A Pine Cone Bird Feeder is a fun natural project kids of all ages can make for feeding wildlife. Kids can easily learn how to make a homemade bird feeder with these simple steps and watch the birds flock to this traditional peanut butter bird feeder craft. Pinecone birdfeeders are fun to make at home or in the classroom!

hanging pine cone bird feeder made of peanut butter, pinecones and birdseed hanging from twine in a tree in backyard - Kids Activities Blog
Let’s make a pine cone bird feeder!

Related: Easy Paper Plate Bird Craft with Movable Wings

Homemade Pine Cone Bird Feeder Craft for Kids

Homemade bird feeders are easy and fun to make, and great for wild birds in the winter! My kids love to watch and see if any squirrels are coming out to play in our yard.

  • Did you know that late winter is actually the ideal time to make pinecone bird feeders?
  • You might think of it as a summer project, but birds don’t need much help in the summer. 
  • We love making bird feeders all year long.

How to Make a Pinecone Bird Feeder

pine cone bird feeder text

Although making pine cone bird feeders is fun to make with kids of all ages, a Pine Cone Bird Feeder is an easy preschool craft that encourages more birds to fly by your windows and one of the easiest homemade bird feeders you can make.

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Supplies Needed To Make A Pine Cone Bird Feeder

supplies needed to make a pine cone bird feeder  - twine, peanut butter, pine cones and bird seed

Directions To Make Pine Cone Feeders For Birds

Step 1

step 1 - how to make a pine cone bird feeder  - tying string or twine onto the pine cone
Let’s start with how we are going to hang our bird feeder.
  1. The first thing you want to do is tie the string, twine or wire to the pine cone before you begin.
  2. Leave a long enough piece at the top so you can hang the pine cone bird feeder later.

Step 2

Step 2 - how to make a pine cone bird feeder  - adding peanut butter
Now it is time to add the peanut butter to the pine cone!

Next, cover the pine cone in peanut butter. A thicker peanut butter works better here so it will adhere to the pine cone better. 

Step 2b - how to make a pine cone bird feeder  - complete the peanut butter spreading to include the top as well
Cover the pine cone as fully as you can!

You can use a spoon or butter knife to spread peanut butter from the top of the pine cone to the bottom.

Tip: A preschooler should be able to do this step with very little, if any, help.

Step 3

Step 3 - how to make a pine cone bird feeder - adding the bird seed to the pine cone covered with peanut butter
Let’s pour on the birdseed!

Now, coat the peanut butter in bird seed. We rolled our pine cone in a dish, paper plate, or small bowls filled with peanut butter and poured bird seed on as well.

Step 4

Step 4 - how to make a pine cone bird feeder  - pat the bird seed
See if you can get a lot of the bird seed to stick!

We then patted the bird seed in to ensure it would all stick well.

Finished Peanut Butter Bird Feeder Craft

Finished pine cone bird feeder craft - 3 peanut butter bird feeders hanging in a tree

Finally, find a place to hang your Pine Cone Bird Feeder outside.

We had so much fun making this homemade Pine Cone Bird Feeder and hope you do too!

How High to Hang a Bird Feeder if You Have Cats

  • If you have neighborhood cats, then you’ll want to find a high enough place that makes it harder for them to snatch any hungry birds.
  • We live on a farm and have barn cats so I’ve found that hanging bird feeders at least 10 feet high keeps the cats at bay and gives birds lots of safety just in case.
pine cone bird feeder SQUARE

Learning About Birds

  • Try identifying the different birds or counting them and you’ve got an art and science lesson at the same time.
  • If might be fun to get some bird books to make identifying them easier as well.

Easy Pine Cone Bird Feeder Craft

Easy Pine Cone Bird Feeder Craft
Kids of all ages will love making this peanut butter bird feeder that starts with a pinecone. It is a simple pine cone bird feeder craft that will attract birds to your backyard.
Active Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Difficulty easy
Estimated Cost $1

Materials

  • Pinecone (we used large pine cones, but you can use any size)
  • Peanut butter
  • Bird seed
  • String, twine or wire

Tools

  • paper plate or pie plate
  • scissors

Instructions

  1. The first thing you want to do is tie the string, twine or wire to the pine cone before you begin. Leave a long enough piece at the top so you can hang the pine cone bird feeder later.
  2. Next, cover the pine cone in peanut butter. A thicker peanut butter works better here so it will adhere to the pine cone better. You can use a spoon or butter knife to spread peanut butter from the top of the pine cone to the bottom. A preschooler should be able to do this step with very little, if any, help.
  3. Now, coat the peanut butter in bird seed. We rolled our pine cone in a dish, paper plate, or small bowls filled with peanut butter and poured bird seed on as well. We then patted the bird seed in to ensure it would all stick well.
  4. Finally, find a place to hang your Pine Cone Bird Feeder outside. If you have neighborhood cats, then you'll want to find a high enough place that makes it harder for them to snatch any hungry birds. We live on a farm and have barn cats so I've found that hanging bird feeders at least 10 feet high keeps the cats at bay and gives birds lots of safety just in case. We had so much fun making this Pine Cone Bird Feeder and hope you do too!

More Great Homemade Bird Feeder Crafts From Kids Activities Blog:

Or check out these decor pine cone crafts!

How did your pine cone bird feeder turn out? What are your favorite birds that have stopped by?



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1 Comment

  1. This is an awesome project for young kids, actually, probably all ages. Everybody loves to watch wildlife and this brings the outdoors all the closer. I wonder if squirrels would like these pinecones. Has anybody witnessed whether or not the squirrels would go for these? We love to feed the squirrels at our home. We have lots of albino squirrels and gray squirrels.