Homemade Suet...Winter Birds Love It

A suet cage from the store...my suet

A plastic mesh bag from oranges

This week we made some suet at home. It is really simple and the birds that stay through the winter really need the fat. Birds convert the fat that they get when they eat various seeds into heat to help them survive the cold winter days. The other night it was -21 degrees that is very cold; but some birds were created to not only survive, but to thrive, in this temperature. God gave them a super efficient furnace to keep them going.

Already this morning I have seen Goldfinches, Pine Siskens, and Chickadees all out eating from our feeders; these are all relatively small birds so they really need the heat. There have also been Cardinals and Woodpeckers out there. they are a little larger and need more food to keep a larger body warm. I do not understand it all. I know that some birds are able to lower their body temperatures in the winter to survive; amazing.

But equally important to food, especially fatty foods like suet, birds need water. That is why we have a large flower pot tray filled with water and a small heater to keep the water from freezing up.

A jumbo turkey bag tied up

Homemade Suet

1          cup          Lard or Shortening (I use lard)
1          cup          Peanut Butter (I use chunky, but any kind will work)
(melt the fats together over medium heat)

2          cups        Corn Meal
1          cup          Oatmeal (I use the quick cooking)
1          cup          Bird Food
(stir together until a coarse batter forms)

(optional stuff)
you can add some raisins, or old peanuts, cranberries or other stuff you think the birds might like for an added suet treat.

A homemade suet holder...thanks Aaliyah

You can line a cake pan with aluminum foil and pour the in the suet. Place in the freezer or outside in the cold until it is hard; cut them into squares the size that will fit into your suet holder. You can also place some suet onto a sheet of foil and make a ball shaped suet treat. This would be a great school project. Have Fun!