An edible bird house can be a quaint gift for a birder or any nature-lover, but how good are these houses, either as feeders or true nesting houses? Before you assume an edible house can do double duty for your backyard birds, it's best to learn a bit about them so you can choose the best design for your intentions and the birds' needs.
Edible Bird House Designs
Not all edible bird houses are either edible or suitable as bird houses.
They are rustic, decorative designs in house shapes covered with seeds and natural materials, though some are more thoughtfully designed for the birds. Edible seeds might include striped and black oil sunflower seeds, Nyjer, safflower seeds, cracked corn, red or white millet, wheat grains, nut pieces and fruit chunks, while additional natural accents such as sprigs of evergreens, a raffia ribbon, pine cones, moss, herbs, dry berries, grasses and peppers could be added for more texture and color.
The house frames vary and are often constructed on real bird houses that may or may not be suitable as shelter or nesting sites once the food is consumed. The houses could be balsa or another thin wood frame or a thicker pine or oak construction, or even constructed of cardboard or recycled paper. Seed and accents are typically attached with gelatin or another edible "glue" so they are safe for feeding birds.
The aesthetic designs of edible houses vary just as much as the foods used to decorate them.
Basic houses are popular, with different seeds used to create color patterns or painted looks on the walls and roof, with other foods delineating a door, windows or other homey designs. More elaborate designs can be created for edible castles, log cabins, colonial mansions or any creative option.
Edible Houses as Feeders
Though they may be designed to look like bird houses, these seed-covered treats work well as feeders similar to seed wreaths, seed cakes or homemade birdseed ornaments. In fact, because they are covered with a variety of seeds to make their colorful designs, they can attract a wide range of birds including sparrows, finches, chickadees, wrens, nuthatches, tits and woodpeckers. Birds can easily land on the house to feed, and some may cling to the sides, though larger birds will find it more difficult to balance. Because these types of feeders are open, they may also be more attractive to bully birds and squirrels, though using baffles can help deter some unwanted houseguests. It may be difficult for birds to access seed on some surfaces, and seeds may easily brush off and spill, but ground-feeding birds will happily investigate that spillage.
Edible Houses as Houses
Despite their outward appearance, edible bird houses are often poor places for nesting birds. Many designs use only light woods or cardboard to hold the seed, materials that do not provide suitable stability or insulation for nesting birds. While the house is still coated with seed, birds will not try to take up residence because the feeding area is too popular to feel secure raising a brood. Furthermore, many of the houses are not designed to be safe bird houses and lack features such as drainage, ventilation or no perch that can make nesting birds safer.
Some edible houses, however, are built on stronger frames that can be great bird houses after all the seed has been eaten. Once the house is bare, it should be thoroughly cleaned and inspected to be sure it is suitable for nesting, and it can then be mounted properly for bird families to use.
Where to Buy Edible Bird Houses
Tasty bird house treats can be found at many wild bird stores, nature stores, garden centers, craft shows and novelty gift shops, particularly during the winter holiday season. They are also available online from a variety of retailers, including:
- SongbirdGarden.com
- BirdLodges.com
- Incredible Edible Birdhouses
- MusicalWindChimes.com
- Fiddle Creek Farms
- Amazon.com
The cost of an edible house ranges from $20-60 (USD) or higher depending on the overall size, seed quality, intricacy of the design and the type of bird house frame the seed is attached to. In general, more expensive houses are more likely to be able to function as both feeders and suitable houses.
A great gift for both birders and birds, edible bird houses can be beautiful and functional additions to any backyard. Whether they are used as feeders, houses or both, the birds will appreciate the house, and birders will appreciate the beauty it brings to the yard not only through its colorful design, but also through the colors and activity of the birds that take advantage of it.
Photo – Seed-Covered Edible House © Melissa Mayntz