How to Make Bird Food Suet

Suet is the fat that lines the kidneys and loins in animals like beef and sheep. Birds like suet because the high fat and protein content helps provide them warmth and energy to survive the winter months. Naturally, you can buy suet cakes where outdoor bird food and feeders are sold. That being said, it is often more cost-effective to make the birds in your yard homemade suet cakes.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 lb. lard
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • Pot
  • Spoon
  • Bread pan
  • Aluminum foil
  • Freezer bag
  • Diced apple (optional)
  • Rolled oats (optional)
  • Peanuts (optional)
  • Raisins (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Melt lard in a pot or a covered microwave safe dish. Remove it from the heat when the lard is completely melted.

    • 2

      Add peanut butter into the pot with the melted lard. Mix the lard and the peanut butter together until they are well blended.

    • 3

      Mix in any optional ingredients you wish to add to make your suet cakes more appetizing to your outdoor birds. This may including diced apple, nuts, rolled oats, raisins and other similar ingredients.

    • 4

      Pour the suet cake mixture into a bread pan. Spread the mixture evenly so the suet mixture sets into the shape of the bread pan.

    • 5

      Cover the bread pan with aluminum foil and place it in the refrigerator. Leave the pan in the refrigerator overnight so it has time to solidify.

    • 6

      Remove the bread pan of suet from the refrigerator. Break the suet loaf into sections that will fit into your suet feeder or mesh bag. Put the suet cake sections you are not using in a freezer bag and store in your freezer for up to two months.