Suet is an energy-rich food for woodpeckers and other wild birds, providing double the energy in protein and fat for them to consume.
Suet comes in many forms and flavors; you can make your own or purchase suet cakes, nuggets and pellets or logs from retailers.
Renderned lard can also be purchased in the cooking or Mexican foods aisle at your grocery store.
Contents
Feeders
Suet is highly attractive to woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, jays and cardinals as it provides them with high-calorie nutrition necessary for maintaining body heat. Offering suet as winter approaches can help attract these birds as they search for sustenance.
Numerous types of feeders can be used to give birds access to suet, including logs with holes drilled through them, cage feeders, bags and trays. Some people also enjoy offering bird food directly via tree branches or hollowed logs as an organic way of giving it out; cage feeders may not hold as much suet than larger blocks or cakes do though they remain popular with many birders.
Some suet is sold in “no-melt” varieties to resist melting under hot temperatures, making cleanup simpler. Unfortunately, however, this variety contains chemicals which may not be good for birds and is expensive. If squirrels are stealing your suet, an alternative feeder containing an enclosure such as cage can deter them, while using capsaicin can also work to deter squirrels.
Making Suet
Suet is rendered animal fat that has been formed into blocks or cakes to attract wild birds. Suet is typically offered during winter when extra calories may be necessary to maintain body heat but can be offered year round.
Commercial suet cakes can be found at wild bird supply stores, garden centers and pet stores. Or you can make your own from scrap lard or beef fat trimmings from butchering; ask butchers, farmers and anyone who slaughters animals if they have any scraps available free or at a discount price.
To make suet, combine tallow with your chosen birdseed in a container that fits the dimensions of your feeder or can be easily molded. It’s simple and fun for kids – allow the mixture to cool before refrigerating or freezing until solidified; cut into individual suet cakes when ready.
Ingredients
Suet blocks’ ingredients may depend on the season and bird species you hope to attract, but must always include real animal fat such as beef tallow. You can find this at supermarket meat counters or render it yourself for at-home rendering; both options contain high levels of protein that make for excellent replacements for cooking oils that quickly go rancid.
Mix suet or tallow with other birdseeds, dried fruit, nuts and/or other nutritional components in order to create your desired recipe. A food chopper or NutriBullet can help break up ingredients into bite-size chunks that young birds can easily consume. When finished, pour into containers that fit your feeders and hang outdoors. It may be wise to store extra suet blocks in the refrigerator or freezer until needed in order to prevent spoilage; they are particularly helpful during fall and winter when many wild birds expend energy keeping warm while providing energy-rich treats to aid feather growth during molting periods when black oil sunflower seeds provide essential nutrition needed by growing birds.
Storage
Suet was once reserved only for winter birdfeeders; today it’s an essential component of many birders’ feeding programs year round. Suet provides birds with high-calorie energy sources. If not handled properly though, suet can spoil or go rancid, attract insects that contaminate it quickly, and create a mess!
As with any food item, proper storage for bird food is of utmost importance. Storing it somewhere cool such as a garage or timber shed will prolong its shelf life and protect it from bacteria growth that can lead to spoilage.
