Homemade Bird Seed Bell

Bird seed bells are basically edible ornaments you can hang outside for backyard birds. 🐦🔔

Here are two great methods: one with gelatin (long-lasting) and one no-cook peanut butter version.

🐦 Classic Gelatin Bird Seed Bells (Most Durable)

Ingredients:

2 packets unflavored gelatin (about 2 tbsp total)

½ cup boiling water

¾ cup flour

3 cups bird seed mix

Twine or string

Optional add-ins:

Dried cranberries

Black oil sunflower seeds

Cracked corn

Chopped unsalted peanuts

Directions:

Dissolve gelatin

In a bowl, stir gelatin into ½ cup boiling water until fully dissolved.

Add flour

Stir in flour until smooth (this helps strengthen the bell).

Mix in bird seed

Add bird seed and stir until everything is well coated and sticky.

Shape the bell

Lightly grease a small bundt pan, silicone mold, or bell-shaped mold.

Press mixture firmly into the mold. REALLY pack it in tight.

Add hanger

Insert a loop of twine into the top (leave a loop sticking out).

Dry

Let sit 12–24 hours to fully harden.

Then gently remove from mold and let air dry another day if needed.

Hang outside

Hang from a tree branch or hook.

💡 Best in cool weather — gelatin softens in hot summer heat.

🥜 No-Cook Peanut Butter Bird Seed Bells

Great for quick projects and winter feeding.

Ingredients:

1 cup natural peanut butter (no sugar added)

3 cups bird seed

Twine

Directions:

Mix peanut butter and bird seed until thick.

Press into a mold lined with plastic wrap.

Insert twine loop.

Chill in refrigerator 2–3 hours until firm.

Remove and hang.

⚠️ Best for cold weather — peanut butter softens in warm temps.

🧊 Extra Durable Option (No Gelatin)

If you want something that holds up better in heat:

Use:

1 cup lard or suet (melted)

3 cups bird seed

Mix, mold, cool until solid.

This version is excellent for winter birds and high-energy feeding.🐦

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For hot summer weather, you want something that won’t melt like gelatin, peanut butter, or suet.

The best warm-weather binder is a flour + corn syrup dough mixture that dries rock-hard instead of melting.

☀️ No-Melt Summer Bird Seed Bells

Ingredients:

3 cups bird seed mix

½ cup flour

¼ cup light corn syrup

¼ cup water

Twine or jute string

(Optional: black oil sunflower seeds, millet, cracked corn, dried fruit bits)

Directions:

1️⃣ Make the binder

In a bowl, mix:

Flour

Corn syrup

Water

Stir until it forms a thick glue-like paste.

2️⃣ Add bird seed

Stir in bird seed until everything is fully coated and sticky.

It should feel thick and moldable — not runny.

3️⃣ Shape

Lightly oil a small bundt pan, bell mold, or silicone mold.

Pack mixture in VERY firmly (this is important).

Insert a loop of twine in the top.

4️⃣ Dry thoroughly

Let dry at room temperature 24–48 hours.

For extra durability:

After removing from mold, let it air dry another day.

Or place in a 170°F (75°C) oven for 1 hour, then cool completely.

Why This Works in Heat

Unlike gelatin or fat-based binders, this dries into a hard, bread-like structure.

It won’t melt — it just slowly gets eaten.

Pro Tips for Summer Success ☀️

Hang in partial shade to extend life.

Keep away from high-moisture areas (rain shortens lifespan).

Use within 1–2 weeks in humid climates.