The first cold morning, my feeder was empty by nine.
The birds were back at noon, looking hungry.
That’s when I started making birdseed wreaths. Here is how to make a birdseed wreath for winter birds, 10 easy ways, with safe binders and simple steps. Three come with full step by step cards.
Quick Picks
- Classic: Gelatin Birdseed Wreath (way 1)
- Fastest: Grapevine Wreath Bird Feeder (way 3)
- No gelatin: Flour Paste Wreath (way 4)
- Best for kids: Birdseed Wreath Craft for Kids (way 9)
1. Gelatin Birdseed Wreath
This is the classic birdseed wreath. It looks like a little wreath, and birds can eat the whole thing.
Gelatin holds the seed together without sugar or salt. It sets overnight in a bundt pan. Hang it on a cold, dry day, because the gelatin can soften in rain or warm sun.
⏱ Overnight💲 Low🛠 Easy
Materials Needed
- Black oil sunflower seed
- Wild bird seed mix
- Unflavored gelatin
- A bundt pan, cooking spray and jute twine
How to Make It
- Lightly spray the bundt pan with cooking spray.
- Stir 3 packets of unflavored gelatin into 1/2 cup cold water, then add 1/2 cup hot water and stir until clear.
- Mix the gelatin with about 4 cups of birdseed until every seed is coated.
- Press the mix firmly into the pan, tuck a loop of jute twine into the mix and chill overnight.
- Turn the wreath out gently and hang it on a branch on a cold, dry day.
Tip: An adult should handle the hot water. Use jute twine only, and keep the ends short. Fishing line and nylon can trap birds.
2. Peanut Butter and Seed Wreath
Peanut butter gives birds fat and energy in the cold. A wreath with it is a hit with chickadees and woodpeckers.
Use plain, unsalted peanut butter with no sugar added. Check the label, and avoid anything with xylitol, which is not safe. Mix it with cornmeal so it isn’t too sticky for small beaks.
⏱ Overnight💲 Low🛠 Easy
Materials Needed
- Unsalted natural peanut butter
- Yellow cornmeal
- 3 cups of mixed birdseed
- A ring mold or bundt pan and jute twine
How to Make It
- Mix 1 cup of unsalted peanut butter with 1 cup of cornmeal until crumbly.
- Stir in 3 cups of birdseed.
- Press the mix tightly into a greased ring mold or bundt pan.
- Tuck in a loop of jute twine and chill overnight.
- Turn out the wreath and hang it where cats can’t reach.
Tip: Peanut butter can go rancid in heat, so only use it in cold weather. Wash your hands afterward, and tell guests it contains peanuts.
3. Grapevine Wreath Bird Feeder
A grapevine wreath is a feeder that doesn’t melt. You tie seed heads onto it, and the birds pick them clean.
Millet sprays and dried sunflower heads are natural bird food. Tie small bundles around the ring with jute. You can refill it all winter.
⏱ 30 minutes💲 Low🛠 Easy
Materials Needed
- Grapevine wreath, 14 inch
- Millet sprays for birds
- Dried sunflower heads
- Jute twine and scissors
How to Make It
- Cut the jute into 8 inch pieces.
- Tie small bundles of millet sprays onto the wreath all the way around.
- Tie on dried sunflower heads in a few spots.
- Add a small pine sprig for color.
- Hang the wreath on a fence post or a shepherd’s hook.
Tip: Use only natural, untreated wreaths. Trim every twine end, so birds can’t get tangled. Skip anything sprayed with color or glitter.
4. Wreath Without Gelatin
No gelatin in the cupboard? A flour and water paste works just as well.
Mix about 1/2 cup of flour with 1/2 cup of water into a thick paste. Stir in about 3 cups of seed and press it into a mold. Let it dry in a warm room for a day before you hang it.
You’ll need: silicone ring mold
Best for: kitchens without gelatin
5. Mini Cookie Cutter Birdseed Wreaths
Little ones are quick to make and quick to hang. Each one is just a small ring or heart of seed.
Press the gelatin and seed mix into metal cookie cutters on parchment paper. Poke a hole with a straw. Let them set, remove the cutters and thread jute through the hole.
You’ll need: metal cookie cutters set
Best for: gifts and tree trimming
6. Best Seeds for Winter Birds
Winter birds need fat and energy. Black oil sunflower is the best all rounder, and almost every bird eats it.
Add white millet for ground feeders, nyjer for finches and suet for woodpeckers. Skip cheap mixes full of filler like red milo. Buy fresh seed, and store it dry.
You’ll need: suet pellets for wild birds
Best for: every bird lover
7. Dried Fruit and Seed Wreath
A little dried fruit adds color and a treat. Robins and bluebirds love it.
Use unsweetened dried fruit with no sulfur added if you can. Chop it small so birds can swallow it. Don’t use raisins in large amounts, and never add chocolate or candy.
You’ll need: unsweetened dried cranberries
Best for: fruit eating birds
8. How to Hang a Birdseed Wreath Safely
Where you hang it matters. Pick a branch near cover, but high enough that cats can’t jump to it.
Choose a spot about 5 feet up, with a clear view around it. Keep it a few feet away from a window or put it very close, so birds don’t hit the glass at speed. Use thick jute twine only.
You’ll need: natural jute twine
Best for: every feeder
9. Birdseed Wreath Craft for Kids
This is a lovely winter craft for kids. They scoop, mix and press, then watch the birds.
An adult should heat the water. Kids can stir and press the seed. If peanut butter is used, check allergies first, or use the flour paste instead.
You’ll need: plastic measuring cups and spoons
Best for: kids at home
10. Keep Squirrels Away From a Birdseed Wreath
Squirrels love birdseed, too. A little planning keeps your wreath for the birds.
Hang it from a thin wire at the end of a branch, well away from the trunk. Or use a pole with a baffle. Clean up fallen seed daily, so you don’t attract rats.
You’ll need: squirrel baffle for bird feeder pole
Best for: backyards with squirrels
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I use to hold a birdseed wreath together?
Unflavored gelatin, unsalted peanut butter with cornmeal, or a flour and water paste. All are safe for birds.
Is peanut butter safe for birds?
Plain, unsalted peanut butter with no xylitol is safe. Use it only in cold weather.
How long does a birdseed wreath last?
A few days to a couple of weeks, depending on how many birds visit and the weather. Take it down if it gets moldy.
Can I use fishing line to hang it?
No. Birds can get tangled in it. Use natural jute twine and keep the ends short.
When should I put out a birdseed wreath?
In late fall and winter, on cold dry days. Rain and warm sun can soften it.
Will it attract rats?
It can if seed falls and stays on the ground. Sweep up the dropped seed often.
Final Thoughts on How to Make a Birdseed Wreath for Winter Birds
A birdseed wreath is a simple way to help birds through the cold. Use safe binders, hang it on a dry day and keep it away from cats. Then sit back and watch.
Amir Ali is the founder and site administrator of HomeDecorEdge, a modern home decor and interior design platform. Since starting the site, he has combined his passion for interior design, practical styling, and color coordination with hands-on content strategy and site management. He guides authors, curates high-quality articles, and ensures readers have access to actionable, visually inspiring, and user-focused home decor advice for apartments, small rooms, and family homes.
