessary. You will need to unwrap the wire at the neck of the hanger, then straighten out the wire. The hanger does not need to be perfectly straight.

    • 3

      Shape your wire hangers. You have two options. You can make long, thin bird seed hangers, or you can make globular ones. If you want long, thin ones, cut the wire hanger into pieces that are about 4 inches longer than you want your bird seed hanger to be. If you want globular hangers, wrap the wire loosely around a lemon in a spiral pattern. When you pull the wires slightly apart, the fruit will slide out and you can use it for the next model.

    • 4

      Mix your seed. Pour some bird seed in the bowl. The more seed you use, the more hangers you will be able to make. If this is your first time and you only want to make a few hangers, use about 4 cups. Add syrup to the bird seed, stirring with your hands or with the rubber spatula. Add a little syrup at a time so you do not end up with a soupy mess. Stop adding syrup when the bird seed all sticks together. This will vary depending on the seeds you are using, but it will usually be less than 1 cup.

    • 5

      Mold your bird seed. Shape the sticky bird seed and place the shapes on the wax paper on the cookie sheet. Make "logs" if you are going to have long, thin hangers, and balls about the size of the lemon if you want globular bird seed hangers.

    • 6

      Bake the bird seed hangers. This will take about 10 minutes, but you should check them every 3 minutes because different seeds will cook differently. You will know that the bird seed blocks are done when the seeds appear bonded together and the entire shape is glossy.

    • 7

      Insert the hangers. Using a hot pad, because this must be done before the seeds cool, insert your wire hangers. The seeds will tighten around the hangers as the block cools. Insert the hangers only into the seed logs, and wait to bend the exposed part of the hanger until after the block has cooled. The seed balls can be inserted into the wire spiral after they cool. Once the blocks are completely cool, you can place them outside or in your bird's cage for a delicious treat.