Birds are chirpy little creatures that bring us joy and help us connect with nature. But they face challenges finding food and water, especially when the winter approaches.
A birdseed wreath is a great way to keep birds well-fed and happy year-round. Making one is simple, inexpensive, and brings satisfaction when you see birds flying in your backyard. In this short guide, we'll teach you how to make it without breaking a sweat.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Birdseed Wreath
People who love nature always seek ways to surround themselves with it. If you have plants and trees in your backyard, birds often come by. They always seek food and water, especially in scorching heat or cold weather.
The best way to feed birds is by hanging a homemade birdseed wreath and providing a water bowl. Instead of buying birdseed wreaths from a store, you can easily make them yourself at home.
You don't have to spend much money to make a birdseed wreath; you only need a few ingredients to make your backyard a nature sanctuary. Here's a list:
Ingredients You Need:
- Bundt pan mold
- Oil spray or butter
- Gelatin powder (2 packets)
- Water
- Corn syrup or corn starch
- Bird seed mix
- A whisk
- Cranberries
- Ribbon
Step 1: Grease the Bundt Pan Mold.
The first step is to grease the pan, or Bundt pan mold, which will give the wreath its shape. It is crucial to grease it thoroughly because you don't want the wreath to crack or break when it's taken out.
You can either spray a light layer of oil on the pan or use butter; add a teaspoon to the pan and spread it evenly using a tissue or a spatula. Coat the pan evenly to prevent the paste from sticking to it.
Step 2: Prepare the gelatin paste.
The second step is to prepare gelatin paste, which will help keep the bird seeds glued together. It would be best to be very careful when making gelatin, as it is important to keep the consistency right. To prepare the gelatin, you need two cups of water and medium heat to bring it to a boil.
Add a pack of gelatin and keep whisking simultaneously when the water starts bubbling. After the gelatin saturates with water, add the second pack. It is essential to ensure there are no lumps when mixing the gelatin, as they can ruin the consistency.
If there are lumps in the mixture, whisk gently until they dissolve. Keep the mixture on the stove on medium heat and wait for it to thicken. Don't increase the heat; it can burn the mixture, making your wreath break or crack.
Step 3: Add light corn starch or syrup.
Gelatin is quite gooey, so mixing it with cornstarch or corn syrup is essential. Adding corn syrup to the mixture is preferable, as it dissolves quickly and creates no lumps. You can use cornstarch to thicken the mixture if you don't have corn syrup.
However, it is advisable to take out a teaspoon or two in a bowl and mix it well to dissolve lumps before adding it to the gelatin. Keep the flame low when adding corn starch because you don't want lumps to form.
Add corn starch little by little and keep whisking to avoid lumps. If lumps form, lower the heat and keep whisking until you achieve a smooth consistency. The paste should be smooth and thick in consistency to hold the bird seeds together.
Step 4: Mix bird seeds into the gelatin mix.
After adding the corn starch, lower the heat but don't turn it off. If you turn off the heat, the gelatin mixture will start setting, and it will be hard to mix the bird seeds. Take out the bird seeds in a bowl and mix them to distribute the grains and dissolve lumps.
Before adding the bird seeds to the gelatin mixture, turn off the heat and mix the paste. Keep adding the bird seeds gradually and mixing to form a smooth, thick paste.
Step 5: Add cranberries.
Birds love cranberries, and adding them to the wreath would attract them even more. Hence, it is best to add cranberries to the Bundt pan mold before adding the birdseed and gelatin mixture.
You can line the Bundt pan mold with cranberries or add them. However, adding them to the mold is best, as it makes the mixture set well and not crack when taken out.
Step 6: Add the mixture to the mold.
After greasing the pan with oil and adding cranberries, you can transfer the gelatin and birdseed mixture. Distribute the mixture evenly to ensure the wreath's shape is perfect. There is a hole in the middle of the pan; don't cover it up with the mixture.
Cover the spatula with oil, as it helps you easily scrape the mixture from the bowl. After transferring the mixture to the pan, use the spatula to pat it down and spread it evenly in the mold.
Step 7: Let it set and hang with a ribbon.
After transferring the mixture into the bowl and setting it evenly using the spatula, leave it overnight to set. If you make the birdseed wreath in cold weather, let it be in your kitchen. However, you must keep the mixture in the refrigerator in the summer. It is best to leave the mixture to set overnight or for at least 24 hours.
After the mixture is set, it is time to separate it from the mold gently. Use a spatula to scrape the side before flipping the mold to remove the wreath. You can gently tap the pan mold with a spatula to take out the wreath faster.
Tie a ribbon around the wreath and hang it on a tree in your backyard. You can also use command hooks if you don't have a tall tree.
Bonus Section: How to Make a Peanut Butter Birdseed Wreath
If you love the little birds in your backyard too much, you can add more flavor to the traditional birdseed wreath. The peanut butter birdseed wreath is one of the most famous because birds enjoy it a little too much.
Try this one to add more spice to traditional birdseed wreaths. Here are a few simple steps to making it:
Ingredients you need:
- A cup of peanut butter
- Three blocks of suede
- A pack of birdseed
- Bundt pan mold
Step 1: Melt blocks of suet.
The first step is to take a non-stick pan and add three blocks of suet (animal fat). Use medium to low heat to let the suet blocks melt, as a high flame can burn the mixture quickly.
Using a wooden spoon, stir the mixture and turn off the flame before it bubbles.
Step 2: Add peanut butter and bird seeds.
The next step is to add a cup of peanut butter to the mixture and stir to avoid lumps. After mixing peanut butter with suet, add the pack of birdseed and mix until a thick paste is formed.
Step 3: Transfer the mixture to the mold.
Add the paste to the Bundt pan mold, but grease the pan before you do that. Distribute the mixture evenly into the pan before tossing it into the refrigerator to set overnight.
After the mixture sets, gently remove it from the mold using gentle pressure to avoid breaking or cracking. Use a ribbon or soft string to hang a wreath on a tree and let the birds feast on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make a birdseed wreath without gelatin?
You can make birdseed wreaths without gelatin using peanut butter, coconut oil, and flour. Mix these ingredients, add bird seeds, and let it set in a Bundt pan mold for a day. It is a much healthier alternative for birds and much more nutritious.
Is gelatine safe for birds to eat?
Gelatin is not harmful to birds if you feed it in moderation. However, you can always use peanut butter and wholewheat flour to make birdseed wreaths, which are much healthier alternatives. Use clean home ingredients as they are much healthier and easy to digest.
How to mix gelatin and birdseed?
To mix gelatin with birdseed, you must prepare it correctly. Mix some cornstarch with gelatin to thicken it and let it set a little. Mix bird seeds into gelatin liquid and mix nicely before transferring them into the mold.
Conclusion
The bird seed wreath is simple and requires minimal ingredients to prepare this amazing bird feast. This article helped you learn how to make a birdseed wreath using simple techniques. For decoration wreaths, check out our wreaths collection.
Make sure to make it occasionally so the little creatures can feast on it. Grab the ingredients and start making it now!
By the way, if a bird decides to nest in a pre-existing wreath, our blog article will guide you on the most suitable steps to take.