How to Make Suet Feeders for Birds

Noel Zia Lee

Making a suet feeder is a simple way to attract birds to your home or garden. True suet is the white fat surrounding cow or sheep kidneys, but homemade suet will provide plenty of protein and calories and seems to attract more birds than the store-bought variety.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

2 cups lard (not shortening)
2 cups crunchy peanut butter
4 cups rolled oats (not quick oats)
4 cups cornmeal
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup raisins
1 cup whole wheat kernels (or other unprocessed grains)
Small plastic zippered bag
Empty tuna can
Rope or nail
Nail
Hammer

Step 1

Melt the lard and peanut butter in a pot over low heat.

Step 2

Stir in the oats, cornmeal, sugar, raisins and wheat kernels. Mix well.

Step 3

Scoop the mixture into small plastic bags and zip closed. Place the bags in the freezer so the suet hardens.

Step 4

Punch a hole in the side of the tuna can using the hammer and nail. Tie a knot in the string and thread it through the hole. Hang from a tree branch. This will be a hanging suet feeder that attracts chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and some woodpeckers.

Step 5

Or, punch a hole in the back of the tuna can about 1/4 inch away from the rim, using the hammer and nail. Hammer the can onto a post or fence 5 or 6 feet from the ground. This will be a stationary suet feeder, which attracts mockingbirds and jays.

Step 6

Remove the suet from one of the plastic bags and press it into the can. Refill the can when it gets empty. In the winter you will be helping keep birds from possible starvation and in the spring the babies of your suet-feeding regulars will make your feeder one of their first stops.

Tips & Warnings

In the summer keep the suet feeder in a shady spot so the fat doesn't melt in the sun.

Be careful of any sharp edges on the tuna can when punching in the hole.

Article Written By Jamie Hobbs

Jamie Hobbs graduated from Central Washington University with a BAed. She has been writing for Demand Studios and Suite 101 since 2008. Mrs. Hobbs work has also been printed in Yakima Family Times.

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