How to Make Bird Food from Peanut Butter and Seeds

Learn to create nutritious homemade bird food using peanut butter and seeds to attract birds to your yard.

1. Gather Your Ingredients. You'll need natural peanut butter (avoid varieties with added sugar or salt), birdseed mix or individual seeds like sunflower seeds, millet, or nyjer seeds. Optional additions include cornmeal, oats, or chopped nuts. Avoid chocolate, bread, or anything with artificial sweeteners, as these can harm birds.
2. Mix the Bird Food. Start with 1 cup of peanut butter at room temperature for easier mixing. Gradually stir in 2-3 cups of seeds until you have a thick, moldable consistency. The mixture should hold together but not be too sticky. Add more seeds if it's too wet, or a little more peanut butter if it's too dry.
3. Shape and Serve. Roll the mixture into balls about the size of a ping pong ball, or press it into empty toilet paper tubes for hanging feeders. You can also spread the mixture directly onto tree bark or into the crevices of pinecones. If using tubes, poke a hole through the top and thread string for hanging.
4. Place Feeders Strategically. Hang or place your homemade bird food in quiet areas of your yard, ideally near trees or shrubs where birds can quickly take cover. Position feeders at least 5 feet from windows to prevent collisions, and place them where you can easily observe visiting birds from inside your home.
5. Monitor and Refresh. Check feeders every few days, especially in warm weather when the peanut butter can spoil. Remove and replace any food that looks moldy, rancid, or has been sitting out for more than a week. Clean feeding areas regularly with a mild bleach solution to prevent disease spread among birds.