A seed bell is a block of seeds held together with a binder, hung from a hook or branch so wild birds can peck at it. It is an easy, low-mess way to feed birds, and you can buy one or make your own. Just choose a good seed base, hang it safely, and replace it before it gets wet or moldy.
Why Use a Seed Bell
- It needs no feeder, so you can hang it from a tree or hook.
- Clinging birds like chickadees, nuthatches, titmice and finches take to it quickly.
- It makes little mess compared with loose seed.
What to Look For When Buying
Check the ingredient list on the package. A good bell has black oil sunflower seed, safflower, peanuts or peanut hearts, and millet near the top. Avoid bells that are mostly filler such as milo or have artificial dyes. Different brands use different binders, such as gelatin, vegetable fat or honey, so read the label and pick one that keeps its shape without being greasy. Bells shaped for outdoor wild birds are not the same as treat bells for caged pets, so buy the wild bird kind.
How to Hang It
- Hang it five to six feet off the ground, ideally near cover such as a shrub or tree so birds can escape predators.
- Keep it out of reach of cats, and away from windows (or use window decals) to reduce collisions.
- Use a sturdy hook or twine, and remove any plastic netting that came with it, because birds can get tangled in it.
Make Your Own
You can make a simple homemade version with a small bowl or cup mold. Mix about 2 cups of birdseed with 1 tablespoon of unflavored gelatin dissolved in half a cup of hot water, or use melted vegetable shortening or suet as a binder. Press the mixture into the mold with a loop of twine, let it set until firm, and hang it. Do not use honey or sugar syrup in warm weather, because it spoils and attracts insects.
Keep It Fresh
Replace a seed bell when it gets wet, moldy or crumbly, and rinse the hook each time. In hot weather, binders can melt or spoil, so check often. For more about seed choices, see wild bird seed at Tractor Supply and the cheapest way to feed wild birds.
Bottom Line
Seed bells are a simple way to attract clinging songbirds. Choose or make one with real seeds, hang it safely away from predators, and replace it before it spoils.
