Wild Bird Suet is a great way to help feed birds in the winter. Remember, it’s harder for them to find food during the winter months. Suet is cow fat with bird seed mixed in it. The fat gives them energy for the cold days and the seeds give them the nutrition they need.

Wild Bird Suet is also fun to make !

You can get suet at your local butcher shop [if they don’t have any you can also use lard, or shortening, from the supermarket]. The butcher just throws the suet away so it likely will be free!

Buy the “filling” for the suet … oatmeal, raisins, bird seeds, even peanut butter.

Cut about a pound of the suet into small pieces.

Get a frying pan and spread the suet around. If you use lard, or shortening, add an equal amount of flour to help it stay thick.

Turn your stove on to low or regular heat to melt the suet. It can be really “smelly” so be sure to have the stove fan on and/or the closest window open.

When the suet has melted take your frying pan off the burner and mix in the seeds and other stuff.

Pour it all into a container. Disposable containers, like a plastic butter bowl, work good or you can also line a bread pan with foil. Cupcake, or muffin pans, are also good.

Let it all cool down and harden. [You can freeze what you don’t use. It should be good for about 2 months].

Cut it to fit into your suet cage. You can also use everyday stuff like onion bags, mesh netting or pine cones. [Push the suet cakes into the openings of the cones].

Find a good tree branch to hang it on. Put it close enough to your home so you can watch the birds feeding and high enough so no cats will try to feed on the birds !

Here are 3 Suet Cakes you can get started with …

Birder's Oat Cakes
1 pound suet cut in small 1" pieces 
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup chunky peanut butter 
1 cup mixed wild bird seed
1 cup sunflower seeds
Melt suet in frying pan.
Stir in remaining ingredients and blend well.
Pour into paper-lined muffin tins.
Chill until hardened.

Peanut Butter Cake
1 part melted beef suet
1 part chunky or smooth peanut butter
6 parts cornmeal 
Melt suet in frying pan.
Add peanut butter and cornmeal.
Spoon into paper-lined muffin tins and cool.
Store in the freezer until you're ready to use.

Birder's Delight (Nut 'n Apple Cake) 
1/2 pound of suet
2 cups bread crumbs
1 cup unsalted nuts
3 chopped apples
1 cup raisins
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup of cornmeal
1/2 cup white or whole wheat flour
1 cup of smooth or creamy peanut butter
1 cup wild bird seed
Melt suet in frying pan.
Mix in all ingredients and add enough suet to hold the 'cakes' together.
Press into pine cone shapes and place in trees.