Making your own bird seed treats (or, how to avoid catalog price shocks)

Molded bird seed treats

While home in Louisiana, I perused several of the catalogs that come to my parents’ address.  Some of the items were pretty, some useful, some amusing and some were downright TOO EXPENSIVE!!  No questions asked, catalog pricing is insane.

One item that I found myself tempted about (especially since we are celebrating Advent this year) was the advertisement for the molded bird seed treats.  They are adorable, make great Christmas decorations for outdoor Christmas trees and are useful all rolled into one.  Unfortunately, the miniature molded bird seed treats came in at roughly six dollars each–before shipping.  I’m not called the frugal one in my family for nothing.  I came home and quickly exercised my Google talent.  My search did not go unrewarded.  Below, find several recipes for making your own bird seed treats–at a fraction of the price!

Birdseed and Fruit Mixture

Edible Glue: 3/4 cup flour, 1/2 cup water, 3 Tbsp. corn syrup (add package of plain Knox gelatin for extra holding power if necessary).

Add 4 cups birdseed and peanuts, fruits, berries, raisins, or anything else the birds enjoy.

Stars and Wreaths

Cover tray with waxed paper; roll out mixture 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Use cookie cutters or shape mixture into stars and wreaths. Freeze if using the suet. For birdseed mixture, let dry 4-6 hours; remove cookie cutters; turn over and dry 4-6 hours more. Use raffia to hang from trees.

Birdseed Bells

Coat outside of 2-1/4″ diameter peat pots with the suet mixture or use a paintbrush to coat with the edible glue and then roll in birdseed and place on waxed paper to dry for 4-6 hours. Use needle and thread to string 4-5 cranberries for clappers; pass needle through top of bell and knot at top. Use paper-twists or raffia bows to decorate at top and double as hangers.

above recipes courtesy of bird hobbyist

Kookie Birdy Cookie Molds

1 1/2 pound lard or suet
1/3 cup chopped berries, raisins or currants
1/2 cup hulled sunflower seeds
1/2 cup crushed nuts
1/2 cup cracked hominy or cracked wheat

Melt the fat or suet on low heat in saucepan. Mix all ingredients into the suet. Spoon the mixture into shaped muffin tins or pre-shaped jello molds and cool in the refrigerator until solid.

Note: To create a hole for hanging the treat, insert a drinking straw into the warm mixture. Remove the straw once the mix is solid and cooled, thread with wire or thick yarn and hang.

When cookie molds are cooled, wrap each individually in plastic wrap and store in the freezer until needed.

above recipe courtesy of snowflake recipes

"This recipe uses gelatin instead of fat to hold together seeds. These
cakes work great in warm weather too because they do not melt or turn
rancid. Combine one ounce of unflavored gelatin and   cup of water in
a sauce pan over low heat. Stir until the gelatin is completely
dissolved. Then add 1   cups of any combination of seeds the birds in
your yard enjoy. Try half and half black oil sunflower and safflower
seeds. Mix well, until all seeds are coated with gelatin. Pack the
mixture firmly into a plastic container and chill until solid. Use
molds in the shapes of stars, wreaths, trees, or other holiday shapes
to make festive ornaments or tree toppers. Once the cake is removed
from the mold, it's ready for the birds."