Will Birds Eat Bacon Grease? The Surprising Answer

just read the advise about not putting out cooked turkey fat. Does this work for all kinds of meat fat? We put bacon fat on the bird table all the time. It dissappears within minutes. Should we doscontinue and just use fat balls and suet pellets?.

Bacon grease is the leftover fat and oil from cooking bacon. It has a delicious, savory bacon flavor that seems like it would appeal to birds. As backyard birders many of us are looking for homemade options to feed our feathered friends. Using kitchen scraps like bacon grease in DIY bird food may seem like a great idea. But is bacon grease actually safe and healthy for birds to eat? Let’s dive in and find out the answer.

Why Bacon Grease Seems like a Good Choice

When we cook bacon, the fat renders out and leaves us with leftover grease. Rather than throwing this flavorful fat in the trash, it’s natural to think about other uses for it. Bacon grease has been a popular component in old-fashioned southern cooking for generations. Cooks have used it to season vegetables, make gravy, and add flavor to cornbread and beans.

Since birds eat animal fat in the wild, bacon grease seems like it should be fine to offer backyard birds. Suet, which is raw beef or mutton fat, is a common ingredient used in commercial bird food and homemade bird feeders. Many species like woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, and titmice flock to suet feeders, especially in winter. If suet is okay for birds to eat, then leftover bacon fat should be too, right?

Potential Dangers of Bacon Grease for Birds

While bacon grease and suet come from animal sources, there is an important difference Suet is simply fat, whereas bacon contains added preservatives like sodium nitrite Sodium nitrite helps preserve the color and extend the shelf life of bacon. When bacon is cooked, the nitrite breaks down into carcinogenic compounds called nitrosamines.

Nitrosamines have been linked to cancer in humans when consumed in high amounts over long periods of time. While brief dietary exposure to nitrites is not considered dangerous for people, the effects of nitrosamines build up more quickly in smaller animal bodies. Even small amounts of these compounds can be harmful to birds over time.

When bacon grease is fed to backyard birds, they can be exposed to concentrated amounts of these dangerous nitrosamines. Rendered beef suet does not contain any added preservatives or unnatural compounds. This makes it safer for wild birds to eat than bacon grease.

Expert Opinions on Bacon Grease for Birds

Ornithology experts universally agree that bacon grease should be avoided when feeding wild birds. Here’s what some reputable sources have to say:

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology states:

“Do not use bacon grease. It contains preservatives that could be harmful to birds.”

Birdwatching HQ advises:

“Bacon grease may seem like a great bird food, but it often contains nitrates which can be dangerous for birds over time. To be safe, leave the bacon grease for human consumption only!”

According to the National Audubon Society:

“Cooking grease and oil, particularly from meat, contain free radicals that can cause circulatory problems, kidney dysfunction, cancers and impede reproduction in birds, so these should never be fed to birds.”

Healthier Alternatives to Bacon Grease

The good news is there are plenty of great options for homemade bird food that are safe and healthy for our feathered friends. Here are some tasty animal-fat alternatives to use instead of bacon grease:

Beef Suet – Plain, rendered beef fat without preservatives. Sold at bird supply stores or butcher shops.
Lard – Pure pork fat. Make sure it’s unhydrogenated without additives.
Peanut Butter – Go for all-natural brands without added sugar or salt.

Vegetable Shortening – Contains vegetable oils. Look for sustainable palm oil-free products.

These animal fats can be combined with birdseed, oats, cornmeal, dried fruit, and nuts to create energy-rich, natural bird feed. With so many healthy homemade options, there’s no need to take risks by using bacon grease.

Making the Switch from Bacon Grease

If you currently use bacon grease to make your own bird food, it’s understandable. Most backyard birders want to help birds any way they can. However, continuing to offer bacon fat can inadvertently cause harm. Birds’ bodies are sensitive, and bacon grease can have detrimental health effects over time.

The good news is that simply switching to suet, lard, or other natural fats is an easy fix. Your feathered visitors will continue to enjoy the energy-packed benefits of animal fats. And you’ll have the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re feeding birds safely.

Here are some easy tips for making the transition:

Use up any remaining bacon grease for cooking.
Purchase beef suet or lard on your next trip to the butcher or bird store.
Make a new batch of bird food with the healthier fat.

Gradually transition feeders to the new food over a week or two.
Feel good knowing your birds are getting great nutrition without risks!

With a simple change of ingredients, you can continue making awesome homemade bird food. Your backyard birds will keep getting the high-fat foods they love during cold weather. And you’ll be able to enjoy watching them without any worries.

The Takeaway: Don’t Feed Birds Bacon Grease

While it seems like an easy way to repurpose kitchen waste, bacon grease is unsafe for wild birds. The nitrates and nitrosamines found in bacon fat can accumulate in birds’ bodies and cause health issues over time, including a higher cancer risk.

Suet, lard, and vegetable shortening make great substitutes for bacon grease. They provide natural fat that gives birds energy and nutrition without any harmful additives. With so many healthy homemade bird food options, there’s no reason to take risks by using bacon grease.

So be sure to keep that savory bacon fat for your own kitchen creations. When it comes to feeding backyard birds, leave the bacon grease behind. With a little tweaking, you can continue making nutritious DIY bird foods that will have flocks of happy, healthy birds visiting your yard. Switching to an animal-fat alternative is the right thing to do for our fine feathered friends!

MAKE YOUR OWN BIRD SUET WITH BACON GREASE

FAQ

Is bacon grease safe for birds?

While lard is a safe alternative to rendered suet, avoid using bacon drippings. The chemical preservatives in commercial bacon become more concentrated once cooked. While this doesn’t pose a health threat to humans, it can be harmful to birds. Bread and table scraps should be avoided, too.

How do you make bird feed with bacon grease?

Let’s get to it! Directions: With your liquid bacon fat still on the parchment and in the pan, measure one cup of birdseed and pour it onto the bacon grease covered parchment. Use a spatula to mix the birdseed into the grease and scrape all of the grease on the parchment onto the birdseed.

Can birds eat meat grease?

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 wild birds eat cooked bacon?

Even foods that are only lightly salted to you or I can contain far too much salt for a small bird. This means that you shouldn’t feed birds salty processed foods like bacon, pizza or crisps, for example, or home-cooked foods that have had salt added to them during cooking or at the table.

Can birds eat bacon grease?

Kenn and Kimberly: We know it seems as if bacon grease should be OK, since it’s animal fat just like beef suet. But the preservatives in bacon contain carcinogenic compounds that are harmful to birds. When it comes to bread, it’s sort of like junk food for birds—it offers very little nutritional value for them.

Can you use bacon grease in bird suet?

Another potential risk of using bacon grease in bird suet is the high salt content. Commercial bacon often contains unhealthy amounts of salt and preservatives, which can be dangerous for birds if ingested in large amounts. This can lead to dehydration and other health problems.

Can birds eat bacon drippings?

Can birds eat beef drippings?

Bacon drippings Suet Suet is technically defined as the hard fat around the kidneys and loins in beef and mutton, but in common usage, most kinds of beef fat are also called suet and can safely be fed to birds. Suet is particularly attractive to woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, jays, and starlings.