How to Use Suet

Suet is a high-fat, high-energy food that attracts insect-eating birds. It's traditionally put out in the winter when insects are scarce, but suet products available today can be used year-round.

Things You'll Need

• Suet cake
• Suet feeder

Instructions

Attracting birds with suet

1. Choose a type of suet. Low cost is one of the advantages of suet, but you'll still find a wide range of prices. Resist the urge to buy large quantities of an unknown brand just because it's priced at $1. Instead, buy one or two and see how your birds take to it. If they like it, stock up. You'll find a variety of flavors, including peanut, seed and berry. Again, test them to see which is most popular. You might attract different varieties of birds with different types of suet.

2. Choose a suet holder. These don't need to be complicated devices. As in many aspects of bird-watching, the simpler the better. An inexpensive wire cage available at any store that sells bird seed is all you need. Cloth mesh bags also work well.

3. Place the suet feeder. Since suet attracts birds that normally feed on insects, place the suet where they usually find bugs--as high on a tree trunk as you can comfortably reach.

4. Present suet throughout the year. Suet is a terrific source of energy for birds. Use it in the winter when bugs are scarce, but also in the spring, when birds are expending lots of energy mating and nesting. In the fall, many adult birds molt, while others prepare to migrate. They'll appreciate the energy suet provides then, too.

5. Enjoy your new visitors. Many birds that ignore seed will flock to suet, including woodpeckers, bluebirds and warblers.

Tips & Warnings

• Suet can go rancid in the heat, so choose one that is touted as suitable for year-round feeding.