How to Make Fat Balls Bird Food
Fat balls are a simple way to feed birds in the yard or garden. They provide calorie-rich food for birds in cold weather, and can attract beautiful wild birds to your home. Making fat balls is a relatively straightforward process that almost anyone can accomplish. This craft project works well for people of all ages and skill levels. All that's required is the ability to mix and mold.
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Things You'll Need
- Craft sticks
- 6 to 8 ounce plastic yogurt cups
- String
- Animal fat such as lard or tallow
- Mixing bowl
- Spoon
- Bird seed
- Dried fruit
- Unsalted nuts
- Grain
Instructions
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1
Cut or break a craft stick to fit in the bottom of a yogurt cup.
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2
Tie a length of string around the middle of the stick. Knot it firmly.
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3
Place the stick in the bottom of the yogurt cup. Allow the string to hang outside the cup.
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4
Place 4 to 6 ounces of room temperature animal fat into a mixing bowl. Stir in bird seed, dried fruit, unsalted nuts, and grain until the mixture develops the texture of stiff batter or soft dough.
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5
Press the fat and seed mixture into the yogurt cup, making sure the string still hangs outside the cup. Place the cup in a cool place and allow the mixture to set up.
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6
Remove the fat ball from the yogurt cup and hang it outside from a tree or post.
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Tips & Warnings
Use different containers to create interesting shapes.
Never use butter, liquid oil, or margarine in a fat ball, because they may not set up properly and can go rancid.
References
- Photo Credit sparrow image by Henryk Olszewski from Fotolia.com
