Archive for April, 2008


Feeding the Birds - How to Make Bird Suet

Filed under Activities, Birds

Apr 10 2008

McKayla with her Bird SuetWe made bird suet a few weeks ago using different variety of bird seed. Then we did some scientific testing to see what suet the birds in our region preferred. We had a very clear winner.

We’re sharing the recipe here. But if you’d rather not make your own, or if you just want to help a little girl fulfill some of her dreams to study animals in San Diego you can buy some from McKayla in her new store. She is selling Bird Suet to earn money for an educational field trip to the ocean, Sea World and the San Diego zoo.

 

Here’s How To Make Bird Suet

You will need:

Bird Suet Ingredients

  • Small plastic zippered bags
  • Mesh bag or suet basket.
  • Stove
  • Pot
  • Stirring Spoon
  • Freezer
  • 2 cups peanut butter
  • 2 cups lard (not shortening)
  • 4 cups rolled oats (not quick oats)
  • 4 cups cornmeal
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1 cup bird seed

Making Bird Suet

 

1. Melt the lard and peanut butter in a pot over low heat. Have a grown-up do that part.

Melted Peanut Butter & Lard

2. Stir in the rest of the ingredients.

Stir In Rest of Ingredients

3. Scoop the mixture into small zippered bags.

Scoop Into Bags

3. Place the bags in the freezer so the suet will harden.

Done Preparing the Suet

Once the suet has hardened:

  1. Remove the suet from one of the bags and place it in the mesh bag or suet basket. We found it easies to cut the bag open.
  2. Hang the bag or suet basket on a tree outdoors. It should be on an open branch where cats can’t easily access it.
  3. Wait, watch, and enjoy the birds that flock to it.

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