Question about suet birdfeeders.
Apr 2, 2018 09:18:07 #
Apr 2, 2018 09:20:36 #
I would suggest using shelled sunflower seeds
katherineivey wrote:
They always seem to do that with store-bought suet, but eat every bite of homemade. Easy to make. Just use equal parts of lard (sold at Wal-Mart in bricks), crunchy peanut butter and black sunflower seeds. Melt the lard and PB, remove from heat and stir in seeds. Ladle into small containers about one inch deep. Allow to cool, refrigerate, then store in the freezer. I use cheap aluminum foil type pans and cut the frozen suet into smaller pieces with a sharp knife. Birds love it!!
Apr 2, 2018 11:13:35 #
RRS
Loc: Not sure
YNY wrote:
Do birds ever finish the suet and seed cakes (regular size) I put in those wire basket holders? It seems they eat from them when I first put them out but then two weeks later they are still unfinished. I think woodpeckers and nuthatches can still get to what is in the basket if they wanted to. Do I need to throw them out and replace at some regular interval? Thanks in advance for your experience and advice.
YNY.
YNY.
We have ours placed so that they are in the shade all day long. The other thing that we have done here is to place a clear plastic domes over the basket and fairly close to keep the crows and squirrels at bay or it will be gone in half the day.
Apr 2, 2018 11:26:21 #
HamBar06 wrote:
Me, too. I chase away the Starlings when they show up. Haven't seen too many recently for some reason.One bird that I chase when seen is the Starling.. nasty creatures!
Larry [HamBar06].
Larry [HamBar06].
I make food for the hummingbirds but no way am I going to make suet cakes for the birds. I will continue to buy them.
Apr 2, 2018 12:43:35 #
ldhflyguy
Loc: near Chicago
EdJ0307 wrote:
I make food for the hummingbirds
I make food for the hummingbirds
How does one do that
I'm interested in attracting hummingbirds to my back yard.
Do you have any tips for that involving feeders
I'm not really interested In planting special flowers.
Apr 2, 2018 12:46:22 #
I have a terrible time with those pesky raccoons getting into my suet feeders,any suggestions how to discourage them. Thanks
Apr 2, 2018 12:56:07 #
Tilly's Mom wrote:
As someone who is an avid feeder, I've found birds here prefer homemade suet and never leaves any pieces. We purchase the plain suet cakes, melt them, add chunky peanut butter, and stir in a few sunnie chips. This mixture is packed into holes, 1.5-2", that have been drilled into pieces of old pruned branches and hung up. We also pack this mixture between the scales of large pinecones and hang them on branches (nuthatches and chickadees love these)...as I said we are avid feeders...
I also is an avid feeder. I usually have at least 3 suet stations active all year. I have found that in most cases the birds prefer home-made to store bought. However I still put some of the commercial stuff up as a emergency ration. My mixture is a bit different than yours, being
3 parts cornmeal
1 part lard
1 part crunchy peanut butter
1 part flour or rolled oats
1 part seed (usually sunflower seed hearts)
Mix all together to a consistency of playdough.
I use a short piece of log into which I drill fairly large holes which I fill with my dough. This I hang from a tree branch using a very thin wire, which keeps the tree rats and coons at bay. I also hang it sufficiently high so that the Bruno's that frequent my area to prevent them from tearing them down.
Using this recipe and feeding method I have never had to worry about leftovers. Must be working as last summer I had 7 Pileated (4 adults and 3 juvies), 2 Harry's along with 4 Downies eating me out of house and home. All winter I've had a constant stream of Woodpeckers, Nuthatches and Chickadees visiting daily. Lately I've been forced to sometimes make up more than 1 batch per week. The only complaint I have as the cost is constantly going UP, and my hobby is getting a wee bit expensive.
Apr 2, 2018 13:12:43 #
YNY wrote:
Do birds ever finish the suet and seed cakes (regular size) I put in those wire basket holders? It seems they eat from them when I first put them out but then two weeks later they are still unfinished. I think woodpeckers and nuthatches can still get to what is in the basket if they wanted to. Do I need to throw them out and replace at some regular interval? Thanks in advance for your experience and advice.
YNY.
YNY.
My wife & I use the cage as you do, and when the birds have eaten half the block half way through, we just push our fingers through the back of the box and push the plastic forward , which moves the suit to the front of the cage where the birds can get to the newly exposed food.
Hope this helps.
Apr 2, 2018 16:00:23 #
We use the suet cage and the Stellar's jays hog it for the most part, except the doves are even more aggressive than the jays. We generally use the store bought suet bricks but occasionally, if we have had a beef or lamb butchered and packaged for us, we make the suet.
A cautionary note on birdseed feeders: they should be cleaned several times a season if they are the type that can accumulate a block of seed at the bottom which tends to get moldy. It is also a good idea to move the feeder around because of the bird droppings that accumulate on the ground which, if they get thick enough, can contribute to transmitting diseases among the little feathered friends.
A cautionary note on birdseed feeders: they should be cleaned several times a season if they are the type that can accumulate a block of seed at the bottom which tends to get moldy. It is also a good idea to move the feeder around because of the bird droppings that accumulate on the ground which, if they get thick enough, can contribute to transmitting diseases among the little feathered friends.
Apr 2, 2018 17:31:36 #
ldhflyguy wrote:
One part sugar, three parts water in the hummingbird feeder. It doesn't need to be red or any other color.How does one do that
I'm interested in attracting hummingbirds to my back yard.
Do you have any tips for that involving feeders
I'm not really interested In planting special flowers.
I'm interested in attracting hummingbirds to my back yard.
Do you have any tips for that involving feeders
I'm not really interested In planting special flowers.
Apr 2, 2018 18:27:08 #
ldhflyguy
Loc: near Chicago
EdJ0307 wrote:
One part sugar, three parts water in the hummingbird feeder. It doesn't need to be red or any other color.
Thank You Ed.
I'm going to head over to Menards and
get a feeder from their bird feed department.
I'll put it out when we stop getting freezing weather.
Any additional suggestions will be appreciated.
Apr 2, 2018 21:40:48 #
The birds empty my suet feeder in a day. The squirrels help. When I run out of suit I put in peanut butter bread.
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Apr 3, 2018 03:46:22 #
Check out “JCs Bird products. They sell covered suet feeders that the birds have to eat upside down from. Discourages many of the undesirable species.
Apr 3, 2018 17:36:46 #
Apr 10, 2018 14:38:25 #
I purchased 2 holders that hold 2 cakes, I placed spacers behind the blocks to make sure the were kept forward and not lean, this keeps cake more available. I have, Blue Jay Steller's, Threshes, Finches, tiny birds, really small birds, as long as there is daylight some are feeding most of the time. I buy most of my supply's from Ace Hardware.
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