Winter Fun DIY: Create Bird Seed Cottage Feeder

A fun winter activity for feeding your feathered friends, a bird seed cottage feeder! I’ve seen these bird seed covered houses/feeders at garden centers and online, priced from $30 to $60 a piece. You can make one easily in a about an hour for around $5 with some birdseed and dried fruit using an edible glue.
These birdseed cottages function as a Bed and Breakfast! After they are stripped of seed by the birds, they can be recoated with seed and rehung to feed the birds through the winter months or during spring nesting season.
This is an easy and fun winter or snowy day project for little and big kids alike, using a wood birdhouse for your base. I found an assortment of craft birdhouses at Michaels for $5 each, less if you use a weekly 40% off coupon.
I used an assortment of seed, a cardinal blend with sunflower seed, millet, safflower, thistle and some raisins. You can use raw nuts, cracked corn and other dried fruit for edible decoration.
I used the same recipe that I used for my bird seed ornaments and bird seed wreath for the edible “glue” to coat the house and attach the seed.


Edible Birdseed “Glue”:


3/4 cup flour


1/2 cup water


1 envelope Knox unflavored gelatin


3 tbsp. corn syrup


Mix the gelatin packet with hot water until dissolved. Stir in the flour and corn syrup until mixed with the gelatin. Apply to surface of birdhouse with a brush and add your seed.
I sprinkled the seed on the area after I applied the “glue”, using a rimmed baking sheet to collect the excess spilled seed. Press the seed onto the surface to help it adhere. The smaller seed is easier to work with and you’ll have fewer gaps between the seed. I used my offset spatula to press the seed in the corners and edges. Allow your birdhouse to sit overnight to cure before hanging.
The glue stays workable for about 30 minutes so it’s best that you have your supplies ready to go once your glue is mixed. Add some greenery or moss for some curb appeal and dress up your cottage if desired.
I saw lots of birds ~ Wrens, Sparrows, Goldfinches, Nuthatches, Titmice and Chickadees, dining at the birdseed houses during our 7" snowfall this weekend.
Titmouse at birdseed cottage
Rain will wash the seed off so you want to wait and hang your new edible bird bungalow in a sheltered area or after any rain showers have subsided. The snow didn't seem to have the same effect as rain does. You can reseed your birdhouse again after the birds feast on their abode.
You can see the tag on the back of the house that I didn’t remove before I seeded this birdhouse.


Note to self: Remove tag before reseeding!
Birdseed Cottage Feeder with raisins, millet and cardinal blend of sunflower and nuts
If you enjoy feeding and watching the birds in winter, you'll enjoy this fun project! More photos and ideas on feeding the birds in winter at the link to my blog below!
Mary @ Home is Where the Boat Is
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
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3 of 6 questions
  • GS GS on Jan 15, 2017
    These are really cute! But, not all birds are omnivores. Gelatin is made from animal proteins. Wouldn't it be better to use a vegetarian gelatin?
  • Debbie Saracina Debbie Saracina on Jan 15, 2017
    I live in the south, will the high temperatures just melt the edible glue or peanut butter?
  • Marsha Marsha on Jan 31, 2017
    I have those birdhouses from Michaels but unfortunately I painted them with paint. Do you think it would hurt the birds if I now used peanut butter and covered them with seeds? I would not want the birds to get sick from the paint.
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  • Carey Carey on Feb 03, 2017
    Suet could also be used to adhere the birdseed. In winter they need the fat so you can melt the fat, cover the birdhouse and adhere the seed as it cools. This is a neat idea and I think that I will give it a try next winter. I have avoided feeding migrating birds in winter since it can cause them to not migrate. But I have seen some small birds that have stayed all winter and I saw one feasting on thistle seed in my back yard this winter and being very careful not to dislodge the seeds that he didn't pick, even to sitting in the snow while he ate! They are pretty smart little critters!
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