If you live in the northern hemisphere, you already know that winter is just a stone’s throw away. That means freezing days and nights, ice, frost and, in some cases, lots of snow. Once winter comes and you are comfortable and warm in the house, do you ever consider the animals and birds that live, eat and sleep outside? Well you should, and in particular the wild birds that fly in and around the garden all year long.
Do you feed the birds in winter? If you do, and I know a lot of you do, do you make your own greaseballs? Well making your own bird food for garden birds is a great idea as you can add any seeds including any flower seeds you have, nuts and other ingredients you like and then mix them all together. But for the ingredients to stick, what do you use? Well, read on for my tips on how to make fat balls that will keep those wild birds fed all winter long, and actually won’t cost you that much.
What to feed wild birds
These are just a few of the ingredients you can use to make the perfect winter snack for your feathered friends. I use all of these and usually all at once, but the choice is yours, use whatever you have lying around. Another tip is to store things throughout the year. Seeds and nuts will keep, just like muesli and oatmeal, as long as they’re kept in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. These ingredients alone would be guaranteed to attract wild birds in winter.
- bird seed
- sunflower seeds
- Dry bread
- Cookies
- Muesli
- old cooking oil
- Oatmeal. A similar alternative is porridge.
- Cornflakes
Old cooking oil, I hear you say? Okay, yes. If you have a fry pan or deep fryer, save the oil when you clean them. I have a large 10 liter drum that I pour old oil into and then store outside near the door. Leave it there with a lid on until winter comes and they use it for the balls. You save yourself the use of fat, margarine, or other things for your fat balls to stick to, and you’re recycling at the same time.
Other utensils to consider
- antique bowl
- old mixing spoon
- Rubber or surgical gloves.
true true
Yes, it is true, the wild birds where I live are better fed than I am in winter! No wonder there are hundreds lining up in the morning waiting for their breakfast!
method
- Take the cornflakes, oatmeal, and muesli and grind them into a powder or small pieces. As a guide, I try to make the oatmeal look like a ready-made breakfast.
- Take the bread and break it into small pieces. If I have a piece of bread I will grate it with a grated cheese.
- Crush the crackers then add everything, including the seeds, to a large mixing bowl. It is best to use an old one that you no longer use or go to a cheap store and buy a cheap one for that purpose.
- Mix ingredients together and slowly add cooking oil until ingredients stick together.
Now comes the sticky part and that’s why you should wear gloves.
- Take a piece of the mixture and squeeze them into a ball. If it sticks when you open your hand that’s fine, if it falls apart keep mixing and add a little more oil. You want it so everything sticks together without getting soggy.
- Once you’re happy with the consistency, roll it into a ball and place it inside the net then secure it. You can use all sorts to secure the netting, including electrical ties, bread stoppers, or an old coat hanger like the one I use.
Save for a winter day
Regarding the net to put the fat balls, do you put them away once they are empty? I do it again and reuse them. I also keep the net you buy fruits and vegetables in at the supermarket solely for this purpose, just make sure the holes in the net aren’t too small or large. To put them on the tree I use an old coat hanger that is bent at both ends. Simply thread one end through the net and then the other end hooks onto a tree branch.
And there you have it. Feeding the birds in winter with homemade fat pellets for all wild birds will cost you less than you think. Once they’re outside and the resident wild birds tell their friends there’s food in your yard, you’ll see a huge surge of birds, all clambering up for a tasty morsel. These are great easy bird feeders that kids can make, so why not get them involved too? It’s a great way to introduce them to the wildlife around them.