If you have ever tried to render fat (cooking suet to remove all the fat) for your homemade bird food, you probably soon learned that the mess and the smell simply was not worth the few dollars you were saving by not purchasing pre made made suet cakes for your birds. There is an easier way to make you own suet cakes.
Birds require the high energy available in fats, seeds, and nuts. However, rendering your own suet is not the only choice. Lard or even vegetable shortening can be used as the base for your recipe and still provide your birds with the nutrition they need. Using them as your base saves time and energy, and lets face it, doesn’t smell up your kitchen. There are two basic recipes for making suet cakes.
Recipe One
This recipe calls for equal amounts of shortening or suet and commercial bird seed. If you choose to use sunflowers seeds, be sure to use black oil sunflowers seeds as they are higher in nutritional value and fat content.
Recipe Two
This recipe calls for a ratio of approximately one part of fat to one part crunchy peanut butter, one part flour, three parts of cornmeal, and one part other ingredients such as nuts, seeds, berries, and fruits.
Combine Ingredients
To make either recipe, combine softened fat with other ingredients, mix well and pat into a pan to harden. I find a bread pan works well, if you want to cut your suet to fit the small suet feeders. Otherwise, pat the mixture in a 9 X 13 pan and place in the refrigerator to hasten hardening. When it has set, cut into desired size and fill you feeders.
As long as you provide enough fat in your recipe, what you choose to add for dry ingredients is up to you. Some substitute crushed cracker crumbs, cracked corn, or dried bread crumbs for part or all of the flour . Adding bits of dried fruit, a variety of nuts and seeds, and even bits of bacon left in your bacon drippings provide a tasty treat for the birds. Be creative and experiment with different combinations. You’ll soon find the winning combination for your particular birds.
Store Properly
Remember all the fat n the recipe does not have to be the same kind of fat. Save bacon drippings and fats drained from meats in a jar or can and store in the refrigerator for additions to your next batch of bird food. Do not leave this on the counter as the fats will get rancid and can injure your birds.
Mesh Bags Alert
Many people use mesh bags from onions or fruit to hold their suet for the birds. I have never had a problem with this, but I have heard that the small mesh poses a danger for birds and can catch or damage their feet. Use caution in the containers you use. A simple wire suet cage can be purchased at your local retail store for under $5. It is a small price to protect the safety of your birds.
Suet Attracts Many Different Kinds of Birds
Place your feeders in a sheltered location where you can view them from a window. Suet attracts many different types of birds, especially Chickadees, Downy Woodpeckers, and Nut Hatches. I am told that it will also attract Blue Birds and it has even been reported to attract Cardinals. The birds your feeder attracts depends on your location and your native birds.
