These hanging bird seed shapes are ideal to make with children, as the coconut oil requires very little heat to soften it - so the ingredients aren't too hot for little hands to handle.
**But** ONLY make and use coconut oil for bird feeder shapes when there is snow on the ground - if the temperature is above 5 C the coconut oil will begin to melt and could coat the birds' feathers (de-waterproofing them and ending in bird disaster). On that note, always hang them on the 'shady' side of a tree or building.
This 'recipe' makes 2 cookie-cutter bird seed shapes...
Gather together...
2 tbsp coconut oil (the 'Lucy Bee' brand comes in 500g glass jars).
1/3 cup bird seed sold by the RSPB and by livingwiththebirds.com in plastic-free packaging (or crush up leftover seeds / nuts from Christmas baking).
Get making...
1. Wash your hands - good hygiene is important when prepping food for wildlife.
2. Put the 2 tbsp of solid coconut oil into a small / medium microwave-proof bowl.
3. Soften the coconut oil in the microwave for 20 - 30 seconds on HIGH. It will be soft but still holding its solid shape. Or you could soften it by placing the bowl on a warm radiator - this will take a little longer.
4. Add the 1/3 cup of bird seed (or crushed leftover seeds and nuts) to the warm coconut oil and stir well for about thirty seconds. If you check that the temperature of the coconut oil and seed mixture isn't unexpectedly hot, you can get kids to help mix.
5. Put 2 cookie cutters (metal or plastic) onto a medium ceramic plate. I'd choose simple shapes - hearts work better than stars, as there are fewer 'sticking out bits' to fall off.
6. Use a teaspoon to press the sticky mixture into the two cookie cutters. Make sure you press especially well into the sides, so you get a crisp edge once solidified.
7. Turn the teaspoon round and use the handle to poke a decent-sized hole in each seed-shape (for string to be added once the shapes have cooled and hardened). Don't make the hole too close to the edge.
8. Put the plate of filled cookie cutters in a cold place (e.g. the garage) to harden, this will take 30 - 60 minutes depending on how cold it is. Now wash your hands really well - especially if you have used bird seed in the recipe.
9. Once the shapes are fully set, use a fish slice to remove them from the plate.
10. Wash your hands and carefully press down in the centre of each shape to push the seed block out of each mould.
11. Thread 15cm lengths of cotton / twine (i.e. biodegradable) string through each seed shape and (if it is colder than 5 C outside) hang them on the shady side of a tree or building. If the temperature is above 5 C the coconut oil will begin to melt and could coat the birds' feathers (de-waterproofing them and ending in bird disaster). Wash your hands for a final time.
12. Enjoy watching the birds which appear!