I want to make pinecone birdfeeders with my kids at work, but we are a peanut free school.?

Question

Has anyone ever used an alternative successfully? It's a class of two and three year olds, so it has to be pretty simple. Thanks for any help you can give me!

Answer 1

Use a solid shortening such as Crisco. Also check the birdseed label for nuts and find out if the allergies in your program are for all nuts or just peanuts.

Answer 2

We used molasses. It really is sticky, but if you can warm it up a bit, you can let them use popsicle sticks to drizzle it onto their pinecones. We had boxes with bird seed already set out, so they got a plate, popsicle sticks at their spot, and each station had a paint cup with warm molasses in it, as well as three shallow boxes with bird seed. It worked really well, and was an easy clean up too because they just moved their whole plates from molasses to the birdseed, then to the window sill to dry.

Answer 3

Shortening and bird seeds.

Answer 4

I saw Martha Stewart making pinecone feeders earlier this year, and she used suet (beef fat or lard).  I would check with a local wildbird store to find availability, or there are plenty of homemade suet recipes online.  Good luck!

Answer 5

I made them with my peanut allergic daughter last year and we used soynut butter.  Its just like peanut butter, but without the peanuts ;)

Answer 6

Be careful with peanut free bird feeders as some bird seed mixes have nut warnings on their labels (read the labels carefully). Also, all though it's already been said, Crisco works well. I did not see this one mentioned, but Margarine also works well, all though you have to put it on really thick (same with the Crisco). Don't do the molasses that was mentioned, nor should you use corn syrup or honey ever when making a bird feeder as they are harmful to some birds.

Good luck to you!

Answer 7

I've never used anything but peanut butter, but I looked on the web and they mentioned using shortening or suet. I would still think it would be pretty messy but that's the only thing I found. Good luck and have fun!

Answer 8

One year we made birdfeeders by stringing cheerios onto a pipe cleaner.  Once it is almost full all the way around, bend it into a circle and twist the ends closed.  Then the kids can just hang it on a branch.  Great for peanut-free schools, and good fine motor practice!