Safe Edible Trim For An Outdoor Xmas Tree

[ravenwoodglass]

I want to decorate a pine tree or two outside my house in edible stuff for the birds this year. I was thinking about stringing popcorn and cranberries but wondered if it might be risky. Would the birds just eat the stuff off the thread or do y'all think they might try to fly off with it?

Any ideas?

[debmidge]

Ok sounds crazy but what if the "thead" was edible? I was thinking about

shoestring red licorice (yes, the gluteny kind) - what else can you use it for?

[MaryJones2]

What a good idea. I am thinking popcorn balls or seed balls for ornaments. Maybe if you strung the popcorn on wire they wouldn't fly away with it.

[lpellegr]

When my kids were little we put edible ornaments on our trees outside, mostly smeared with peanut butter and dipped in birdseed. We cut shapes out of toast with cookie cutters and made a string loop just big enough to slip over a branch. We also did the same with fallen pine cones. We did notice that the decorations tended to disappear, so I think the squirrels ran away with them. Use natural fiber for the string loop because it would probably cause fewer problems if eaten than something synthetic. Might be a good way to use up stale, nasty gluten-free bread.

[ravenwoodglass]

Great ideas, thanks for the input. I will try and post a picture when it is finished. I have a flock of sparrows that 'trim' the tree every morning, they gave me the idea. I know just where to gather a bunch of pinecones and it will make a nice project for Thankgiving.

[angel-jd1]

You can slather pinecones with peanut butter then dip or roll them in bird seed. Tie onto the braches of the tree. Homemade edible birdie ornaments!!

-Jessica

[pickle]

You can slather pinecones with peanut butter then dip or roll them in bird seed. Tie onto the braches of the tree. Homemade edible birdie ornaments!!

-Jessica

We always did this growing up! In fact, when i read the thread title I was all ready to post the idea.

[ang1e0251]

I also did that with my children and niece when they were young. We changed our recipe one year when we read how much birds need extra fat in the winter to withstand the cold. That's why some put out suet for them. We melted shortening and stirred in the peanut butter and seed, then frosted the pine cones and hung them with bright colored yarn. Birds would pick it clean!