How to Make a Pine Cone Bird Feeder

Making a pine cone bird feeder is an easy nature activity that kids can help make using just a few simple supplies. With a pine cone, peanut butter, bird seed, and string, you can create a homemade bird feeder to hang outside and watch for visiting birds.

This pine cone bird feeder craft is a fun activity for fall and winter, but you can make one any time you have pine cones available. Kids can help spread the peanut butter, add the bird seed, choose a place to hang the feeder, and then watch to see which birds stop by.

If your kids enjoy making homemade bird feeders, check out these Bird Feeders for Children to Make for even more ideas, including apple, orange, sugar cone, gelatin, and toilet paper roll bird feeders.

Why Kids Will Love Making Pine Cone Bird Feeders

Pine cone bird feeders are simple enough for kids to help make and turn an ordinary pine cone into something useful for the backyard.

This activity is a great choice because kids can:

• Collect pine cones outside.
• Practice spreading and rolling while making the feeder.
• Learn about birds and the foods they eat.
• Watch for different birds after hanging the feeder.
• Make several feeders and experiment with different locations around the yard.

It can also be an easy addition to a nature, bird, or backyard learning activity.

Supplies for a Pine Cone Bird Feeder

You only need a handful of supplies to make your feeder:

• Large, open pine cone (Check out these pine cones for crafts.)
• Peanut butter
• Bird seed
• Spoon, craft stick, or butter knife
• Paper plate or shallow dish
• String or twine
• Scissors

A paper plate also makes cleanup easier by catching loose bird seed while kids work.

How to Make a Pine Cone Bird Feeder

Once you’ve gathered your supplies, follow these simple pine cone bird feeder instructions.

1. Prepare the Pine Cone

Choose a pine cone with open scales so there are plenty of spaces for the peanut butter and bird seed.

If you collected your pine cone outside, shake off any loose dirt or debris before beginning.

Place the pine cone on a paper plate or your work surface.

2. Spread Peanut Butter on the Pine Cone

Use a spoon, craft stick, or butter knife to spread peanut butter over the pine cone.

Work the peanut butter around the outside and into some of the spaces between the scales. You don’t need a huge amount—a good coating gives the bird seed something to stick to.

This is a great step for kids to do themselves.

3. Add the Bird Seed

Pour bird seed onto a paper plate or into a shallow dish.

Roll the peanut butter-covered pine cone through the bird seed. You can also sprinkle bird seed over areas that aren’t completely covered.

Gently press the seed into the peanut butter until the pine cone is well coated.

4. Tie String Around the Pine Cone

Tie a piece of string or twine securely around the top of the pine cone.

Leave enough extra string to create a loop for hanging the feeder from a branch.

You can also attach the string before adding the peanut butter and bird seed if you find that easier.

5. Hang Your Pine Cone Bird Feeder

Take your finished feeder outside and find a sturdy branch where you can hang it.

If possible, choose a location that you can see from a window. This makes it easy for kids to check the feeder throughout the day and watch for birds.

Then give the birds some time to discover their new food source!

What Kind of Bird Seed Should I Use?

A general wild bird seed mix is an easy option for this project. You can also use black-oil sunflower seeds, which are commonly included in backyard bird-feeding mixes.

Try making several pine cone feeders with different seed mixtures and see whether you notice a difference in the birds that visit each one.

This turns a simple craft into a fun backyard experiment for kids.

Pine Cone Bird Feeder Without Peanut Butter

If you need a pine cone bird feeder without peanut butter, you don’t have to skip the activity.

We have more ideas specifically for families looking for peanut-free options in our Bird Feeder Crafts Without Peanut Butter collection.

This is also a helpful alternative for classrooms, groups, or other settings where peanut products may not be appropriate.

Turn It Into a Bird-Watching Activity

Making the feeder only takes a short amount of time, but the activity doesn’t have to end when you hang it outside.

Have kids watch the feeder over the next several days and keep track of what they notice.

They can count how many birds visit, look for different types of birds, draw pictures of the birds they see, or compare feeders placed in different areas of the yard.

You could even hang several feeders and ask kids to predict which location will attract the most birds.

Check the feeders later and talk about whether their predictions were correct.

When Is the Best Time to Make a Pine Cone Bird Feeder?

You can make a pine cone bird feeder whenever pine cones are available, but this is an especially fun activity during fall and winter.

Collecting pine cones can become part of the activity. Take a nature walk with the kids, look for large pine cones, and bring a few home for your feeders.

During colder months, hanging the finished feeder near a window also gives kids an easy way to observe backyard birds when they’re spending more time indoors.

Tips for Making Pine Cone Bird Feeders With Kids

Use a paper plate underneath each pine cone to contain some of the mess. Bird seed will fall off while kids roll and press it onto the feeder.

Choose larger pine cones with open scales when possible. They’re easier for small hands to hold and provide more room for spreading peanut butter.

For younger kids, prepare the string ahead of time so they can concentrate on adding the peanut butter and seed.

And don’t worry about making the feeder look perfect. The birds certainly won’t!

Make More Than One Bird Feeder

If you have several pine cones, make a few feeders at the same time.

Hang them in different parts of the yard and have kids observe which feeder gets the most visitors.

Try one near a window and another farther away. You can also experiment with different bird seed mixtures.

Ask kids why they think birds might prefer one location over another.

It’s an easy way to add observation, prediction, and discussion to the activity without making it feel like schoolwork.

Are Pine Cone Bird Feeders Good for Birds?

Pine cone feeders can provide an additional food source for backyard birds when they’re made with appropriate bird-feeding ingredients.

Think of your homemade feeder as a supplement rather than a replacement for the natural foods birds find outdoors.

It’s also important to keep the area where you feed birds clean and remove old or spoiled food.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of pine cone is best for a bird feeder?

A large pine cone with open scales works especially well. The open spaces make it easier to spread peanut butter over the pine cone and give the bird seed plenty of places to stick.

Can you make a pine cone bird feeder with peanut butter?

Yes. Peanut butter works as the sticky base that holds the bird seed to the pine cone. Spread it over and between the pine cone scales before rolling the pine cone in bird seed.

Can I use crunchy peanut butter?

You can use smooth or crunchy peanut butter for this activity. Smooth peanut butter may be a little easier for young children to spread.

Can I make a pine cone bird feeder without peanut butter?

Yes. If you need to avoid peanut butter, see our Bird Feeder Crafts Without Peanut Butter for alternative bird feeder ideas.

How do you hang a pine cone bird feeder?

Tie string or twine securely around the upper portion of the pine cone and create a loop. Hang the loop over a sturdy tree branch where birds can easily reach the feeder.

How long does a pine cone bird feeder last?

How long it lasts depends on the weather and how quickly birds find it. Check your feeder regularly and remove it if the food becomes wet, moldy, spoiled, or dirty.

Where should I hang a pine cone bird feeder?

Choose a location where birds have a safe place to approach and leave the feeder. If you’re making the feeder with kids, placing it somewhere visible from a window makes bird watching much easier.

More Bird Feeder Activities for Kids

If your kids enjoyed making this DIY pine cone bird feeder, there are plenty of other simple homemade feeders you can try.

Visit Bird Feeders for Children to Make for more backyard bird feeder ideas using everyday materials.

And if you need an option that doesn’t use peanut butter, browse our Bird Feeder Crafts Without Peanut Butter.

Making bird feeders is a simple way to get kids outside, encourage them to notice the wildlife around them, and turn an ordinary afternoon into a hands-on nature activity.