A simple nature craft for kids – get the easy recipe for home made fat balls for birds and help sustain garden wildlife over winter.
We just LOVE giving nature a home and squeezing as much wildlife and nature into the garden as we possibly can.
Making homemade fat balls for garden birds is a great little nature craft for kids and it all goes to help sustain wild birds and other creatures over the cold winter months.
What you need to make fat balls for birds
Fat ball recipe
- 1 cup wild bird seed – we used Peckish Winter Warmer seed mix
- 1/2 cup porridge oats
- 1/2 cup peanuts – make sure they’re unsalted, natural peanuts
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 150g lard
- 3 silicone muffin cases (or use empty yogurt pots)
- 3 lengths of ribbon for hanging the fat balls from the trees
- saucepan
- spoon
- mixing bowl
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How to make fat balls for birds
- Pierce a small hole in the muffin cases (or yogurt pots) and thread through a loop of ribbon – tie it in a knot – this will hang the fat balls from the trees.
- Melt the lard in a small saucepan over a low heat (kids will need supervision with this part)
- Put the seeds, porridge oats, peanuts and raisins into a mixing bowl.
- Pour the melted lard into the mixing bowl (again supervise young children with this part)
- Mix the seeds and lard together with a spoon – if the mixture seems to sloppy add in some more seeds – however be careful it’s not to dry or it won’t set well.
- Pack the seed mixture tightly into the muffin cases – pressing it down so it sets well and stays stuck together.
- Put the fat balls into the fridge and allow them to set overnight.
- Remove the fat balls from the fridge, pop them out of the cases (or cut off the yogurt pots with scissors if you used them instead) Then hang them from the trees in the garden.
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Our fat balls were demolished in about 3 days! The garden was teaming with little birds, squirrels and even a little field mouse got stuck in!
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Nature Activities for Kids
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How to make fat balls for birds
A lovely nature craft for wildlife lovers to help feed and sustain garden birds
Materials
- 1 cup wild bird seed
- 1/2 cup porridge oats
- 1/2 cup peanuts - unsalted, natural nuts
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 150g lard
Tools
- 4 silicon muffin or cake cases or empty yogurt pots
- 4 lengths of ribbon for hanging the fat balls in the trees
- saucepan
- spoon
- mixing bowl
Instructions
- Pierce a small hole in the muffin cases (or yogurt pots) and thread through a loop of ribbon – tie it in a knot – this will hang the fat balls from the trees.
- Melt the lard in a small saucepan over a low heat (kids will need supervision with this part)
- Put the seeds, porridge oats, peanuts and raisins into a mixing bowl.
- Pour the melted lard into the mixing bowl (again supervise young children with this part)
- Mix the seeds and lard together with a spoon – if the mixture seems to sloppy add in some more seeds – however be careful it’s not to dry or it won’t set well.
- Pack the seed mixture tightly into the muffin cases – pressing it down so it sets well and stays stuck together.
- Put the the fat balls into the fridge and allow them to set overnight.
- Remove the fat balls from the fridge, pop them out of the cases (or cut off the yogurt pots with scissors if you used them instead) Then hang them from the trees in the garden
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If you make it don’t forget to tag us your creations on Twitter @daisiesandpieUK or Instagram @daisiesandpie
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