Make bird treats
Learn how to make bird treats with our DIY bird food recipe.
Last edited: 01/12/2025
Before you get started
Why this is important
Garden birds spend a lot of time foraging for food to keep their energy levels up. In spring, they search for extra to feed their young, and in winter, they need to find enough food to get them through the night. Which is why our simple recipe for high-energy (high-fat), seed-studded suet biscuits can help birds not just survive – but thrive. By making these bird treats, you’re providing them with an extra source of nutrition, turning your outdoor space into a haven for wildlife.
Supporting documents
Duke of Edinburgh Worksheet [2 hours]
Video: You can click here to watch how to make your bird treats.
Instructions
Carrying out your project
What you will need
Utensils
- A big mixing bowl
- A baking tray
- Foil or greaseproof paper
- A skewer or chopstick
- Natural string
- Cooker cutters (optional)
Ingredients
- Around 240g of beef suet (not vegetarian)
- Around 240g of seed mix for wild garden birds (the packets should tell you which birds they attract)
- Optional: You can also add raisins and sultanas (but make sure no cats and dogs can get to them, as they’re poisonous to them)
Prepare your workspace
Place the foil or greaseproof paper on the baking tray.
Put the suet in the bowl (you can grate or chop it if it feels hard).
Mix your ingredients
Add the birdseed and knead everything together.
When it's thoroughly combined, flatten it out on the baking tray.
Shape your treats
If you have them, use your cookie cutters to make fun shapes, or simply roll the mixture into balls.
Keep combining the trimmings and reusing them until you've used up all the mixture – don’t let any go to waste!
Get them ready for hanging
Use the skewer to make a hole through the middle of each shape, then place them on the baking tray.
Put them in the fridge for a few hours.
Slide the biscuits off the tray and thread string through each hole – but don't tie the ends yet.
Take your bird biscuits to a quiet, sheltered spot in a tree, bush, bird feeder or bird table, and tie them in place.
Look after them!
Check your treats regularly and remove any that look ‘off’ or if birds stop eating them — this might mean they’ve spoiled.
If that’s the case, this activity is fun and repeatable; make more whenever you fancy! Birds will always welcome a free snack.
celebrate your achievement
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