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How to Make Homemade Suet

Contributor
By Heidi Braley
eHow Contributing Writer
(4 Ratings)
Fancy Suet Feeder
Fancy Suet Feeder

During the cold months of winter when the thermometer drops below freezing most days, wild birds enjoy having a tasty treat of homemade suet. Since it mostly fat, it helps give them extra calories during the leaner months. Read on to learn how to make homemade suet.

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Meat lard
  • Peanut butter
  • Bird seed
  • Muffin tins
  • Onion mesh bag
  1. Step 1
    Stored fat can be used to make suet.
     
    Stored fat can be used to make suet.

    One of the easiest ways to make your own suet is to save the fat that you skim off your stocks and gravies by pouring it into a container to keep in the refrigerator until you are ready to form suet cakes.

  2. Step 2
    Strips of fat
     
    Strips of fat

    Suet in its original form is the fat that was found around the beef kidneys but today, lard is generally used. In fact, in some grocery stores you can buy strips of fat to be used for suet. Since this fat can go rancid in warmer temperatures, it is best to make it only for the cooler months.

  3. Step 3
    Suet mixture
     
    Suet mixture

    Choose some natural additions, like cornmeal, birdseed, chopped apples or millet. Consider sticking to foods without additives or sugar or salt such as found in breads or crackers. Use a ratio of 1:1, fat to additions.

  4. Step 4
    Muffin tins
     
    Muffin tins

    Heat the fat until it transforms into liquid. Remove from heat and add additions. Stir well and pour into muffin tins. Cool until firm.

  5. Step 5
    Bird enjoying suet
     
    Bird enjoying suet

    Now place the suet cake into an onion mesh bag and hang outside from a tree branch. A fun project for children is to take the suet mixture and smear it into a pine cone. Hang it from a tree branch as a natural feeder.

Comments  

NatalieJ said

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on 7/12/2009 Ohh, this sounds like fun. Have to try it. 5*

vlhammett said

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on 3/10/2009 I'll have to remember this for the winter. Summer's almost here now...72 degrees today! 5*

vikki9 said

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on 3/8/2009 I've seen this in stores but have never tried it... maybe now is the time. Thank you.

freebyrd73 said

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on 5/30/2008 birds can get tangled in netting. please use the metal feeder.

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