If you live in the northern hemisphere, you already know that winter is just a stone’s throw away. That means freezing days and nights, ice, frost, and in some cases, lots of snow. Once winter comes and you’re cozy and warm in the house, do you ever consider the animals and birds that live, eat, and sleep outside? Well you should, and in particular the wild birds that fly in and around the garden all year round.

Do you feed the birds in winter? If you do, and I know many of you do, do you make your own fat balls? Well making your own bird food for garden birds is a great idea as you can add any seeds including flower seeds you have, nuts and other ingredients you like and then mix them all together. But for the ingredients to stick, what do you use? Well, read on for my tips on how to make balls of fat that will keep those wild birds fed all winter long, and actually won’t cost you that much.

What to feed wild birds

These are just some of the ingredients you can use to make the perfect winter snack for your feathered friends. I use all of these and usually all at once, but the choice is yours, use whatever you have lying around. Another tip is to store things throughout the year. Seeds and nuts will keep, just like muesli and oatmeal, as long as they are stored in an airtight container and in a cool, dark place. These ingredients alone would be guaranteed to attract wild birds in winter.

• bird seed
• sunflower seeds
• Dry bread
• Cookies
• Muesli
• old cooking oil
• Oatmeal. A similar alternative is porridge.
• Cornflakes

Old cooking oil I hear you say? Okay, yes. If you have a fry pan or deep fryer, save the oil when you clean them. I have a large 10 liter drum that I pour old oil into and then store outside near the door. Leave it there with a lid on until winter comes and they use it for the balls. You save yourself from using grease, margarine, or other things to make your fat balls stick together, and you’re recycling at the same time.

Other tools to consider

• ancient bowl
• antique mixing spoon
• Rubber or surgical gloves.

true true

Yes, that’s right, the wild birds where I live are better fed than I am in winter! No wonder there are hundreds lining up in the morning waiting for their breakfast!

method

• Take the cornflakes, oats and muesli and grind them into a powder or small pieces. As a guide, I try to make the oatmeal look like a ready breakfast.
• Take the bread and break it into small pieces. If I have a piece of bread I will grate it with a grated cheese.
• Crush the cookies, and then add everything, including the seeds, into a large mixing bowl. It is best to use an old one that you no longer use or go to a cheap store and buy a cheap one for that purpose.
• Mix the ingredients and slowly add the cooking oil until the ingredients stick together.

Now comes the sticky part and that’s why you have to wear gloves.

• Take a piece of the mixture and squeeze them into a ball. If it sticks when you open your hand, that’s fine, if it falls apart keep mixing and add a little more oil. You want it so that everything sticks without getting soggy.
• Once you’re happy with the consistency, roll it into a ball and place it inside the netting and then secure it. You can use all kinds to secure the net, including electrical ties, bungs, or an old hanger like the one I use.

Save for a winter day

As for the net to put the fat balls in, do you put them away once they are empty? I do it again and reuse them. I also keep the net you buy fruits and vegetables in at the supermarket solely for this purpose, just make sure the holes in the net aren’t too small or too big. To put them on the tree I use an old hanger that is bent at both ends. Just thread one end through the netting and then the other end clips onto a tree branch.

And there you have it. Feeding birds in winter with homemade fat pellets for all wild birds will cost you less than you think. Once they’re outside and the resident wild birds tell their friends there’s food in your yard, you’ll see a huge increase in birds, all scrambling for a tasty morsel. These are great easy bird feeders kids can make, so why not get them involved too? It’s a great way to introduce them to the wildlife around them.