Posts Tagged ‘squirrels proof’

 Winter Suet Bird Feeders

Suet bird feeders help birds in winter, winter can be a  favorite time  for winter activities all dressed in layers.   But for our feathered friends, it is also a stressful cold time food hunting.  It is the time when birds need more energy just to stay warm when it’s so cold outside, but food is not as readily available, so then suet bird feeders are a viable option.

 Birds that are attracted to suet feeders include woodpeckers, goldfinches, juncos, cardinals, thrushes, jays, bluebirds and wrens.  Some folks consider it unfortunate that they will also attract starlings.  If you are one that doesn’t want to attract starlings try finding a suet bird feeder with only upside down access, since starlings can’t hang upside down to feed.  Haning a garden bird feeder can also attract squirrels  to suet feeders than many (including the birds) consider a pest.  To keep squirrels out you need to make sure the feeder cant’ be accessed by climbing or jumping from a nearby roof or tree.  If you still have a problem often using baffles will help keep them away.

Of course winter is a tough time for birds. For birds looking for berries, most plants have lost those long ago.  Flying insects and crawling grubs are hidden safely away the winter months, and if there was some source of food out that a bird might eat much of the time it is hidden under a several inches of snow, so putting a garden bird feeder in your yard will help them greatly.

Traditionally one of the best feeders for the winter bird population is a suet bird feeder, as opposed to a more conventional seed hopper or tube feeder.

Suet feeders are a popular choice because it has several advantages for use in the winter, the woodpeckers just keep coming back for more.  It holds up to cold weather well. At temperatures above 20 C it will melt, and attract bears (if you have them in your area)so don’t leave it out year round. Since it has a large percentage of fat it has a lot of calories, and is usually mixed with other high energy foods like peanuts for additional protein to give an additional energy boost. Finally suet cakes will last for quite a while so you don’t need to refill the suet feeder too often.

Suet was used many years ago by the settlers in America. It comes from raw beef or mutton fat, it’s often made from the fat found around the loins and kidneys. Our ancestors found many uses for it like candle-making. To make suet the fat is rendered in a process where the fat is heated to produce a wax like material. Once it cools slightly this wax like material is shaped and stored like soap.

Once you have the raw suet, to make it usable in a feeder it is usually prepared in a block similar in shape and size to a sandwich. To increase the protein in the food it’s common to add other ingredients like cracked peanuts or seeds which are mixed in before the suet solidifies so they are distributed through the food block. There are many types of commercially available suet blocks. There are also many web sites featuring suet recipes targeting different bird species if you are inclined to make your own suet.

Usually a suet feeder looks like of a small wire cage feeder where the suet block is placed. This can be hung from a tree or simply nailed to the trunk of a tree. Another common favorite is a traditional bird hopper feeder that also has suet cages on the sides, to prevent squirrels from taking it all.

 
Suet bird feeders come in many of styles and shapes. The most common of all the suet feeders are the simple cage feeders. These house the suet in a protective cage that can hang from a tree. For those wanting something more aesthetic there are decorative suet feeders. These are often mounted on a pole that can be freestanding in your yard, hopefully safe from your squirrel friends.

While winter is a tough time of year for our feathered friends, with a suet bird feeder you can help the birds in your area come through ready for spring in good health.
By John Ruppel

Bird Feeder on Flickr – Photo Sharing!
  Pro User says:. Looks like a brand new suet feeder. Great shot up of the woodpecker. I have them too and they love the suet this time of year.

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