How to Make Suet Feeders to Attract Birds to Your Yard

Providing food is one of the best ways to attract birds to your yard. And one of the most popular types of bird food, especially in winter, is suet. Suet is fat, usually beef fat that provides birds with the high-energy food they need to survive cold temperatures and migrate long distances. Offering suet in specialized suet feeders is an easy way to supplement the diets of winter birds like woodpeckers nuthatches, chickadees, wrens and more.

Making your own homemade suet feeders is simple inexpensive and customizable. With just a few basic materials from around the house you can create engaging feeders that will have the birds flocking to your yard. Here are some tips for how to make suet feeders that your feathered friends will love.

What is Suet and Why Do Birds Like It?

Suet is raw beef or mutton fat that has been processed into a nutritious, high-energy food source for birds. Suet provides birds with the fatty acids and calories they need to endure cold winter temperatures and long migrations.

Commercial suet cakes usually consist of rendered beef fat mixed with seeds, nuts, dried fruits and crunchy bits that attract insect-eating birds. The fat helps bind these nutritious ingredients together while allowing the suet to be formed into solid blocks or cakes.

Birds like woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees all have specializedadaptations that allow them to cling to vertical surfaces where suet feeders are traditionally placed. Their unique feet and beaks help them cling to the feeders and chisel bite-sized bits of suet.

Suet Mimics, 60K – Suet mimics natural food sources for birds, suet provides birds with the fatty acids and calories they need to endure cold winter temperatures and long migrations. Since suet catches the eye of insects, it resembles an insect larva surrounded by fat, attracting insect-eating birds

Benefits of Offering Suet to Birds

Offering suet in specialized feeders provides the following benefits:

• High-Energy Food Source – The fat and protein in suet gives birds energy and nutrients to survive winter and migrate.

• Supplements Natural Diet – Suet mimics the fatty insects and larvae wild birds eat naturally.

• Calorie-Dense – Suet packs a lot of calories into a small, solid package.

• Attracts Insect Eaters – Suet attracts desirable backyard birds like woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees.

• Easy to Use – Suet cages or feeders keep the suet contained and make it easy for birds to access.

• Mess-Free – Special suet feeders prevent suet chunks and crumbs from falling everywhere.

If you want to increase bird activity and diversity in your yard, offering suet from a specialized feeder is a great strategy. The key is placing the suet where target birds can easily access it. Read on to learn how to make different types of homemade suet feeders.

What You Need to Make Suet Feeders

Making your own suet feeders at home is easy because you likely have most, if not all, of the materials you need already on hand. Here are some standard materials and equipment used in various homemade suet feeder projects:

• Suet – This can be store-bought suet cakes, homemade suet or reclaimed beef fat.

• Birdseed – Any kind of birdseed will work like black oil sunflower seeds, mixed seed, nyjer or safflower.

• Containers – Small plastic containers, cups, jars or tins make perfect suet holders.

• Bird Feeder Hanging Supplies – This includes wire, yarn, twine, keys, carabiners or anything to hang the feeders.

• Molds or Bases – You can mold suet directly or contain it in the base of a feeder.

• Mixing Tools – To mix homemade suet, use a double boiler, pan, spoon, grinder or microwave.

• Optional Mix-Ins – You can add nuts, dried fruit, oats or anything crunchy.

The basic supplies are very inexpensive and versatile to allow for lots of custom feeder designs. Get creative with materials you already have!

Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Homemade Suet Feeders

There are many different ways to make suet feeders using the basic materials listed above. Follow these general step-by-step instructions to make your own:

1. Obtain Suet

If using store-bought suet cakes or suet nuggets, you can skip this step. To render your own suet from raw beef fat:

• Cut fat into small pieces to render faster.
• Melt slowly over low heat, stirring frequently until melted.
• Strain the rendered fat through a sieve to remove impurities.
• Allow fat to cool and solidify before using.

Tip: Rendering suet can produce strong odors. Consider doing this step outdoors.

2. Prepare the Feeder Base

Choose a container to hold the suet. This can be anything from plastic cups and yogurt containers to tin cans, mason jars or ceramic dishes. Make sure it has drainage holes. Add birdseed to partially fill the container. This will allow birds to eat fallen seeds below the suet.

3. Create a Suet Mixture

If using commercial suet cakes, melt them down to liquid form on the stove or in the microwave. For homemade suet, combine rendered fat with any crunchy add-ins like nuts, dried fruit, oats or birdseed in desired proportions. Melt the mixture just until pourable.

4. Pour Suet into Container

Slowly pour the melted suet mixture into the prepared container base over the birdseed. Leave a little room at the top for the suet to expand as it hardens. Allow the suet to fully solidify overnight before hanging.

5. Add Hanging Mechanism

Before the suet fully solidifies, add a loop of hanging wire or string. You can also hang the feeder with a carabiner or key ring. Make sure the feeder hangs securely before placing outdoors.

6. Hang the Feeder

Place your homemade suet feeder in an open area where birds can easily fly in and access it. Hang it 5-6 feet off the ground from a tree branch, hook, bracket or other structure. Place it near trees or shrubs where birds can shelter before visiting.

Suet Feeder Ideas, Tutorials and Inspiration

Now that you know the basic process, get creative with different homemade suet feeder designs! Here are some easy tutorials, inspirational ideas and variations to try:

Simple Suet Basket

Use a wire basket, tin can or plastic mesh container as the base. Weave wire through the container to create suet attachment points. Fill the base with birdseed, then pack in suet mixture. Hang with a wire loop.

Upcycled Suet Feeders

Reuse and repurpose materials creatively:

• Empty coffee cans or plastic containers
• Yogurt cups, cottage cheese containers
• Large plastic funnels, lids, bowls or jars
• Cut plastic jugs, buckets or bottles

Tip: Always add drainage holes to any enclosed container.

Holiday-Shaped Suet Feeders

Get creative shaping suet molds into holiday appropriate shapes. Try:

• Heart suet molds for Valentine’s Day
• Egg shapes for Easter
• Pumpkin shapes in the fall
• Tree shapes for Christmas

Let kids help decorate with holiday-themed rubber stamps.

Pinecone Suet Feeders

Fill pinecones with suet and seed mixture to make natural looking feeders. Cover pinecones with melted suet using a brush or spoon so it adheres. Roll in birdseed. Tie with wire or string to hang.

Suet Plugs for Log Feeders

Make long suet plugs by packing suet into cardboard tubes or paper towel/toilet paper rolls. Insert into bored holes in logs or bird feeding platforms. Recycle paper scraps to make the suet plugs.

Cupcake Liner Suet Cakes

Press suet mixture into paper cupcake liners. Peel away the liner after suet hardens to reveal cute bird “cupcakes”. Wrap cakes tightly in plastic wrap to store extras in the freezer.

Creative Containers and Vessels

Think outside the box for unique vessels like:

• Glass bowls, vases or candle holders
• Ceramic mugs, plates, bowls or trays
• Metal tins, buckets or colanders
• Mesh wire baskets, tea balls or strainers
• Wood trays, boxes or small crates

Mesh Suet “Bags”

Create reusable mesh bags to hold suet and make filling suet feeders easy. Use plastic