How to Make Suet Cakes for Birds

Many birds of winter struggle for survival during the cold months. Chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, jays and other insect eating birds need the fat content of suet cakes for energy. Suet is the white fat surrounding the kidney area, ribs and other sections of beef. Make some cakes with little preparation.

Things You'll Need

• Suet
• Frying pan
• Treats: oatmeal, raisins, or peanut butter
• Bird seed
• Disposable container
• Baking pan such as pie, bread, cupcake or muffin
• Suet cage
• Nylon mesh onion bag
• Twine, rope or chain

Instructions

1. Go to your local butcher shop or meat counter and ask for suet to make cakes for the birds. This is the trimmed fat off the meat. The butcher throws the fat away so ask if it is free! Sometimes the butcher will grind it up for you.

2. Pick up extra treats to make a delightful attraction. The birds love oatmeal, raisins, cornflower or peanut butter with their cakes. Add some bird seeds, too!

3. Chop about a pound of the suet into small pieces. Do this only if the butcher didn't. Some people grind the fat using a grinder.

4. Grab a small frying pan and spread the suet around.

5. Turn your oven to low or medium heat. You want to melt the suet.

6. Remove the pan off the burner and mix in the treats. With a pound of suet add the bird treats. Use what you have. For example, add a cup of oatmeal and cup of peanut butter. Pour in a ¼ cup of raisins or birdseed. Mix them all or just use one ingredient.

7. Take a container and pour the mixture in it. Use a disposable container like a plastic butter bowl or line a bread pan with plastic or foil. Cupcake and muffin pans are also good.

8. Allow the mixture to cool. It turns solid.

9. Cut to the size of your suet cage and place the cake inside it. Or make use of alternative cake holders: onion bags, pine cones, mesh netting. Push the suet cakes into the openings of the cones.

10. Hang the container outside on a tree branch. Use twine, robe or chain. Make sure it is tied securely. Choose a location to watch the birds feeding from your window. Make sure it is high enough away from your neighbor's kitty.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to freeze the leftover raw fat.

• Suet goes bad if the temperatures rise to 70 degrees. If a sudden warm spell comes watch for melting suet. Take it down and clean the cage. When the temperatures go down replace with fresh cakes.