Bird Suet

Photo by di_the_huntress

Bird seeds are popular delights for birds but some species still may rarely eat them for meals, like the bluebirds. This is why birders also introduce birds suet. Many types of birds are attracted to home-made suet. It is even more preferred by birds than the commercially available suet recipes since most commercial varieties are often greasy and cannot bear up to warmer temperatures. So, if you are planning to introduce home-made suet to your feathered friends, here are some few essential things to remember.

• Birds love peanut butter that is why many types of effective suet contain crunchy peanut butter. Cheaper types of peanut butter tend to be greasier, so suet feeders often use the more expensive kinds.
• Dry suet ingredients can change their qualities over temperature changes, so it is most important to keep their textures crumbly for birds.
• Beef suet can turn rancid if the temperature rises over 70 degrees. Thus, you should never use them if you expect the temperature to climb.
• Clarified and melted beef suet is less likely turns rancid over temperature changes; but they are not digestible to many birds due to the presence of high saturated fats.
• Many birders are very cautious about the use of vegetable shorting; however, there have already been many attests from birders telling that they pose no health risks to these Aves.
• Synthetic onion nylon bags do not easily break and birders who used them only found birds trapped in it. That is why these types of bags are not recommended as suet holders.
• Some commercial varieties of food, mostly made of bakery products or peanut nuggets, are delectable to birds. The key to discovering preferred food treats for birds is to simply observe the types of food that your preferred birds like and then test them.

Bird on Suet

Photo by quinet

Bird Suet Recipes

There are some bird suet recipes that can help you attract the birds of your choice, often they are home-made suet. If you want to try to do them on your own, here are some easy suet recipes preferred by experienced birders.

Bluebird Meal Suet Recipe

1.      Mix 1 part corn syrup, 1 part crunchy peanut butter and 1 part lard (you can also use melted suet or bacon grease as substitutes) together.

2.      Add 5 parts of the old-fashioned oatmeal to the mixture.

3.      Stir well and then serve in log feeder holes.

Live Meal worm Suet Recipe

1.      Plunge ½ cup of live meal worms in ¼ cup of hot beef tallow.

2.      Add ½ cup of completely thawed blueberries and ¼ cup of creamy peanut butter.

3.      Mix all ingredients thoroughly.

4.      Cool or freeze until solid.

5.      Serve with chopped nuts, cracked corn or bird seeds.

Meal worm Suet Cakes

1.      Melt 2 ½ cups of peanut butter and 1 cup of lard in low heat.

2.      Mix ½ cup of egg shells, ½ cup of sunflower seeds and ½ cup of crushed peanuts.

3.      Add 6 cups of cornmeal and 5 cups of flour.

4.      Stir all ingredients until crunchy.

5.      Refrigerate and then serve with mealworms.

Meaty Suet Recipe

1.      Mix 1 cup of each of the following ingredients: crunchy peanut butter, white flour, vegetable shortening.

2.      Add 4 cups of yellow cornmeal.

3.      Add ½ to 1 cup of bacon drippings or melted beef suet.

4.      Stir well until doughy.

5.      Cool then serve in suet bags.

Miracle Suet Recipe

1.      Melt lard to room temperature.

2.      Add raising, peanut hearts and sunflower hearts. Then stir.

3.      Mix in flour, oil and cornmeal.

4.      Stir until it crumbles and cut into chunks when serving.

Songbird Delight Suet Recipe

1.      Mix 4 cups of yellow cornmeal with 1 cup of unbleached flour and 1 cup of crunchy peanut butter.

2.      Add 1 cup of sunflower seeds, 1 cup of unsalted ground peanuts, ½ cup of currants or chopped raisins.

3.      Mix well.

4.      Add 1 cup of suet or melted lard.

5.      Mix until it crumbly.

6.      Chill then serve.

7.      If intended for long term use, store in freezing temperature.

Suet Variant with Berries

1.      Mix 1 cup of each of the following: melted crunchy peanut butter, lard and flour.

2.      Add 2 cups of each of the following: quick oats and corn meal.

3.      Add 1/3 cup of sugar and berries then mix well.

4.      Cool in a pan.

5.      Cut into small squares and then serve.

Suet Variant with Cottonseed

1.      Finely chop ½ cup of nuts and ½ cup of raisins.

2.      Mix with 1 cup of each: plain flour, cottonseed meal and applesauce.

3.      Stir well.

4.      Add 2 cups of melted lard and 4 cups of cornmeal.

5.      Mix until crumbly.

6.      Add lard if the mixture is too crumbly or add a little flour if it is too greasy.

7.      Cut into pieces, place on a cookie sheet and cool in the fridge.

8.      Defrost for about 15 minutes in a microwave.

9.      Then, serve as desired.

Suet Variant with Sunflower Chips

1.      Mix 1 cup of each: crunchy peanut butter and whole wheat or unbleached flour.

2.      Add four cups of cornmeal then stir well.

3.      Add 1 cup of each: sunflower chips and finely ground nuts (or peanut hearts).

4.      Add half a cup of cut-up raisins or Zante currants.

5.      Add 1 cup of rendered and melted suet.

6.      Mix until crumbly.

7.      Cool and then serve.

Winter Suet Pudding Recipe

1.      Boil water and margarine in a large saucepan.

2.      Add grits and then stir until mixture thickens.

3.      Remove from heat.

4.      Add 1 cup of peanut butter, 1 cup of raisins and peanut hearts.

5.      Mix well then cool before serving.