SUET FOR WILD BIRDS
Looking for a new and different method of feeding the Wild Birds in your Backyard?
Suet has become one of the top three foods to feed wild birds because of its rich source of heat and energy.
What is Suet
Who Eats Suet
Why Feed Suet
When to Feed Suet
WHAT IS SUET Suet is animal fat, typically beef kidney fat, which is available at many meat counters. Suet also can be purchased as processed cakes that include seeds, berries, nuts and other ingredients. Many quality suet cake manufacturers use a special process that removes impurities that cause low melting point and spoilage problems. The individually wrapped cakes are convenient and less messy.
Suet is a good choice for attracting insect-eating birds such as nuthatches and woodpeckers. The following birds will feed at suet cakes:
woodpeckers wrens warblers nuthatches thrashers cardinals titmice robins bluebirds chickadees kinglets creepers starlings mockingbirds jays WHY FEED SUET Suet is animal fat and is the most concentrated source of energy you can offer wild birds. Because birds have high metabolic rates, it is not unusual for birds to consume 1/4 to 1/3 their body weight worth of food a day. Suet has become one of the top three foods to feed wild birds to help them meet these needs.Offering suet, mixed with the highest quality grains, nuts, fruits, and flavored pellets provides a high caloric energy source intake that aids wild birds during times of additional energy needs such as nesting, breeding, feeding young birds, migration, molting, and lasting through chilly winter nights. The insect eating birds that you attract will also reward you in the spring and summer by eating unwanted insects in your garden.
All Year Long!Cold winter months are a good time to start feeding wild birds because of the scarcity of natural seeds and insects. When you feed during the winter, the birds are more visible because of lack of foliage on the trees and bushes. Once attracted to your feeders, you may be able to keep the birds coming throughout the warmer months. Birds typically eat most actively first thing in the morning and again just before nightfall. After putting out the suet cake, birds will flit back and forth to the suet for quick snacks during the day. During the warm months, birds will also welcome the energy rich suet cakes. In the past, it was suggested that suet be used only in colder months to avoid spoilage or melting in higher temperatures. However, many new products are specially processed for use in warmer temperatures. Backyard Birds carries C & S Suet cakes and treats . C & S Treats are a poured product and will become soft and pliable at around 100 degrees (F). C & S Delights are refined even further and pressed to produce a ?No Melt? suet that can be fed during the hottest temperatures. These individually packaged suet cakes eliminate messy home preparation and cleanup.
Suet is traditionally fed in vinyl-coated wire cages. They are inexpensive and durable. Wire dimensions vary depending on how starling or squirrel resistant you want your feeder to be. The cages, or baskets, hold from one to several suet cakes. The cages may be hung from branches, tree trunks, or hooks. There are also several designs available combining wire with wood or plastic, simple to decorative. Since most of the birds that are attracted to suet usually cling to the bark of trees in search of insects, it is a good idea to suspend the suet feeder in a tree close to the trunk, approximately 5 to 6 feet from the ground. Bottom feeding suet feeders are available to discourage starlings from taking over your suet feeder. These feeders require birds to hang upside down, which is not convenient for starlings. HOMEMADE SUET TREATSThere are some who prefer to mix up their own suet mixtures for birds. Some can be spread onto the bark of a tree, and others come out as a homemade suet cake. When using these home recipes, be sure to change often and check to see if it is spoiled, melted or rancid. Suggested Suet Recipe:This suet recipe uses leftovers and doesn?t seem to melt as easily in hot climates:1 lb lard (not Crisco or shortening)*
1/2 - 1 Cup peanut butter
Approx 1/2 loaf of bread, or equivalent bread products such as donuts, plain cake, buns, rolls etc.
1/2 Cup flour
1/2 Cup cornmeal
1 Cup sugar
1 finely diced apple, or other fruit **
(raisins, blueberries, etc)
1/2 Cup pecans (optional*Beef fat can also be used, but may be hard to find in some areas. Also the lard doesn't smell up the kitchen so badly.
**Gather wild cherries and elderberries in season, freeze and use in the recipe later. Melt the lard and peanut butter over low heat. Mix flour, cornmeal and sugar and stir in. Add enough breadcrumbs to absorb all liquid. Add fruit and nuts as desired. Pour into a 9 x 5" bread pan and keep refrigerated. Put out a slice every day, woodpeckers, titmice, nuthatches, chickadees, wrens, warblers and others love it.
Put it in an "upside down" feeder so only clinging birds can get it, otherwise the sparrows and mockingbirds can run all others off.
Increase the variety and number of wild birds that visit your yard by adding a Suet Feeder. The antics of birds clinging and hanging from a feeder adds amusement to your bird watching fun. Don?t forget the added plus of decreasing the insects in your garden the natural way.
ENJOY the ENCHANTMENT OF LIFE in your own BACKYARD!
See our line of Suet Feeders and Suet Cakes at www.BackyardBIrdsandGardens.com
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