Suet attracts many insect-eating birds, such as woodpeckers. But nuthatches, juncos, chickadees and jays will also stop at backyard feeders for a high-fat treat. True suet, and especially the kind made with animal fat, provides a good source of energy for many feeder birds. Try these suet recipes in your own backyard and see which suet recipe your backyard birds like the most!
I work at a Wild Birds Unlimited store, and I’m always encouraging my customers to make their own recipes filled with fat (rather than sugars and grains) to best benefit the birds. Here’s my simple method for making suet-type food.
- 2 cups shelled, unsalted peanuts
- ½ cup raisins
- 2 to 3 tablespoons cornmeal
Process peanuts in a food processor until they’re the consistency of peanut butter. Then add the raisins and process for another minute. Add the cornmeal and process again. Press this mixture into a mold of your choice. This recipe will have the greatest nutritional value for your feathered friends. -Linda Popejoy, Concord, North Carolina
I like to spread my suet on tree limbs so more birds can get to it at one time. Here’s a recipe I’ve put together. The birds can’t get enough of it, even the juncos.
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup flour
- ¾ cup water
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 cup lard
- 1 cup raisins
In a medium bowl, mix the dry ingredients. Then add the water, and mix. Put peanut butter and lard in a small bowl and microwave for 2 minutes. Add to the cornmeal mixture along with the raisins. Refrigerate for about two hours. -Naomi Manalo, Middleton, Delaware
Attract woodpeckers, as well as chickadees and nuthatches, with this suet recipe made with coconut. The best part is this suet mix won’t melt when it’s warm outside.
- 1 cup lard
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1⁄3 cup coconut
- 2 ½ cups oats
- 2 ½ cups cornmeal
- Raisins, nuts or birdseed, optional
Melt lard and peanut butter. Stir in coconut, oats and cornmeal. Add optional ingredients. Pour the mixture into a pan and chill in refrigerator over-night. Cut into squares and wrap in plastic for easy storage and removal. -Rebecca Beiler, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Make this “bird cake” treat and hang it from trees or bird feeders in mesh bags.
- 1 cup lard
- 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
- 1 cup honey
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 cup oats
- 2 eggs
Mix all ingredients and pour into a greased 9-inch square pan. Bake at 350° for 30 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. -Mary Hochstetler, Milford, Indiana
- More From Birds & Blooms
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Nicola says
I’m going to try a couple of these for our birds here in Australia, as we come into winter. I’m sure they’ll appreciate the high energy nibbles. Thanks for posting.
Donna Shampo says
I have used the easy suet recipe for over a year now. It’s up all year long & I have many types of woodpeckers coming to it. We have very cold weather already & now our black cap chickadees are at my suet. We had a round bird seed feeder that my husband puts the cupcake suets in. Once the birds get use to it you will be happy with the results. Good luck.
Hannah C says
Does the duet recipe go bad? Do I need to refrigerate/freeze until I put it outside or can I make several ahead of time?
connie kerns says
I freeze or refrigerate my suet until I put it outside.
Stephanie says
I love this! I need to find a recipe that won’t melt in the HOT South Texas sun. Anybody have one?
DB says
So it is usually put out in the winter months. I’m from Texas and standard bird seed or apples or fruit for the Mockingbirds is great for summer
lavonne says
Can ground up meat parts be used like the grizzle on side of ham bones?
Barbara says
Don’t need anymore mockingbirds… they are just bullies at my feeder.
kathy mccormick says
Why would you allow someone to show a recipe for suet with honey as an ingredient..Honey is NOT good for bird’s due bacteria growth and can be fatal to Bird’s..Do you not proof read these comment’s Bird’s-N-Blooms I am actually shocked by you allowing this on your site
Lori says
I was thinking the same thing! No honey!
Rebecca says
Oh wow! I didn’t know that!
Thank you for that information.
Is that true Birds and Blooms? Cos I really love my birds and don’t want to kill them!!
Ruth Hochstetler says
The recipe that called for honey was actually a cake that gets baked. I think that would make a difference.
reenie says
Need more suet NOW…with colder weather approaching the birds are devouring one a day!!!
diana newman says
does store bought suet have an expiration date?
warren rorabaugh says
the ones i buy expire like next year. they never last more that a day or 2.
Donna Langel says
I am having a bad problem with black birds scaring off the enjoyable birds. What do I do to control? Also the squirrels just shake the feeder to get the seeds.
Lexie Homewood says
Blackbirds and squirrels get hungry, too.
Brenda says
I have the same problem with squirrels too so I first have squirrel baffles on my feeders, I drop my clothesline for the winter so they don’t have that to climb on to get to the feeders, I spray Pam on my shepard hook that has my suet feeder on and then I buy peanuts in the shell for them…now in the mornings example they are at the patio doors waiting for their peanuts …. it works then they clean up the seeds under the feeders but don’t try to get in them
Chris says
Oil is harmful. I put a slinky over the pole
It works perfectly. Costs $3 at walmart.
connie kerns says
Great tip! I have used the spray on my shepherds hook. I’ll get some slinkys.
Bill Williams says
TY Lexie,,,for your concern for ALL creatures
Carol says
I had the same problem, but decided to put some “indian” corn husks out for the squirrels and rabbits in another area away from the bird feeders. Or if I had some sunflower seeds or fruits pits, and that seems to do the trick. It is like separating the children from the adults at a gathering when the adults want to just sit and chat. Put out what takes their attention away from the main feeders.
Coach TFP says
I had the same bullying problem, including mourning doves. I finally bit the bullet and invested in a squirrel-proof feeder(Squirrel Buster Plus-it cost $79). It works perfectly. As to the larger birds and squirrels, I hung the old feeder in a new location. Problem solved. I sometimes simply spread peanuts and oiled sunflower seeds on a wooden railing, sit back and enjoy the show.
Pat Stewart says
Make a suet feeder that the birds have to eat hanging from the bottom of the feeder. Woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, and tit mice can do this easily but black birds and stirlings seem not able to master the skill.
Squirrely1 says
My homemade suet gets gobbled up year round, and actually, more gets eaten in the summer than winter.
I just melt 16 oz lard, 32 oz chunky peanut butter, and add whatever you have on hand… birdseed, corn meal, uncooked oatmeal, flour, crushed cracker crumbs, raisins. I’ve even added dehydrated mealworms for the robins.
I freeze it in ziploc sandwich bags, the size of my suet holders. That way I can easily refill the feeders as I need to.
Quick, easy, and satisfying to watch the birdies gobble it up.
Pam says
I make mine basically the same except I also use bacon grease that I’ve saved over time and frozen. I have two long small logs my husband drilled holes in. I fill them with this mixture.
suz says
fat can melt and get on the birds wings causing trouble flying. Use or make the No Melt feeders
Sherry Thacker says
Can you the grease from frying hamburgers? There is no salt or add ins in it. Just pure beef fat.
blackcat725 says
I save my bacon fat and mix it with peanuts, seed, raisins, whatever I have on hand and freeze it in containers that fit my suet holders. It can really only be used in cold weather, but I store it up. The birds love it! I use the pre-made cakes in the summer. (I found a store that always has them for a great price!)
thomas hunter says
Arent you afraid the squirrels will have to beat on each others chest when the heart valves start sticking?
M C Barr says
NO BACON FAT
Deb says
Wondering the same about bacon grease/fat left over from frying that up.
KLW says
You can use bacon fat as long as you are sure to skim out all meat particles. Any meat left in the fat can spoil quickly and can cause birds to get sick.
Nancy G says
Is it possible to use something like soy nut butter or sunflower butter? We cannot have peanut or tree-nut products around due to allergies.
Alyssa C says
All of these recipes look wonderful, but as someone who is severely allergic to peanuts I am only able to use one of them. Does anyone know of a nut-free substitute for peanut butter in these recipes? For human food I use a soy substitute but soy probably isn’t very good for birds…
Judi W says
I use beef suet from the grocery store; freeze it then melt in large pot; add extra crunchy peanut butter bought on sale and bird seed – no sugar or honey or raisins – got too many squirrels – I put cooled mixture in the round black plastic containers some cheese spread comes in and put them in the freezer for use as needed – my birds love them!!!
Dawn says
Great idea
kris says
Can I use soy to make suet? I make donuts everyday with it.
KLW says
Just a few notes: honey is bad for birds and should not be used to feed them. Similarly, bread crumbs, graham crackers and added sugar are also bad for birds. These recipes should really be vetted before posting them publicly.
Debbie says
I thought sugar was good. That’s what is used for the hummingbirds.
Kiki says
Debbie, sugar is ok for hummingbirds. Just don’t add any colouring. If you need colour near it to attract them, get a red silk flower from the Dollar Tree. If yu want to be especially kind to hummingbirds, use turbinado which is raw organic sugar. It’s not that expensive either. You can also add a hummingbird nectar preservative to avoid nectar becoming old and contaminated.
Cimgraph says
No raw sugar in hummingbird nectar- only pure cane sugar for them!
Bill Armstrong says
Awesome recipes and have proudly displayed on my Best Suet Feeder Page, naturally with all accreditation to your good self, many thanks for sharing this valuable information
Ruth Hochstetler says
I question the wisdom of putting flour in suet. Wouldn’t uncooked or unbaked flour when moistened become glue-like? I do use dry bread crumbs. Rather than adding sugar to my suet, I sometimes add raisins or other dried fruit. I had a problem with squirrels ravishing my suet cakes within several hours, so I bought the kind that had hot sauce added to it. They are more expensive, so I am experimenting with adding hot sauce to my homemade suet. I started with 1 tablespoon per 1 cup liquid, but I think I may need to add more. The hot sauce definitely deters the squirrels, but the birds don’t seem to have a problem with it. I am trying to cater to the non seed eating birds, so I do not add seeds to my suet. I recently started adding the dried mealworms. The mockingbirds and wrens are steady customers, but I’m really trying to attract the bluebirds. They sometimes come to my birdbath, but they have been there since I made their special suet cakes.
SE Coastal Breeze says
Have to agree with the comments questioning adding flour, honey and processed foods to suet. These are not things natural to, or healthy for, birds. It has effected the credibility of Birds and Bloom. No longer trust their publication.
Merry Preble says
I was wondering why no one from the magazine answered any of these question:
is honey ok?
what about corn and bread or flour? etc
EVELYN says
CAN I USE CRAISINS INSTEAD OF RAISINS OR ANY OTHER FRUIT. I DON’T WANT MY DOGS TO GET SICK FROM ANY RAISIN STUFF. HE SNACKS ON JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING. I WANT TO BE SAFE
Sheltie Mom says
Do NOT let your dog eat the suet! Our Sheltie managed to get into some homemade suet – had bacon fat in it…he got terribly sick and almost died from pancreatis. Had to keep him on a special diet from then on!
Caha says
I cannot believe the fact that Birds&Blooms actually posted these unhealthy suet recipes for people to use. No one, I repeat no one should use sugar, honey, processed shredded coconut, flour, graham crackers, or bread crumbs in their suet recipes. These ingredients can KILL birds. TAKE THESE UNHEALTHY SUET RECIPES OFF OF YOUR WEBSITE NOW!!!!!
jim says
it was clarified the recipe w/ ‘honey’ was cooked, thereby rendering it harmless. Pays to read ALL the comments sometimes.
Haley says
Coconut kills birds!?!
Flo says
I have the easiest recipe of all. I use beef suet from the butcher and coat it with chunky peanut butter. The woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees love it!! Occasionally, even the sparrows enjoy it.
Frank says
Most people are total wrong .honey is natures most perfect food , it kills bacteria . It will last in a jar on a shelf for a hundred years
And it’s still good .it wont do a bird one bit of harm if feed mine honey all the time as I also
Keep bees . If you get a nasty cut smear honey on it if you want quick healing .
Frank
Rhonda says
Never use honey in any food products for birds. It can be fatal. I do not know where you are getting your information but DO NOT USE HONEY!
Jasmine Galvin says
So I’m ignorant to this. So animal fat is not required in suet?
I’ve seen recipes simular but they all say to add animal fat.
Thanks
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connie kerns says
I save my bacon grease to make suet. I add stale cereal, old nuts, peanut butter, wild bird seed, oatmeal, raisins, sunflower seeds, I mix flour with
melted bacon grease
to make the consistency
Of pie crust then I pat it in old suet trays or 8 x8 silicone pans. Cut in 1/4’s before you freeze or . The birds eat this over
Maribeth says
To make my own suet, just boil animal beef fat in water and wait until fat comes to top, cool it until it
solidifies, skim, harden and coat with seed? Form shape in refrigerator?
Chris says
Please stop shilling that honey is bad for birds. instead please explain WHY it is bad for birds, if indeed it is?
Sandy says
Just made my first batch I used creamy p-butter only thing we have, added some bird seed my finches were watching me closely lol and some oat meal. Popped it in the freezer sure hope it works out tomorrow. Had a family of chickadees not sure on the spelling voicing their thoughts of no suet out as we ran out of the store stuff no cash until pay day. TY for the recipe will make this year round.
Linda says
If you read the article to which this receipt was attached, it says, “NO sugar!”