A suet cage, also sometimes called a suet feeder or suet basket, is a specialized bird feeding device designed to hold and dispense suet. Suet is a type of bird food made from rendered beef or mutton fat that provides birds with the high-calorie nutrition they need, especially in winter. Suet cages allow people to offer suet to wild birds in their yards or gardens in a convenient way that protects the suet from the elements and prevents larger birds like starlings from hogging it all.
What is Suet?
Suet is a solid white animal fat that is made by rendering the fatty deposits around the kidneys and loins of cattle and sheep. Beef suet has a high energy content and was commonly used in traditional meat-based recipes before vegetable shortening became popular. It has a melting point of around 100°F (40°C) so it remains solid at room temperature but melts with a bird’s body heat.
Some key facts about suet:
– Suet provides birds with vital calories to survive cold winters.
– It is high in fat and energy density – 9 calories per gram compared to 4 calories per gram in seeds.
– Suet has more calories gram-for-gram than peanut butter or peanuts.
– It contains vital nutrients like linoleic acid that birds need for energy metabolism.
– Most wild birds are able to digest pure saturated fat like suet, unlike humans.
– Suet supplements wild birds’ diets with fat and fills an important nutritional need.
Why Offer Suet to Birds?
There are several reasons why offering suet to wild birds is recommended:
– High-Calorie Nutrition – Suet provides an extremely high-calorie food source that wild birds rely on in cold weather to survive. Consuming suet gives small birds the energy reserves they need.
– Sustained Energy – The fat content in suet offers birds long-lasting energy. Birds can efficiently convert fat calories into body heat and energy when foraging gets difficult during winter.
– Natural Food Source – Suet is a nutritionally appropriate food for birds that matches what they naturally eat in the wild. Many birds consume insect larvae and nuts that provide lots of fat.
– Supplements Scarce Winter Food – Insects, berries, and seeds that birds normally eat are scarce in winter, so suet is a critical substitute energy source.
– Supports Smaller Birds – Suet feeders allow smaller birds like chickadees, nuthatches and woodpeckers to access the high-calorie suet they need that they couldn’t get from birdseed mixes dominated by larger birds.
By offering suet, people provide birds with a vital source of nutrition to help them survive harsh winter conditions.
What Birds Like to Eat Suet?
Many common backyard birds are attracted to suet feeders and relish suet as a winter food source:
- Woodpeckers
- Chickadees
- Nuthatches
- Wrens
- Titmouse
- Warblers
- Starlings
- Mockingbirds
- Jays
- Tanagers
- Orioles
- Thrushes
In general, any bird that naturally eats lots of insect larvae and nuts or needs high fat content from their diet will be attracted to suet feeders. The highest fat suet products will be favored by woodpeckers, nuthatches, and other birds that thrive on suet.
Benefits of Suet Cages
Suet cages provide a number of advantages over simply putting suet out on a platform feeder or smearing it on a tree:
– Dispensing Control – Suet cages only allow birds access to small portions of suet at a time, preventing larger clingers like starlings from hogging it all.
– Weather Protection – Suet will quickly deteriorate, melt and become rancid when exposed to sun, rain and heat. A wire mesh cage keeps suet intact for longer.
– Rodent Proof – Unprotected suet on a platform will be vulnerable to being eaten by squirrels and rodents. A cage limits access to birds.
– Reduced Mess – Suet cages catch crumbs and drips so suet isn’t smeared all over feeders, making cleaning easier.
– Feeder Compatibility – Suet cages are designed to be hung or attached to pole feeder systems alongside bird feeders.
– Bird Safety – Suet cages prevent larger birds from bullying smaller ones and allow easy access for clingers.
Using a tailored suet cage provides birds the high-fat suet diet they crave while making it easy for people to feed birds responsibly.
Common Types of Suet Cages
There are a few common styles of suet cages that provide different feeding options:
Upside Down Suet Feeder Cages
These consist of a wire mesh box with suet poured in from above. Birds cling upside down to access the suet through openings on the bottom where dripping and crumbling suet falls away.
Suet Basket Cages
A wire mesh cage holds a pre-formed suet cake. Birds cling to the sides or bottom to pull off pieces of suet. Excellent for woodpeckers.
Mesh Suet Bags
These bags made of tightly woven mesh are filled with suet nuggets and nuts and then drawn closed. Birds access suet through the mesh. Low mess and convenient.
Suet Plug Cages
Similar to basket cages but designed to hold dense suet plugs. Allows feeding upside down or upright.
Single Cake Suet Feeders
Consists of a single plastic or metal suet cake inside a cage. Prevents access by larger birds. Mess-free way to offer suet cakes.
You can buy suet cages or simply make your own DIY version at home to suit whatever style of suet feeding you prefer.
How to Make Your Own Suet Cage
Making homemade suet cages is an easy project using simple materials:
Items Needed:
– Wire mesh or hardware cloth
– Wire cutters
– Needle nose pliers
– Heavy gauge wire for hanging
– Carabiners, eye hooks, or s-hooks
Instructions:
1. Cut a piece of wire mesh into a square or rectangle big enough to hold suet. Fold up the cut edges for safety.
2. Shape the wire mesh into a box or basket shape. Attach sides together with pliers by bending edges together or using wire.
3. Attach wire for hanging across the top of the cage. Attach clamps, hooks, or carabiners to hang the cage.
4. Make any modifications like openings on the bottom or slots in the sides where birds can access suet.
5. Open cage wires or attach small roosting sticks as perches if desired.
6. Fill cage with suet and hang outside for birds to enjoy!
Customize suet cage size, shape, and openings to suit the type of birds you want to attract.
Where to Place a Suet Feeder
Consider these tips when situating your suet cage:
– Hang it 5-10 feet off the ground near trees or shrubs where birds can perch.
– Ensure it is accessible – small birds won’t use it if it sways in the wind.
– Place it where larger aggressive birds can’t monopolize the feeder.
– Site it near other feeders so suet-eating birds stick around longer.
– Avoid locations with direct sunlight which can melt the suet.
– Pick a spot with cover to provide birds safety from predators.
– Don’t place it right next to a window where birds may collide.
Consider the habits of the birds you want to attract and place the suet feeder accordingly. Observe activity at first and then relocate if needed.
Tips for Feeding Birds Suet
Follow these tips to make the most of feeding suet to wild birds:
– Offer suet year-round but increase amounts in winter when food is scarce.
– Look for high-fat suet products to provide maximum calories.
– Choose no-melt suet formula in warmer seasons so it doesn’t turn rancid.
– Don’t overfill suet cages or it can become messy as birds eat it.
– Pair suet with other foods like birdseed, nuts, fruit and mealworms.
– Clean suet cages regularly to prevent mold and remove old suet.
– Consider making or buying suet-based bird treats for variety.
– Observe bird activity and adjust suet locations and amounts to meet their needs.
– Consider using insect suet for extra protein content birds need for breeding season.
– Discourage starlings by using cages with openings too small for them to enter.
With some experimentation, you’ll discover the best way to set up and maintain suet feeders to attract the wild birds you love seeing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best suet to buy?
Look for suet made from pure beef fat without additives or fillers. Opt for high-fat options marketed for woodpeckers and nuthatches. No-melt suet is best for warm seasons.
Should suet be refrigerated?
Refrigeration extends the freshness of raw suet. Once a cake is formed, it can be kept in the fridge for 2-3 days or left outside if used promptly. Suet lasts longer in cooler weather.
How do you soften old suet?
If suet gets hard, microwave it in short 5-10 second bursts until softened. Gently knead as it softens to restore consistency. Don’t microwave too long or the fat will melt.
Does wet suet go bad?
Suet exposed to rain or moisture can go rancid or moldy within days. Discard any suet that smells bad, looks moldy or has turned dark or greenish in color. Don’t offer suet that has spoiled to birds.
Can you use vegetable shortening instead of suet?
It is possible but not ideal, as vegetable shortening does not provide the same nutritional value as animal-derived suet. Stick to beef suet if possible.
Conclusion
Suet feeders provide an excellent source of energy for wild birds that need extra calories and fat during harsh weather conditions. Offering suet in tailored cages allows desirable backyard birds access while preventing issues with cleaning, spoilage, and dominance by larger species. With some creativity, you can easily build DIY suet cages to suit your own bird feeding needs. Experiment with suet cage placement and different suet recipes to discover which options best attract and nourish the birds frequenting your yard.
