Really,Really simple suet cake recipes and help beyond this too!
March 20, 2010 Bird Suet Feeder, Featured
I would like some really, really simple ways to make some suet cakes for feed my wild birds in my bird suet feeder.
I found a few recipes, but, I also have some other questions regarding this as well. Can I put in uncooked rice or pasta in the bird mix?
Can I use Crisco instead of going to the butchers to get the beef tallow?
What other interesting things can I put into my bird suet cakes?
What do people do to store them…as in where can I put the created “cakes”, after I have let the stuff cool down? And what do I pour them into?
Should I put them into the fridge or let them sit out in the kitchen or freeze them (I need to get them solid for my bird suet feeder, that’s why I ask)?
Thanks!
Sign me as a happy bird feeder and watcher!
 | Heath Outdoor Products DD-20 Fancy Suet Cake, Case of 16 High Energy. Ideal for suet and seed eating birds year round. Each cake is 9.25 oz. Sold by the case: 16 cakes per case. Attracts ... read more |
Comments (1)
Hummingbirds are fun, entertaining, full of energy and it’s easy to attract hummingbirds.
Our suet cake recipe (it attracts Brown Thrashers, Cardinals, Chickadees, Titmice, Red-Winged Blackbirds, Catbirds, Nuthatches, Bluejays…oh boy! The Bluejays!! Even squirrels!)
2 cups of lard (animal shortening, can be found next to the Crisco in the stores…use vegetable shortening in the hot months anyway)
Melt it in a BIG pot on the stove over low heat.
Add 2 cups of peanut butter after the lard has melted (chunky or creamy whatever you like…bluejays like peanuts, so do squirrels). The peanut butter is the primary ingredient.
After the lard/peanut butter mix is melted add any of the following ingredients:
Corn meal
Oatmeal
"wild bird mix" (w/corn)
raisins (they LOVE those!)
peanuts (make sure they’re raw and unsalted…roasted type will choke a jay)
dried fruit
sunflower seeds (black oil or hulled)
raw unsalted pumpkin seeds
extra millet or milo seeds
small dried beans (like lentils or split peas)
Another good recipe that will drive the crows nuts (we LOVE our crow-babies!!), Bluejays like it too…make mini corn muffins with canned corn, sugar and lots of shortening.
As far as the suet cakes, we would pour the warm mixture into the big drink cups (like from Taco Bell) and insert a straw into the middle before they cooled.
If you live in a really cold climate the larger cakes will do well. If it gets warm make smaller cakes. Storing the prepared cakes in the fridge will suffice and keep them fresh for up to two weeks.
Also, depending on the types of birdies you are caring for in the winter months you can modify the recipe to the type of seeds or goodies each particular species prefers. In the winter always shoot for high fat and protein for all species.
As far as pasta, the only birds that really dig pasta are crows and it’s better to cook it before putting it out for them. It swells in their little tummies and can bind them up with constipation.
Shoot me a message if you have any questions