Simple Suet For Birds
Making your own suet allows you to customize the ingredients to appeal to the types of birds in your yard or those you specifically wish to attract. A homemade suet mixture can also be free from preservatives and additives. While there is no concrete evidence that these items may be harmful to birds, more natural, organic food sources are always preferable and have less risk of unknown side effects.
Suet is animal fat that has been rendered to form hard cakes, balls or other shapes. There are several ways to acquire different types of suet for making your own cakes, and many birders have one method that is easiest or preferred for them. You can try different methods to find the type of fat that is most popular with your backyard birds as well as best for your bird feeding budget. Purchase rendered plain suet cakes or chunks from a wild bird supply store, garden center or pet store.
These cakes can be used as-is or can be melted down to be used in more specialized suet recipes. This will usually be the most expensive option, as these cakes have already been processed and shaped for feeders. Purchase suet or beef fat trimmings from a local butcher. This is a less expensive option and depending on your butcher, you may be able to have these scraps for a drastic discount or even for free.
Also consider asking beef farmers or anyone who may butcher cattle about fat trimmings for sale. Save bacon and pork meat drippings to create your own suet. This will be softer than rendered beef fat but is still suitable for the birds as a rare treat. Do not feed birds exclusively bacon drippings, however, since some compounds from that type of fried fat can be detrimental to birds in the long term.
Furthermore, excessive salt in these drippings may also be harmful, though more study is needed to determine how much salt birds can ingest safely. Buy lard at the grocery store. Lard is typically found shelved near the butter or margarine products and can be used the same way as plain suet, though it will be somewhat softer. Buy vegetable shortening in place of animal fat. This is a preferred choice for many vegan or vegetarian birders who prefer not to use animal products, and it is still suitable for the birds. Vegetable shortening is typically found with baking supplies.
Suet recipes do not need to be complicated in order to attract a range of hungry birds. Before offering the suet to the birds, however, it should be rendered to help it maintain its shape more easily. This step should already be complete if you purchase the suet in cakes from a bird supply store.
1. Chop the fat into small pieces or run it through a meat grinder. If you are getting the fat from a butcher, they may be willing to do this for you. Be sure all traces of meat, bone or other tissues are removed. 2. Heat the chopped fat on low until it is fully liquefied.
Do not use higher temperatures to melt the suet more quickly, as this could lead to fires or scorching. Stir the fat constantly to help it melt evenly. 3. Strain the liquid fat through cheesecloth or a fine mesh to remove any particles or contaminants. The suet should be strained several times so it is as pure as possible.
It may need to be reheated between strainings to stay fully liquid. 1. Pour the fat into molds or containers and allow it to cool completely. The cakes can be chopped or cut to be fed to the birds, or you may use containers that are the appropriate size to fit your suet feeders.
