Our homemade bird suet recipe uses only five ingredients and freezes well. Make it with the children for a fun lesson on caring for all God’s creatures.
Just in time for the Great Backyard Bird Count, I’m going to share my easy recipe for bird suet. Do you like feeding birds just to watch them in your yard? That’s how I feel almost all the time. That’s right, we can now take part in a citizen science project! That’s so cool! You don’t even have to go anywhere; just leave your house.
Before I recently came across it while researching something completely different, I had no idea there was such a thing as the Great Backyard Bird Count. It’s such a marvelous idea, I had to share.
Our youngest daughter is a bird watcher. We surprised her with a subscription to Birds & Bloom magazine (affiliate) for Christmas. Don’t tell but I got that subscription amazingly cheap on Amazon.
The roof of our new birdfeeder is made from a tag from my mom’s car, and the house is made from a coffee can that was used for something else.
Remember all the “See Rock City” signs you saw all over the deep south? Rock City is a tourist spot known for selling bird houses. I made my own See Rock City bird house by upcycling an old vintage toy.
Making homemade suet is an easy and affordable way to provide nutrition for wild birds during the winter months when natural food sources are scarce. Suet is traditionally made by rendering and solidifying animal fats like beef or mutton However, for those looking to avoid using animal products, there are several excellent alternatives to make suet without lard.
In this article, we’ll explore why suet is an important winter food for birds, look at popular ingredients to use in homemade “unsuet” recipes, provide tips for choosing quality ingredients, and give step-by-step instructions for making suet without lard.
Why Make Homemade Suet for Birds?
Suet is an energy-dense food source made up of saturated fats and nutrients It provides birds with the calories they need to maintain body heat and energy levels during cold winter months
Woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, titmice, wrens, and other insect-eating birds rely on suet for up to half their winter diet. It supplements natural food sources like seeds, berries, and nuts which can be scarce in winter.
While you can purchase commercial suet cakes, making your own allows you to control the quality of ingredients. It also gives you the flexibility to customize recipes with nuts, seeds, fruit and peanut butter loved by your local birds.
Popular Ingredients for Lard-Free Suet Recipes
Here are some of the most popular ingredients used to make suet without lard:
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Peanut Butter – All-natural peanut butter, ideally just peanuts and salt, provides protein and healthy fats. It helps bind ingredients together.
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Birdseed – High quality birdseed mixes provide carbohydrates and protein. Black oil sunflower seeds are a favorite base.
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Grains – Whole grains like rice, wheat berries, millet, oats, and corn provide carbohydrates and fiber.
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Nuts – Shelled peanuts, almonds, pecans, walnuts add protein, fats, and flavor.
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Dried Fruit – Raisins, cranberries, cherries, etc. add natural sweetness.
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Cornmeal – Can help create texture and absorbing excess oil.
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Coconut Oil – An alternative fat source to lard. Makes the suet pliable.
Tips for Choosing Quality Ingredients
When it comes to ingredients for homemade suet, quality matters. Here are some tips:
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Select natural peanut butter with just peanuts and salt. Avoid sugars, preservatives, or other additives.
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Choose raw, human-grade nuts free of preservatives or coatings.
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Use all-natural dried fruit with no added sugars or preservatives.
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Look for organic, non-GMO grains and cornmeal.
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Pick a premium birdseed blend with black oil sunflower seeds, millet, nyjer, etc. Avoid fillers.
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Use unrefined coconut oil. Refined versions lose nutrients.
Checking the ingredient list can help identify quality products without unwanted additives. When possible, choose certified organic ingredients.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Suet Without Lard
Here is a simple step-by-step method for making suet at home using peanut butter and birdseed as the base ingredients:
Supplies Needed
- Mixing bowl
- Spoon for stirring
- Suet cage or mesh bag
- Birdseed (2 cups)
- Peanut butter (1 cup)
- Optionally: Nuts, dried fruit, cornmeal, coconut oil
Steps
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Add 2 cups of birdseed to a mixing bowl. Black oil sunflower seeds or a songbird blend works well.
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Measure out 1 cup of all-natural peanut butter. Crunchy or smooth style both work.
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Add peanut butter to the birdseed and thoroughly mix together until evenly incorporated.
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Optionally, you can add and mix in up to 1/4 cup each of shelled nuts, dried fruit, cornmeal, and/or coconut oil to boost nutrition and texture.
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Continue mixing thoroughly until the peanut butter evenly coats the ingredients. If needed, add small amounts of extra peanut butter so the mixture sticks together.
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Firmly pack the suet mixture into a suet cage or mesh bag. Smooth into a compact cake-like shape.
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Hang the filled suet cage outdoors in an area protected from rain. Place in trees or on a post near natural cover.
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Serve the suet to wild birds during the cold winter months when temperatures are below 40°F.
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Replenish the suet feeder as needed and clean periodically. Discard any old suet.
And that’s it! With just a few simple ingredients, you can make nutritious suet to help wild birds survive and thrive through harsh winters. Adjust recipes to include local favorites like fruit, nut butters, or coconut. Making your own suet is satisfying and benefits your backyard bird visitors.
Step 1
Begin by melting the shortening and peanut butter together in a large pot. After the shortening and peanut butter melt together, take the pot off the heat and add the rest of the ingredients. The melted shortening and peanut butter will be soupy. (see video).
What Is Suet?
Suet is defined as “the hard fatty tissue about the loins and kidneys of beef, sheep, etc. , used in cooking or processed to yield tallow. ” Tallow is fatty tissue of animals.
So, if you now think that birds enjoy eating fatty food, you would be correct. As with any of God’s creatures; birds come in many breeds and each breed prefers a different diet. This means that not all birds like suet, but some do. We want to attract those birds by leaving fresh, homemade suet cakes in our yards.
DIY Suet Cakes
FAQ
What is a substitute for lard in bird suet?
What can I use to stick bird seed together?
How to make suet cake without lard?
How do I make my own suet?
Can you make suet without lard?
It’s a simple way to make suet without lard and well-loved by various birds including woodpeckers and nuthatches. During outbreaks of the highly pathogenic diseases including avian influenza, it is strongly recommended to remove bird feeders and cease any hand-feeding. This may help reduce transmission rates amongst our wild bird populations.
How do you make a homemade suet?
Bird experts Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman suggest this DIY suet recipe. Melt 1 cup peanut butter and 1 cup lard over low heat. In a large bowl, mix 2 cups quick oats, 2 cups birdseed mix, 1 cup yellow cornmeal and 1 cup flour. Stir melted ingredients into the dry mix. Once cool, press into molds and refrigerate.
Is homemade suet a good bird food?
Homemade suet is traditionally a cold-weather bird food because the suet itself (the hard animal fat around the kidneys and loins of cows and sheep) can turn rancid if temperatures are above 70°F. If you live in a warm climate, we do not recommend using homemade suet because it will spoil too quickly.
Where can I find suet & lard?
Suet is usually beef fat that is trimmed off of meat. It is made from the kidney and other organs of the animal. You can find suet at almost any meat department at nearly any store. I get mine at the local Kroger, which is a chain store around here. No need for a specialty store. Lard is pig fat.
How do you freeze homemade suet?
Spoon into molds or pans and press to remove air. Freeze for at least an hour before use. Store extra homemade suet in the mold (wrapped or in plastic bags) or layered with wax paper until ready to use. You can also add some unsalted ground nuts to this mixture as well for an added bonus for your birds!
How do you store homemade suet?
Allow mixture to cool enough to transfer to molds. Place in freezer for a minimum of an hour – more if your blocks are thicker than one inch. Store extra homemade suet in the mold (wrapped or in plastic bags) or layered with wax paper until ready to use. * This is where you can be creative with your ingredients.