Feeding the Birds - How to Make Bird Suet

Apr 10 2008 Filed under Activities, Birds

We 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:

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.
Hang the bag or suet basket on a tree outdoors. It should be on an open branch where cats can’t easily access it.
Wait, watch, and enjoy the birds that flock to it.

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8 responses so far

8 Responses to “Feeding the Birds - How to Make Bird Suet”

Daisy the Curly Caton 11 Apr 2008 at 1:47 pm 1

What an interesting experiment you did to make your very own bird suet. I’ll bet it is much higher quality than the kind you would buy in the store, too. I do not think the types of birds where I live in south Florida would eat suet. We get mostly tropical birds like herons and egret and wood storks. Once, when I went out in my stroller, I even saw a roseate spoonbill! They mostly eat fish out of the lake behind my house. I like to watch birds.

Daisy the Curly Cat’s last blog post..Fashion Friday: I Am Off Roadin’!
Hannah Fannaon 14 Apr 2008 at 4:31 pm 2

You are very interesting. I’ve never seen a blog about science. Way to go! Please visit me!

Hannah Fanna’s last blog post..Happy Birthday Wynner
cherylon 17 Apr 2008 at 9:59 pm 3

What a refreshing and beautifully crafted blog. Kudos to your designer. I will definitely tell my readers about your site.

And thanks for the recipe. It’s just about time for me to use it. Now if I can only keep the squirrels from eating it.
:o/
Be well.

cj
sassyannon 25 May 2008 at 4:04 pm 4

I like how you made your bird food. You have a nice blog.

sassyann’s last blog post..Miley and The Photos
Corinaon 03 Jun 2008 at 6:36 pm 5

I love your site. I am an former science teacher and camp counselor. you have great ideas. thanks

Corina’s last blog post..Suckling from a lion’s teat??
Reneeon 24 Jul 2008 at 8:27 pm 6

OH My ! Love this ! I had searched all over for the perfect combination after just learning about these feeders and making them out of oak logs Thank you so much !!!! I’m impressed keep up the great work
Renee’s last blog post..Another Fat Day On the Farm !
Poet Bloggeron 06 Aug 2008 at 12:55 am 7

Well if I was a bird, I’d definitely eat it!

Poet Blogger’s last blog post..What Poetry Teaches Us About Life
LuAnnon 26 Sep 2008 at 5:17 am 8

Best of luck, McKayla!

LuAnn’s last blog post..My 2nd Prairie Dream of the Day