Suet for birds can be offered year-round, and its especially good in fall and winter. Suet is one of the most popular and beneficial foods you can offer birds. In addition, suet attracts multiple species, so you can be sure it will entice lots of feathered friends to your backyard. Take a look at these dos and donts of offering suet to birds in the backyard to increase your chances of success.
DO buy your suet in bulk
One suet cake at a time can be purchased, but the cost can add up. A better way to go is to buy in bulk. This way, you will be set for a few months. Plus, you will be saving money at the same time.
It’s possible that birds would rather eat from dependable sources, such as installed feeders. Try temporarily removing your other bird feeders until the birds discover and utilize the new feeder if your suet feeder is empty for a few weeks. Once they begin using the new feeder consistently, the old feeders can be replaced.
Suet can be consumed raw or rendered, meaning it is melted and then rehardened, and then combined with other ingredients to form cakes or other shapes. Adding additional ingredients is one of the main reasons you might decide to make homemade suet. Adding seeds, grains, fruit, nuts, and even eggshells are common additions. Making their own suet in specific shapes is another reason why some birdwatchers choose to do so. See our beginner’s guide to suet for instructions on creating your own.
As directed by the manufacturer, use any leftover suet within the suggested time frame and store it somewhere cool and dry.
Suet is available in a variety of forms, including blends of fruits, insects, seeds, and nuts, as well as plain fat. Certain suet blends, like a woodpecker blend or a songbird blend, are made specifically to attract particular kinds of birds. But any bird that eats suet will like a simple suet cake!
If you already have bird feeders and are successful with them, consider positioning the new feeder close to the current ones. To provide birds with a place to rest in between feedings and an instant escape from any predators, place your feeder about ten feet away from a naturally occurring shelter, such as trees or shrubs. Feeders should never be placed closer than ten feet away from trees or shrubs as this can attract squirrels. Recall that in order to reduce the risk of deadly window collisions, feeders should be hung or mounted closer to 3 feet from windows or farther away from windows than 15 feet.
DON’T stop at just one if you want lots of birds
During the winter months, the suet area will be very popular because it can really help birds gain weight and survive the cold. Try setting out two or three suet feeders if you have the space. This will attract a greater variety of birds.
FAQ
Why are the birds not eating my suet?
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