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Make Your Own Suet Feeder

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Feed Winter Birds with Suet

Suet is a high-energy food made from the hard fat found around beef kidneys and loins. Because it’s packed with calories, suet helps birds maintain body heat and energy during the colder months when natural food sources are limited. Offering suet is one of the best ways to support winter bird populations and attract a wide variety of species to your yard.

Suet feeders commonly attract finches, bluebirds, wrens, sparrows, robins, woodpeckers, cardinals, chickadees and nuthatches. Trying different ingredients and feeder styles can help you discover which birds visit your yard most often.

Easy DIY Hanging Suet Feeders

Homemade suet feeders are simple to make and can often be created using items you already have at home.

Step 1: Soften the Suet

Before mixing ingredients, suet needs to be softened. Place suet in a microwave-safe glass dish and heat in 30-second intervals until soft. Use caution when heating fats, as they can scorch easily and are flammable.

Step 2: Add Bird Favorites

Mix softened suet with birdseed, dried fruit or mealworms.

Step 3: Choose a Mold or Feeder

Try one of these fun and simple ideas:

Sandwich Containers
Pour the suet mixture into the container, add a string for hanging and refrigerate until hardened.

Cupcake Tins
Line tins with paper liners. Place a loop of twine inside each liner, fill with suet mixture and refrigerate for about one hour. Once hardened, hang the suet “ornaments” in trees.

Natural Feeders
Spread softened suet onto pine cones, sticks or small logs. Roll them in birdseed, attach twine and hang outdoors.

You can also experiment with molds like plastic containers, mesh produce bags, ice cream cones or even taco shells.

Simple Homemade Suet Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup melted beef suet
  • 1 cup chunky peanut butter
  • 3 cups cornmeal
  • ½ cup white or wheat flour

Melt the suet and peanut butter together until smooth. Stir in cornmeal and flour. Allow the mixture to cool slightly before pouring into molds. Refrigerate or freeze until firm.

Extra Ingredients Birds Love

Try mixing in:

  • Dried cranberries
  • Dried mealworms
  • Unsalted peanuts
  • Black oil sunflower seeds
  • Chopped fruit
  • Cooked, unsalted rice

Storage and Feeder Care

Store suet in a cool, shaded location to prevent spoilage. Clean and disinfect feeders each time you replace suet to keep birds safe and healthy.

Providing suet during the winter is a simple way to support backyard birds while enjoying more activity at your feeders all season long.