Suet Feeders
An alternative to seed feeders
Although bird food and bird feeders traditionally have to do with seed, there are alternative ways to feed birds. One of these is suet - birds love this hard animal fat. While fat can be a bad food choice for humans, birds actually thrive off the energy and protein they get from eating the suet, and it especially helps winter birds keep up their strength.
A commercially sold suet feeder is typically a mesh cage that encases a bar or cake of suet. They can be made of wood or wire and are hung from trees and windows to attract small birds like chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice. They can be covered on all sides excluding the bottom or be completely open. You may even see a woodpecker at your feeder, if you're lucky.
Suet feeders are extremely versatile to accommodate all forms of suet, peanut butter or fruit. They may be refilled manually, or you can get an automatic feeder which will refill itself. No more going out in wet and cold weather - great for wintertime. They offer your birds a delicious bird treat and the best part is, they're made so that you only attract the birds you want - namely those that like to hang upside-down on the feeder. This will discourage nuisance birds and squirrels.
You don't have to buy a suet feeder - you can make your own. It's a great winter weekend project for everyone in the family. Suet feeders can be made out of anything, from mesh bags to logs. You can serve suet in two ways - in cakes or bars, or in a feeder with holes that you can inject suet into.
Making a Suet Log Feeder
You will need:
- A small log or good-sized tree branch cut to about 18 inches in length and 3-8 inches in width
- A drill
- Homemade or commercially sold suet
- An eyebolt and a small chain or some strong rope
Start making your feeder by drilling a few holes 1 inch to 1ΒΌ inches in diameter all over the log. You can have as many holes as you want. If you want to include perches, drill smaller holes below the original holes and stick some dowelling in them with wood glue. Perches, however, are not necessary as the birds will cling to the bark on the log. Screw the eyebolt into the top of the log and pour or stuff the suet into all of the bigger holes. Hang from a tree or existing feeder and enjoy the birds that come to eat.
Don't serve suet in the summer unless you are prepared to check it everyday. Suet goes rancid and drippy, which can make the birds that eat it very sick or damage their feathers. The best time to serve it is wintertime - you're helping your feathered friends stay healthy and energetic.
