Learn how to make your own bird feeder using an apple and basic supplies. This handmade apple bird feeder is fun for both adults and kids!
Making a DIY bird feeder out of an apple is a fun activity. Pair it with this milk jug bird feeder and cup bird feeder craft to create a bird feeding station in your own yard!
These handmade bird feeders are a fun nature activity to do with your kids! Great for homeschool or an after school activity.
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Learning about backyard birds? Make sure to check out this printable backyard Bird BINGO game!
Jump to:
Age Range
- Preschool
- Kindergarten
- Elementary School
- and Up!
I love how this activity is easy enough for younger children, yet engaging enough for older kids.
Of course, adult supervision is required for all parts of this DIY craft and an adult is required to cut the apple.
I was able to do this activity with my young child and it was so much fun to make something together.
Skills to Practice
- Fine Motor Skills
- Nature Appreciation
- Observations
- Weaving
I love easy crafts like this because there are a few steps that young kids can do independently.
From pressing the apple into the seeds to twisting the pipe cleaners to hang the apples outside, there are so many wonderful skills for your child to practice.
After hanging them up you can observe which birds visit the feeder. Along with which seeds they prefer to eat! The birds in my area absolutely love black oil sunflower seeds!
Materials
- 1 Apple
- ½ Cup of Peanut Butter
- 1 Cup of Mixed Bird Seed or Black Oil Sunflower Seeds
- 5 Pipe Cleaners
- Pencil
- Tray
- Sharp Kitchen Knife
To contain the mess, you can make the feeders on a tray (I used a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper). You can then carry the entire tray outside when you go to hang them up!
Substitutions
If you need an alternative to peanut butter you can use softened suit or lard, Sunbutter, or another nut butter (if there is no nut allergy).
You can swap out the pipe cleaners for jute twine, cotton butcher twine, or even yarn. To hang them up outside, simply tie a knot into the cording.
I decided to use pipe cleaners because it is easy for young children to poke them through the apple. They can then twist the pipe cleaners themselves to hang up the apples outside.
Look around your house to see what you have on hand. Once the apples are eaten or past their prime, head outside and collect the pipe cleaners or string.
Directions
Cut the apple vertically into ½ inch thick slices using a sharp knife (an adult is required to cut the apple).
Using a pencil poke a hole into the upper right corner of each apple slice. I found that you are less likely to get a break in the hole if you poke it into the side verses the center of the apple.
Wiggle the pencil until the point goes all the way through the apple. I didn't use the very ends of the apple that had a peel on one side as it was difficult to poke the pencil through the peel.
Using a pipe cleaner, weave one through each hole. I pulled the pipe cleaner through until the apple slice was halfway down the pipe cleaner. Then bend both sides up towards themselves.
Using the pipe cleaner as a handle, drop one flat side of the apple into the peanut butter. Press down using your fingers.
Lift up the apples using the pipe cleaner. I only covered one side of each apple slice with peanut butter.
Then dip the peanut butter covered side into the bird seed. Press down using your fingers.
Lift the apple slice up using the pipe cleaner. Repeat if your apple slice doesn't have enough seed to cover the peanut butter.
Place the apple onto the tray (plain apple side down). Then repeat the process until all the apple slices are covered in peanut butter and seed. I was able to make 5 apple feeders out of one medium sized apple!
Bring the entire tray outside to hang up the apples. I hung them up in a group inside of our forsythia bush.
Twist the pipe cleaners onto themselves to securely hang them up. Once the apples have been eaten or are ready to be taken down, simply untwist the pipe cleaner.
Sit by a window and wait for the birds to find the feeders! It is so much fun watching different species of birds stop by for a treat.
Additional Activities
Looking for more bird themed activities? Learn how to make more handmade bird feeders along with observing birds in your own backyard.
Apple Bird Feeder
Learn how to make your own bird feeder using an apple and basic supplies in this step by step tutorial. A fun activity for adults to make with their kids!
Materials
- Apple
- 5 Pipe Cleaners
- ½ Cup Peanut Butter
- ½ Cup Bird Seed (Or Plain Black Oil Sunflower Seeds)
Tools
- Sharp Kitchen Knife
- Cutting Board
- Tray
Instructions
- Cut the apple vertically into ½ inch thick slices using a sharp knife.
- Using a pencil poke one hole into the upper right corner of each apple slice.
- Weave one pipe cleaner through each hole. I pull the pipe cleaner through until the apple slice is halfway down the pipe cleaner.
- Then bend both sides of the pipe cleaner up towards themselves.
- Using the pipe cleaner as a handle, drop one flat side of the apple into the peanut butter. Press down using your fingers.
- Lift up the apple using the pipe cleaner.
- Then dip the peanut butter covered side into the bird seed. Press down using your fingers.
- Lift the apple slice up using the pipe cleaner. Repeat if your apple slice doesn't have enough seed to cover the peanut butter.
- Place the apple onto the tray (pain apple side down). Then repeat the process until all the apple slices are covered in peanut butter and seed.
- Hang each apple outside by twisting the pipe cleaners together over a branch.
Notes
Adult supervision is required for ALL parts of this DIY. An adult is required to cut the apple using a knife.
I was able to get 5 slices and make 5 apple feeders out of 1 medium apple. I did compost the ends that had just a peel on one side.
Instead of peanut butter you can use nut butter (if no allergy) or Sunbutter. You can even try softened suit or lard.
Instead of pipe cleaners you can use jute twine, cotton butcher cord, or yarn. You may have to use the pencil to help guide the string through the hole.
Once the apples are gone, bring the pipe cleaners inside. If the apple begins to rot, toss it into the compost pile and bring the pipe cleaner inside.
If you have deer, hang the feeders up in an area where the deer are not able to access. Deer LOVE to eat apples!
If you live in black bear country like me, wait until winter when the temperatures have been very cold before hanging up bird feeders outside.
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