True suet is raw beef fat, which can be used as bird food; however, backyard birds now use the term "suet" to refer to a variety of fatty mixes that are easier to manage and more enticing to birds. Although tree-climbing birds such as woodpeckers and nuthatches enjoy homemade bird suet the most, it will also attract jays and chickadees. This high-fat treat is an excellent source of energy. Test these homemade suet recipes in your bird feeders to determine which recipe your backyard birds prefer.
Check out the suet recipes given below.
Peanut Butter Suet Recipe
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 cup lard
- 2 cups of instant oats
- 2 cups of a birdseed blend
- 1 glass of yellow cornmeal
- 1 cup flour
Combine rolled oats, birdseed mix, yellow cornmeal, and flour in a large bowl. Mix melted ingredients with the dry ingredients. Peanut butter and lard are melted over low heat. After the mixture has cooled, press it into molds and refrigerate.
Pseudo Suet Recipe
Linda Popejoy of Concord, North Carolina, explains, "I work at a Wild Birds Unlimited store. I'm encouraging my customers to make fat-rich recipes (rather than sugars and grains) to benefit the birds the most. Here is my simple method for making food similar to suet."
- 2 cups of unsalted, shelled peanuts
- ½ cup raisins
- 1-2 tablespoons of cornmeal
Process peanuts in a food processor until they reach peanut butter consistency. Then, add the raisins and continue processing for one more minute. Add cornmeal and continue processing. Press this mixture into the desired mold. This dish has the highest nutritional value for your feathered companions.
Spreadable Suet Recipe
I prefer to spread my suet on tree limbs so that more birds can access it simultaneously. I have created the following recipe for homemade bird suet. According to Naomi Manalo of Middleton, Delaware, even the juncos can't get enough of it.
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup flour
- 1/4 mug water
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 cup lard
- 1 cup raisins
In a medium bowl, thoroughly combine the dry ingredients. Then add water and blend. Microwave the peanut butter and lard in a small bowl for two minutes. Combine the raisins in the cornmeal mixture. Refrigerate for approximately 2 hours.
Suet Treat Recipe
"This suet recipe will attract woodpeckers as well as chickadees and nuthatches. The best part about this suet mixture is that it does not melt when the weather is warm, says Rebecca Beiler of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
- 1 cup lard
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 2 ½ cups oats
- 2 1/2 cups corn flour
- Optional raisins, nuts, or birdseed
Melt the lard and peanut butter together. Incorporate oats and cornmeal. Add additional ingredients. Pour the mixture into a pan and chill overnight in the refrigerator. Cut into squares and wrap them in plastic to facilitate storage and removal.
Homemade Bird Suet Cakes Recipe
Create this suet cake with delight and hang it in mesh bags from trees or bird feeders, suggests Mary Hochstetler of Milford, Indiana.
- 1 cup lard
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ounce of peanut butter
- 1 pound honey
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup oats
Pour all ingredients into a 9-inch square pan that has been greased. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes at 350 degrees or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Conclusion
Suet is the ideal food for birds during the winter when their natural food sources dwindle. Additionally, suet attracts several bird species that rarely visit seed feeders. Here are three straightforward suet cake recipes.
A suet cake comprises equal amounts of beef fat and mixed birdseed. Almost any seed or grain can be combined with beef fat, lard, or peanut butter made from peanuts. Consider including raisins, currants, apricots, or citrons to attract birds. You can drop commercial suet cakes (approximately $2 or $3) into a "suet feeder." It resembles a wire cage, which discourages squirrels and attracts suet-loving birds that frequently feed inverted (as opposed to pest birds like starlings and grackles).
