How to Make Suet For Birds

I'm pretty sure that we have the fattest birds around.  The blue jays and cardinals here are so fat, I'm not sure how they can fly.  The farm is more of a animal sanctuary than a farm.  Birds and other critters come here because they know they will be well fed and safe.  I feed my birds suet in the winter to give them some extra fat and protein.  This was so easy to make, and my 5-year-old even helped!

I used lard in my recipe, but you can use shortening.  Lard is better for the birds, but if you can't find it or are vegetarian, substitute with Crisco shortening.

Homemade Suet Ingredients

• 1 cup lard
• 1 cup peanut butter (smooth or chunky)
• 1 cup flour
• 3 cups cornmeal
• 1 cup oats, seeds, crushed eggshells, dried fruits
• 8x8 pan
• waxed paper
• medium saucepan

Directions

1.  In medium saucepan, melt lard over low or medium low heat.  When almost melted, add peanut butter and stir well.

2.  Add flour and cornmeal.  Add the oats, seeds, dried fruits.  Stir well.

3.  Pour in to 8x8 pan lined with waxed paper. Place in fridge or freezer.

4.  When hardened, cut in to small chunks or a square to fit your suet feeder.  I was making plugs for my log feeder, so I cut them in to chunks.   Store in freezer or fridge.

Good things to add are raisins, dried apples and other fruit, old-fashioned oats, and crushed egg shells.  I used egg shells, sunflower seeds, cut up raisins, and peanuts just because its what I had on hand.  That's another great thing about this recipe: you can use what you have on hand!

Freeze for about an hour until set up.  Then cut in to chunks and place in a bag or container to freeze until ready to use.  It does get messy when you cut it.  I took the bits that fell off and squished them together to make a few more plugs.    

Let me know if you try it!