How to Make Suet Plugs for Suet Feeders

Suet is made from fat and is an important source of calories for birds. Suet plugs are shaped to fit in predrilled holes in bird feeders. The advantage of a feeder that uses suet plugs is that you can use a variety of suet ingredients, including nuts and grains, and put a different combination in each hole. The different suets will attract a variety of birds to your feeder. Making your own suet plugs is easy and relatively inexpensive.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Suet, shortening or lard
• Heavy bottomed saucepan
• Spoon
• Peanut butter
• Flour
• Cornmeal
• Oats, nuts, birdseed, small pieces of fruit
• 8x8 inch pan

1. Melt 1 cup of suet, shortening or lard in a large, heavy bottomed saucepan over low heat.

2. Add 1 cup of plain or chunky peanut butter. Stir until the peanut butter is melted and has incorporated into the suet.

3. Measure 1 cup of plain flour and 3 cups of cornmeal into a bowl. Mix thoroughly. Stir into the mixture in the saucepan.

4. Choose which nuts, grains or fruit you will add. Stir about a cup of each into the mixture along with 1 cup of birdseed.

5. Spread the mixture into an 8x8 inch pan and let cool.

6. Cut the suet into pieces that will fit snugly into the holes in a suet feeder. Store the remaining plugs in the refrigerator or freezer.

Tips & Warnings

• Feed birds year-round rather than just in the winter. They'll come to expect the food to be there.
• Freeze suet that won't be used within a couple of weeks.

References

• Bird Feeder Information
• Suet Recipes

Resources

• Bird Feeding Tips
• Making Birdfeeders
• Dealing with Unwanted Birdfeeder Visitors