People who buy our popular bird nesting box cameras often ask us how to set up their boxes so that they will be used and inhabited. Putting out a feeder all year to give them food is a surefire way to get bids to come to your garden. This is especially important during the cold winter months and cold spells like this one, when birds can’t find much to eat on their own and need to eat a lot of calories to make up for the energy they lose. Putting out Fat Balls for birds to eat over the next few months is one of the best things you can do to help the wildlife in your garden.
To make fat balls, a lot of different traditional bird foods are mixed together using saturated fats to form a block. These foods include seeds, fruit, and grain. The birds can pick at the ball and eat the fat and seeds, which gives them a lot of calories to keep them going in the cold. You can buy them at any good pet or garden store, usually in pre-made feeders. But did you know it’s easy to make your own? This quick recipe can be changed to fit different bird species and ball sizes.
Many people enjoy offering suet feeders to attract birds during the winter months. Suet which is beef or mutton fat, provides birds with much-needed energy and nutrients. Some choose to use pork fat in homemade suet cakes instead. But is pork fat safe for wild birds to eat? There are some important considerations regarding the risks of feeding pork fat to birds.
What is Pork Fat?
Pork fat refers to the layers of adipose tissue and fatty deposits found on pigs, Some common types of pork fat include
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Bacon grease – The rendered fat drippings from cooking bacon.
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Lard – Fat rendered from pork and processed for cooking or baking uses.
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Pork suet – Hard fat around the kidneys and loins of pigs.
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Skin/subcutaneous fat – The layer of fat under a pig’s skin.
Pork fat has a high fat content and was historically used for numerous purposes including candle making, soap production, and cooking oil. Today it remains a popular ingredient in various cuisines. But is it a safe option for bird feeding?
Potential Concerns of Feeding Pork Fat to Birds
There are a few areas of caution when it comes to offering pork fat to wild birds:
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Lower melting point – Compared to beef suet, most pork fats have a lower melting point and become soft and oily at temperatures above 95°F. This can cause feathers to become greasy and matted.
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Spread of bacteria – Raw pork can contain harmful bacteria like salmonella. Rendering and sterilizing pork fat before use reduces this risk.
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Rancidity – Polyunsaturated pork fat becomes rancid faster than beef suet when exposed to air. Rancid fats can cause illness.
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Less nutrients – Pork fat generally contains fewer vitamins and minerals compared to suet.
So while pork fat may seem like an inexpensive alternative, it does come with some drawbacks regarding safety and nutrition for birds.
Best Practices for Using Pork Fat in Bird Feeders
If you do opt to use pork fat for homemade suet cakes, keep these tips in mind:
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Render the fat thoroughly first to eliminate moisture and impurities.
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Avoid soft fats like lard or bacon grease. Opt for firmer fatback or pork kidney fat if possible.
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Mix with peanut butter to increase hardness and reduce melting.
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Refrigerate any homemade suet cakes containing pork fat to extend freshness.
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Use suet feeders to prevent direct contact between birds and the fat.
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Offer in winter only when temperatures are consistently below 75°F.
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Clean feeders frequently to prevent bacterial growth and rancidity.
Even with precautions however, beef suet is still a safer choice compared to pork fat when it comes to bird feeding.
Beef Suet – The Gold Standard for Birds
Beef suet offers numerous advantages over pork fat:
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Higher melting point – Typically 113°F to melt compared to 95°F for pork fat.
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Low moisture – Contains less water so resists spoilage by bacteria and fungi.
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Higher nutrients – Provides more energy along with vitamins A, D, E, and K.
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Won’t go rancid as fast – The saturated fat is more stable. Lasts 2-3 months in feeders.
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Crumbly texture – Less likely to smear on feathers compared to soft, greasy fats.
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Digestible – Composition is similar to the fat and protein sources wild birds consume naturally.
With its safety, nutrition profile, and availability, beef suet remains the gold standard fat for bird feeding purposes.
Bottom Line – Choose Suet for Bird Feeders
When it comes to picking the optimal fat to offer birds, beef suet is a clear winner over pork fat. Suet’s hardness, nutrient composition, and digestibility make it the safest and most nutritious choice. If opting to use pork fat, take steps like sterilizing, adding hardness with peanut butter, and using enclosed feeders to reduce risks. But for the health and wellbeing of your wild birds, always reach for suet first.
Making the Fat Balls
Preparing them is simple! Just take one part fat to two parts dried food mix. Melt the butter in a pan, then pour it over the dry mix in a bowl or on a baking sheet. Mix the ingredients together so that the butter is spread out evenly. Before the mixture hardens, pour it into the mold you want to use to make the block. An empty yogurt cup is a common choice. Just make sure to put a string loop on the container first, that way you can hang it up when it’s full. Alternatively, simply form the mixture into balls around string. Once it has cooled down completely and the fat has solidified, you can hang it up to feed your birds.
Birds eat pork fat: titmouse and sparrow
Do birds eat pork fat?
It’s common for birds to seek food when they are hungry. This goes for any type of animal including humans. When birds are hungry, they will seek foods that are going to take care of their appetite in one go. This is easier said than done but it is possible if you give pork fat to a bird. They can eat a small amount and feel full for hours.
Why is pork not recommended to eat?
This is not true, some cuts like sirloin and pork rump steak, for example, are very healthy, even healthier than beef and chicken. Only the fattest cuts like bacon and crackling should be avoided.
Do birds eat beef fat?
Birds will eat the fat of cattle, hogs and other animals. However, the fatty food most commonly fed backyard birds is beef fat also known as suet. The very best suet is found around the kidneys and loins of cattle. When rendered, this fat won’t become rancid or melt in warm weather as quickly as other fats.
Can birds eat saturated fat?
Yes, humans should not be eating saturated fats but that doesn’t apply to birds. They retain a lot of value from saturated fats in natural sources such as meat products. If you give pork fat to a bird, it is going to enjoy the meal and so will its body. This is what it all comes down to at the end of the day. 1. What Fat Can You Feed Birds?