Suet is an excellent high-energy food source that can help birds survive the winter. Knowing when to put out suet for birds depends on several factors, including your location, winter temperatures, and the types of birds you want to attract. With some planning, you can provide nutritious suet cakes and blocks during the times when birds need them most.
What is Suet?
Suet is raw beef or mutton fat. It provides birds with concentrated calories to help them maintain body heat and energy levels during cold winter months when natural food sources are scarce.
Suet offers birds:
- High fat content – Up to 50% fat provides concentrated energy.
- Calories – Suet provides twice as many calories per ounce compared to seeds.
- Nutrition – Suet contains vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Commercial suet cakes and blocks contain rendered suet blended with seeds, nuts, dried fruit, and crunchy bits that attract insect-eating birds. Offering suet is an easy way to provide the extra nutrition birds need during winter.
When Do Birds Need Suet?
Birds living in cold climates need extra fat and calories during fall and winter. This helps them maintain their body temperature and energy levels when food is scarce. As temperatures drop, birds have to consume more calories to survive.
Here are some guidelines on when to expect birds to start needing suet:
Location | When to Start Suet |
---|---|
Southern areas | Early November |
Mid-regions | Early to mid-October |
Northern regions | Early to mid-September |
The exact timing depends on your specific area and the weather. Monitor temperatures and food sources. Once nighttime temperatures consistently drop below freezing, suet will provide needed calories for birds.
In most regions, suet feeding should continue into late winter or early spring. Discontinue suet in spring once temperatures warm and natural food sources become plentiful again.
Where to Place Suet
Hang suet feeders in places that provide birds with shelter, protection, and easy access. Avoid setting suet out in the open, where larger birds may guard it aggressively. Good locations include:
- Near trees or shrubs that give cover
- Under eaves or overhangs
- On shepherd’s hooks positioned near landscaping
- Close to perches like fences or trellises
Choose protected areas that are convenient for you to check and refill as needed. Place multiple suet feeders around your yard to give all birds access. Hang suet feeders from tree branches, shepherd’s hooks, or use models that cling to windows. Place suet feeders 5 to 7 feet off the ground so cats and other predators can’t easily reach them.
Tips for Hanging Suet Feeders
- Use nylon cord or coated wire to hang suet. This prevents squirrels from chewing through it.
- Adjust length for easy refilling but to make access tricky for squirrels and raccoons. A 5- to 7-foot cord works well.
- Grease cords or poles with vegetable oil or petroleum jelly to make them slippery. This deters animals from climbing.
- Add a baffle above the suet to prevent access from above.
Choosing Suet Feeders
Look for suet feeders with these features to attract birds and make refilling easy:
- Wire cages or mesh – Allows birds to cling while feeding but keeps suet intact.
- Tail props – Tiny perches help support longer-tailed birds like woodpeckers.
- Roofs – Roofs help keep suet dry between refills.
- Removable bases – Make it easy to clean and add new suet blocks or cakes.
Select weather-resistant suet feeders that will hold up in rain, snow, and sun. Metal mesh cages are very durable. Recycled plastic feeders also last well outdoors.
Look for larger suet cage feeders to accommodate multiple birds at once. If you live in a warmer area, choose suet feeders with ventilation to prevent suet from melting in hot weather.
Suet Feeder Types
Feeder | Description |
---|---|
Cage | Wire or mesh cage holds suet. Allows birds to cling while feeding. |
Plug | Holds large suet plugs. Has Tail Prop perches. |
Basket | Wire basket holds suet cake below. Can hang or mount on pole. |
Tray | Plastic tray feeder sits on windowsill or table. Rod holds suet cake in place. |
Choosing Suet Cakes or Blocks
You can buy suet cakes and blocks, or make your own. Look for:
- Pure suet – Some suet feeds are blended with seed and cornmeal fillers. Opt for pure suet for the highest energy content.
- No additives – Avoid suet with added sugars or preservatives.
- Insect suet – Suet made with insects, nuts, and fruit attracts woodpeckers, chickadees, and wrens.
- Seed suet – Suet blended with seeds attracts seed-loving birds like finches and sparrows.
Suet can melt quickly in hot weather. You may need to switch to no-melt suet blends or make your own solid suet cakes for summer feeding. Here are some no-melt suet recipes to try:
No-Melt Suet Recipes
Ingredients | Recipe 1 | Recipe 2 |
---|---|---|
Suet | 2 cups | 2 cups |
Peanut butter | 1 cup | 1/2 cup |
Cornmeal | 2 cups | 3 cups |
Oats | 1 cup | 1 cup |
Seed | 1/2 cup | 1/2 cup |
Dried fruit | 1/2 cup | 1/2 cup |
Melt suet and peanut butter over low heat. Mix in remaining ingredients. Pour into molds or pack into containers. Refrigerate until firm, then set out for birds. Replace suet every few days in warm weather.
Tips for Suet Success
Follow these tips to attract more birds with suet:
- Offer insect suet to attract insect-eating birds like woodpeckers, nuthatches, and wrens.
- Try seed-infused suet to bring in seed-loving birds like sparrows, juncos and finches.
- Use more than one suet feeder to reduce bullying by more aggressive birds.
- Clean suet feeders regularly to prevent mold and bacteria.
- Situate suet feeders in sheltered spots near trees or under eaves.
- Use suet cages with roofs to help keep suet dry.
- Make your own custom suet blends with nuts, seeds, and dried fruit.
Birds That Enjoy Suet
Suet attracts insect-eating birds as well as seed lovers. Here are some common visitors suet feeders may draw in:
Insect Eaters
- Woodpeckers
- Chickadees
- Nuthatches
- Creepers
- Wrens
- Kinglets
- Starlings
- Phoebes
- Mockingbirds
- Thrushes
Seed Lovers
- Sparrows
- Juncos
- Finches
- Towhees
- Cardinals
- Grosbeaks
- Buntings
- Titmice
- Chickadees
Even birds of prey, like hawks and owls, may visit to grab smaller birds feeding at the suet! Offering suet can increase bird diversity in your yard as different species come to feed.
The Benefits of Suet Feeding
Offering suet to wild birds provides important benefits, including:
- Calories – Suet offers vital fat and energy to help birds survive cold winters.
- Nutrition – Suet delivers essential vitamins and minerals when food is scarce.
- Energy – The fat from suet helps birds maintain body heat and energy on winter days.
- Nourishment – Suet provides protein and fat to support feathers, eggs, and healthy immune systems.
- Variety – Different types of birds are attracted to suet feeders.
By taking a small step to provide suet, you can make a big difference for overwintering birds in your area! Suet is inexpensive and simple to offer. Keep suet feeders cleaned and stocked from late fall through early spring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is suet bad for birds?
Suet is not bad for birds. In fact, suet is extremely beneficial for birds in winter. The concentrated fat provides vital extra calories to help birds survive cold weather and migrate. Suet also delivers valuable nutrition. There are no hazards to birds from eating pure suet.
Where should suet feeders be placed?
Hang suet feeders in protected locations out of the wind. Place near trees or shrubs so birds have cover. Position 5 to 7 feet off the ground to deter predators. Avoid placing suet where larger aggressive birds can dominate the feeder.
How often should suet be replaced?
Replace suet every 5-7 days in winter. In summer’s heat, suet may need changing every 2-3 days. Refill suet whenever it becomes crumbly, dried out or covered in old seed hulls. Keep suet fresh to attract birds.
Can you make homemade suet?
Yes, you can make nutritious homemade suet mixes! Melt suet, then mix with any of: seeds, nuts, dried fruit, oats, cornmeal, peanut butter. Add crunchy bits birds like. Pour into molds or containers to firm up. Homemade suet is cheaper than buying commercial suet cakes.
What birds eat suet?
Many birds eat suet, including woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, wrens, thrushes, jays, starlings, sparrows, juncos, grosbeaks, finches and more. Offer insect suet blends to attract insect-loving birds, or seed suet for seed-eating species.
Conclusion
Suet is a beneficial high-energy food to feed birds through the winter months. Suet provides the extra fat and calories birds urgently require when temperatures drop and natural food is scarce. By offering suet during winter, you can provide essential nourishment to help backyard birds survive and thrive. Place suet feeders in protected spots where birds naturally congregate. Refill with fresh suet regularly to attract winged visitors all season long!