Feeding Birds Suet

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

In the video, I said that oats don't provide any nutritional value for birds. I've since learned that I was wrong to pass on that information. According to the FeederWatch site, they say this about oats: "Oats grown for cereal or livestock feed are also eaten by many species of birds. This grain is rarely found in modern bird seed mixes, but you can try offering oats on a platform feeder or in a hopper. Species most likely to be attracted to oats include doves and quail." Source: feederwatch.org/learn/feeding-birds/ Very sorry for my error. Lesley

[@lanialost1320]

Lesley -- you can edit your video with a text overlay to explain that oats use is okay, but can be optional. There is so much contrary info about feeding birds that it's hard to sit through it all. I stay away from all commercial pre-mixed so-called bird seed mixes -- they use the cheapest, pesticide-treated seeds, of poor quality, lacking in variety, and also add questionable powdered additives for supposed nutritional value. I now buy all organically-grown or neonic-free seeds from amazon, without salt and unroasted -- such as hulled sunflower seeds, black-oil sunflower seeds, hulled millet grains (various), flax seeds, hemp seeds, cracked corn, unbleached golden safflower seeds, nyger, etc. Then make up my own blend. Winter, fall and spring I make home-made bird cakes with melted organic coarse peanut or almond butters, the kind without salt or other additives. Rendering beef suet at home creates an unbelievable stink that takes days to dissipate. Never use lard or crisco-like fats.

[@wholeNwon]

@@lanialost1320 Good grief! Now you've made ME hungry and I don't have any feathers at all.

[@nasirkody1054]

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[@rogelioalonso5618]

@Nasir Kody instablaster ;)

[@nasirkody1054]

@Rogelio Alonso i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and im waiting for the hacking stuff now. Seems to take quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@josephbailey4463]

Feeding the birds in winter is a good example of a symbiotic relationship; we give them nutritious food and they give us a flash of color and spark of life on winter’s gloomy days.

[@marianmoser-otto3590]

So true, especially a brilliant red cardinal against fresh white snow. Breathtakingly beautiful! ☺

[@PouncingAnt]

Many also eat insects for us when winter's done, so it's pragmatic too. Depending on how you feel about insects, of course! :D

[@nthgth]

@@PouncingAnt I have nothing against insects on principle, but the ones that are usually jerks can help themselves into a bird's belly. I'm lookin at you, mosquitos and wasps!

[@enzeda]

Symbiotic is not the right word, but your connection with nature is. Cheers Bud.

[@joniangelsrreal6262]

👏👏

[@janetobermann157]

I make my own suet by purchasing true “suet” from my local grocery. Ask for “suet “, (cut from around the kidneys), not “beef fat”. I paid just $0.71 recently for 1.5 lb. Render the suet by cooking it down on LOW heat. I cut my suet up into small pieces and rendered it in my crock pot. Tip: do this outdoors if you can, as beef fat melting is NOT a pleasant smell! I added 1/2 jar of Teddy brand, natural, unsalted chunky peanut butter, and melted. I thicken the melted fats with 1 -2 cups of cornmeal, and 3 cups of various seeds, as well as a chopped organic apple. I spread the mixture onto a cookie sheet lined with parent paper. I use a suet feeder, and a suet log to feed the woodpeckers, titmice, nuthatches and Chickadees. I have special stones and logs that I place crumbled suet on for the jays, and I feed the cardinals crumbled suet on ground feeders late in the afternoon just before dusk. I love watching my backyard avian friends! Your channel is wonderful!! Thank you for your beautiful photography and stories about your wonderful avian friends!

[@alfredogawa1724]

Janet Obermann ‘

[@DivaInTheWoods]

Thank you for those tips! I had no idea suet was so cheap. I'm definitely going to alter my recipe. And thanks for the heads up about the smell too!!

[@blueeyeswhitedragon9839]

I have been feeding the birds in my yard for decades...and have a close attachment to the squirrels as well, and any feral cats that might be in my area. But after reading your post on bird feed, I can't help but wonder just how much time, energy and money you are putting into charitable efforts for your fellow man. The effort to create the perfect bird food should not surpass the effort to feed the hungry people in your community. A balance is much more satisfying.

[@janetobermann157]

@@blueeyeswhitedragon9839 thank you for your comment regarding balance. I agree. I’m not spending much on making suet, but do invest in quality bird seed. I retired from a long career as a medical professional working with terminally ill patients living with ALS. Over the years, caring for people who slowly loose everything, including their ability to eat, speak, and breathe- has taken a toll on my energy and heart. Gardening, volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and feeding birds and wildlife is my way of reconnecting with life forces, and a means to restore balance in my own life. Peace to you.

[@heathersilverio7057]

Thank you for the great information. I Spent the day making various suet cakes with the kids. Tried variations in ingredients and the kids wanted all sorts of shapes. They are very excited to put out their homemade suet cakes tomorrow morning. They are decorating an outdoor "bird tree" to brighten up our winter days. This will certainly add to many more time consuming bird projects. I think both have been bitten by that famous backyard birding bug. It is well worth it just to see them off their tablets and enjoying nature.

[@sherryw.1466]

We created a small pond for all our critters to bathe and drink out of. It’s by our house so we put a pond heater in it and we have a running waterfall that operates all year. There are no fish in it. We built it just for our birds and other critters that come to our yard for food and water. They bring us so much joy, it’s the least we could do.🥰

[@EvieO1950]

Been feeding suet I make for over 20 years. My woodpeckers will sit in the tree and wait for me to fill up the logs. Cardinals have learned to hover and get the suet. Good to know I’ve been making the right thing!!

[@randyrejer4219]

Evelyn Oxner what recipe do you use?

[@EvieO1950]

@@randyrejer4219 It’s one my Mom used. 1 C peanut butter, 1 C Lard, 1/2 C flour, 4 C cornmeal. I add some chopped pecans, sunflower hearts, or chopped peanuts whatever I have on hand.

[@Jerid58]

Just moved back to the country on a lake.....watching this lot of birds it seems like red headed woodpeckers scare most other birds even blue jays off.....would you agree. Also thanks is for the recipe.

[@greedo2660]

My grandma was an avid birder and made her own suet. I sure wish I knew her recipe.

[@kellybrantley2567]

What about yellow cornmeal and sugar? The recipe that I have made for years Cosper cornmeal, rolled oats, flour, sugar, lard and peanut butter. I do add dried fruit, crack, corn, and mealworms. My birds love this recipe but I want to make sure it’s safe if not, I had no idea.

[@phasm42]

Here I am, standing in a Walmart parking lot throwing seed to a huge crowd of grackles. This is your fault! 😅

[@sherrieoneillthompson7061]

I went so far as to feed parking lot birds a labor intensive , Birdsey Bread . very high in nutrition.

[@RobJorg]

Love your voice, storytelling and birds.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Thank you 🐦

[@DDL2728]

You are right. And, her little accent is great!!

[@AlphaScouser]

NPR-esque!

[@StarTexaspets]

Should read books online! Haha I'm from Texas and love how she says "about"

[@angelhelp]

Having moved from western Connecticut to northeastern South Dakota, we've found to our dismay that we can no longer buy what the stores used to call "suet", which was really beef fat. In fact, we can't even buy organ meats (beef liver, beef kidneys, lamb kidneys, beef heart, chicken hearts, etc. and even chicken livers are hard to find -- and yes, we've been to the local butchers). I have always known that bacon's full of "chemistry" (my catch-all term) and therefore no good for wildlife. That said, we're stuck offering commercially made suet to our woodpeckers and robins (yes, our robins have fought for it once a chunk falls to the ground). We keep asking, more or less annually, about beef fat and all the other goodies in hopes that one day it might be available. Rendering the fat means melting it all, slowly, and skimming off the detritus that floats to the top. A mix of whatever else you wish to offer ("real" peanut butter, sunflower seeds, raisins, currants, raspberries, blackberries, crickets, and even cornmeal, millet, and safflower seeds) waits until you pour the melted fat over the mix. A few good stirs later (to evenly distribute the add-ons) and it can be set aside to harden in whatever shape you choose. One of the first purchases made after we moved to South Dakota was a proper birdbath heater. I have several wide and shallow bowls, three of which were intended as plant pot leak-preventers and the fourth was merely a huge Tupperware "top" that was intended to cover a sectioned round platter that might offer chips or salad bits for dipping. It has taken two South Dakota winters for that big bowl to crack although it's still serviceable in that it retains sufficient water to be useful here at the Tooth & Beak, i.e. the east yard of our house where all the birdfeeders live and other birdbaths are available when the temperature exceeds zero Celsius. I bought the heater on Amazon for roughly $70 USA and an additional plug cover to prevent water from seeping into the area where the heater cord is plugged into the (outdoor-rated) extension cord. This year we chose to replace the extension cord as a matter of course. To buy the heater, plug cover, and a 3-4 meter cord is roughly $100-$110 USA. I had naively assumed that when the time came that I had to replace the heater, I could easily obtain one within Amazon Prime's 3 days, but with the pandemic, I'm seriously considering having a replacement on hand so that there is assurance that the avian (and squirrel and bunny) water supply won't be interrupted. The birdbath is on the ground on what is usually grass, in the sun for much of the day, and our car forms the wind-break for wind from the south. Given the fact that the wind can easily blow from the north or east, the wildlife has to be alert for when we carry two 2-liter pitchers of hot-from-our-kitchen-sink water to restock the birdbath (usually twice daily) due to evaporation from the wind. Wind from the west is directly blocked by the house. With the Tooth & Beak directly visible from our east-facing kitchen window and our dedicated peanut-holding feeder dental-flossed to that same window via an inverted Command hook affixed to the kitchen wall, our cats are kept constructively amused and we ourselves are well-entertained, but more importantly, we can see when something needs refilling or replacing (feeders can be blown down and break). Keeping a floating ball in he birdbaths here would be futile with the blowing winds, but when the temperatures drop and snow is falling, we watch as a hill of snow accumulates around the birdbath. Once the wildlife no longer has free & easy access, we go out and stomp down the snow, move the birdbath slightly, and keep watching. Often the birds don't wait for us to be back in the house before returning to their meal. Right now, the birdbath heater has been in place for a month despite two weeks of mid to high 20s Celsius. There was quite the windstorm over the past couple of days, necessitating thrice daily birdbath refills, and it was during one of those sessions that Mr. Downy decided he needed one of the shelled peanuts (we offer both shelled and unshelled in that window-feeder). He landed, then took a casual stroll through the peanuts, scattering the in-shell ones with his impressive beak as he sought (and soon found) an intact (both halves were still together) shelled peanut. With the trees in our neighbor's yard and with their hedge both offering wonderful cover, we're able to feed 10 squirrels, a handful of chipmunks (they're much harder for me to tell apart), the original 4 bluejays and 2 years worth of their offspring (I only know one parent -- Fussy -- because Fussy picks through a minimum of 4 peanuts before deciding that one of them is acceptable), 2 bunnies (used to be 4 but I think Mrs. Cooper Hawk has been busy), 20+ yellow-shafted flickers, countless LBBs (Little Brown Birds consisting of house finches, purple finches, pine siskins, redpolls, and quite the assortment of sparrows), some crows (we started with one and have expanded, but they're not regulars), enough robins to clog 3 birdbaths of a half meter diameter each, and lots of other less frequent visitors. Our robins and fickers are gone now too but I mentioned them because they are the endcaps of the season: first to migrate back here in spring and last to leave in fall. Besides Mrs. Cooper, I'm certain there's a Mr. Cooper somewhere, and I know for a fact that Mr. & Mrs. Redtail live nearby as do Mr. & Mrs.. Merlin, plus a few other stray hawks. Until we moved out here, I never knew redtails would hunt like a pair of lionesses would, i.e. one bird suddenly appears, scattering the panicked flock, then when things calm slightly, the second bird reignites the panic and the prey is caught. They used our rubbish bins as their hiding space and it was a solid half hour before any birds returned to the Tooth & Beak!

[@tanyajuli4145]

that's quite the inventory! Sounds wonderful and some good ideas.

[@brennacoleman6211]

Wow very interesting Thais for sharing all there details!

[@nelsonthibeau2050]

1 have 73 morning doves, 26 blue Jays, 6 downy 5 hairy and 1 red belly woodpecker, a dozen or so of titmouse,chickadees, 3 juncos, and about 24 purple capped pols and 1 cardinal. I built my bird bath using a small metal tub, taped 12 ft. of heat tape to it using foil tape, ridged foam and a wood frame to support it, placed rocks for thermal mass, aquarium circulation pump to keep water agitated, also the rocks are at different heights for different sized birds bathing..hasn't froze in subzero temps

[@dawnpiper5883]

When I moved to my home thirty years ago my view was boring out my living room so I planted a tree the tree is big enough now to hang feeders and my daily view is now amazing the antics of all the birds make my day

[@jdlives8992]

I love my bacon but I will gladly pay a bit more for my feeders. I have seen many migrant birds lately the songs are no normal to me. I enjoy them a lot. Thank you do all you do! I always get super excited when you see you videos are available. Thanks again. I have a few friends who give me beeswax and we put seeds and some small nuts in them. They get gone in a day or too.

[@sarahheld3761]

I love you you give me ideas if I ever get a house instead of an apartment. I'm handicapped and that looks like a good time to spend the day.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

I sure hope that you get a house so you can enjoy the back yard birds. You would love watching them. Take care ❤🐦

[@jdlives8992]

Enjoy them. !

[@DivaInTheWoods]

I hope you're able to get a house for more wildlife enjoyment! In the meantime, have you tried any window feeders? I don't have personal experience, but I've read posts from other apartments dwellers who use them for a birdwatching "fix". 😊

[@nthgth]

I also have an apartment and am seeking a house for this among other reasons. My balcony doesn't physically allow much in the way of feeders, especially with the clever squirrels. It would be great to have a nice yard and a feeding relationship with some awesome birds, like other commenters describe!

[@MrBugman2525]

@@LesleytheBirdNerd agway in greensburg pa sold more bird seed than they ever did in 2020 because of the pandemic

[@Dragrath1]

We have two heated bird baths for winter so the cuties can get water throughout the winter. Never made suet before but we regularly put it out the long suet feeder gets pepper & peanut so the squirrels don't chew the feeder apart again. They literally broke it a few years back chewing right through the wooden frame.... In the other suet feeder we give them two suet cakes which tend to be various ones from the Wild Bird Center store. Our main feeders are a cage feeder (to keep out the squirrels and starlings) with a mix of hulled peanuts and sunflowers, two finch feeders one with niger and the other with a niger & chopped sunflower heart mix. Then in the winter we put out safflower and black oil sunflower on the ground as well as a cheaper winter mix my mom buys. The black oil sunflowers are always a hit but the problem is if you put it out too often it kills nearby plants as sunflowers are allelopathic. Also I have to ask has anyone seen any dark eyed Juncos? They have been regular winter visitors for well over a decade showing up in late October but we haven't seen any this year. The adorable White throated Sparrows have returned as have the cute little Pine Siskins but no Juncos have been seen. This is extremely unusual I hope they are ok.... We have never not had Juncos visiting in late fall to winter before.

[@markn1090]

Dollorama actually has some pretty good suet. Made in Quebec, and has peanuts as it's second listed ingredient. Only $1 a block as well. They actually had better ingredients than the stuff from grocery stores that's usually $2-3 a block. Not as good as the $4-5 a block specialty stuff, but when I am going through a block every 2 days, it adds up in costs.

[@moonxshakti]

Consider placing suet under a baffle or in upside down feeder w suet below roof. Woodpeckers and small birds will have no problem. Blue Jays, black birds, and other bully birds will be discouraged, but still get some. They don't need help anyway. Your suet will last longer, and cost less. I like tractor supply suet, $1, peanut is fav, but they have wide selection including raisin, orange, mealworm. Quality suet.

[@brennacoleman6211]

So worm meal suet?

[@brennacoleman6211]

Mealhworm**

[@BryWorYT]

That would be 'My Buddy' ('Mon Copain') brand. I've had good experience with their suet products. Tends to be a bit softer than other well-known brands I've tried (Scotts, Armstrong, Morning Melodies etc), which is good in the winter because it doesn't freeze as hard. Price has gone up to $1.25, but still very good value. That said most, if not all, of these commercial suet cakes include millet and/or milo in the seed mix, which, of course, House Sparrows love. This winter I've taken to preparing my own (pure lard, chunky peanut butter, cornflower, quick oats, sunflower chips (fine), chopped 'craisins') and seen a marked reduction in House Sparrows 'mobbing' the suet feeders.

[@larrypesek8818]

Thank you for the great videos... Since my dogs left me last year, I have been using their food budget feeding our feathered friends and love your insights!

[@marilyncourteau8951]

tried that too but 6 months later got another dog who makes friends with skippy squirrel and yaps at the birds who have come to ignore her....life harder without a dog or cat...feel bad for you...

[@claudieduchatellier8184]

I use unrefined coconut oil , peanut butter, black seeds, and dry fruits that I dehydrated myself such as apples, elderberry, cherries, oranges. They love it, I enjoy watching them, it's magical. Thank for sharing.

[@lauradraganflye8444]

I spoil my birds and put suet out all year long! I also splurged on a heated bird bath so they always have water even when it's freezing out. I love my birds And I love all your videos Leslie, thank you so much for what you do and for sharing with us.

[@LetsStalkBirds]

Anybody here still loving birds in 2024.? I do...

[@palmtreewhisperer]

Here ✓

[@thomasscott6252]

The local ravens and Jay's love the suet blocks I put out.

[@aphexon.]

@Tyrone Koumoundouros It is illegal to shoot songbirds aka crows.

[@dawnpiper5883]

@Tyrone Koumoundouros well aren't you the shallow example of a ignorant twerp

[@dawnpiper5883]

@cynthia g totally agree what a absolute turd this person sounds

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Thanks guys. I'm removing him now.

[@dawnpiper5883]

@@LesleytheBirdNerd thank you as his post was designed to upset bird lovers I myself got a bit rude and said names I normally reserve for crud

[@hollydougherty8772]

I found that black rubber basins used to feed livestock make wonderful winter bird baths. The basins range in size from a gallon capacity up to five. I have a two gallon basin that works perfect. I place a rock in the middle of the basin that protrudes about an inch above the surface. As you stated in the video the rock prevents the surface from freezing and it also provides an extra place for the birds to perch. Even on the coldest winter days the water in the basin will remain liquid for a number of hours. Overnight the water usually freezes, however because the basin is comprised of a heavy rubber material, it stays flexible and the ice pops right out with the danger of the basin cracking. You can find these rubber basins at any farm store, they're inexpensive, very durable and will last for many seasons.

[@supernewman4075]

We feed 365... I have a heated birdbath, and was liquid at 7f this morning. It’s a very busy watering station. Love your videos,

[@rogercarroll1663]

I use one immersion heater, it works well here in zone 5A in Omaha. I also use one plastic bath with an enclosed heater which works very well. I made some beef suet which took time but the birds seem to enjoy it. Thanks to you for your you tube work.

[@zickmcdougall4960]

It’s amazing when you hang out with all of them, you can see and hear so much from them! You know there thankful and loving 🥰 Gods little gifts is what I say 🙏

[@frasersgirl4383]

I buy suet cakes at the grocery store and feed that in addition to my seed mix. I used to buy a garden friendly hulled mix to keep seeds from sprouting all over but it’s expensive and now that we’re retired we had to go to the the regular seed mixes. We have a heated bird bath that runs off an extension cord from the garage. I’ve been feeding birds and providing water for about fifteen years now and the enjoyment we get is beyond measure.

[@mikeamirault8741]

I just buy frozen ground suet at the grocery store and pack it into holes in a log. They love it.

[@Resvrgam]

I’ve been jarring that trapped grease from high fat content beef and then mixing in sunflower seeds and other seeds after warming it up. I have an old bell mould and allow the cooling grease/seeds to form up as the bell (with some dowels piercing them). Thanks for the info! I definitely don’t want to harm the birds passing through here (New Hampshire).

[@ldirk58601]

I use an old clawfoot tub with a solar sprinkler and a ledge of rocks in the summer. In the winter I use a rubber horse bucket. One that holds two to four gallons of water. I put a small aquarium heater in it and plug it in. It gets very cold here in North Dakota and this works for me. I do put this on a pedestal so it's off the ground. I have never made suet. It is so affordable that it doesn't seem worth it to me to bother with making it. Loved this video, Lesley. Thank You!

[@delorestaylor8114]

I love my birds. Momma loved them. Two suet feeders and six seed feeders. An amazing beauty of nature to see.

[@sallyvitale7213]

I'm from Michigan and I'm gonna try some of those bird bath ideas this winter. I just buy the suet. It's not that expensive about a buck a block.

[@katherinebabcock55]

I have a heated bird bath that I received several years ago as a Christmas gift. I love it cause it’s easy to bring in to clean every few days and when the snow is blowing sideways it gets a lot of visitors. I don’t know how much it cost but it came from The Birdwatchers General Store in Massachusetts.

[@julieketchum4130]

Just started making my own suet this year. Ingredients are orgainic no salt peanut butter, orgainic wheat flour, organic rolled oats and no waste bird blend with no shells, and rendered beef suet. The oats and flour are a very small amount that I use for a thickening agent. Everyone in my backyard loves it. Your channel is very informative and I appreciate what you share. Thank you

[@lisavoyce6775]

I don't have a heated bird bath either so I just have to keep topping up the frozen baths with boiled water from the kettle. It usually melts the ice and is lukewarm for a while then it slowly freezes again. I'm going to try the ball idea this year. I always worry that some poor animal may chew the extension cord if I were to get a heated bath. Lovely video Lesley! I really like any information about feeding or helping the birds so I can do what's best for them 🙂.

[@IEnjoyCreatingVideos]

Another great video Lesley! Thank you for always sharing them with us!💖👍👌😎JP

[@moonxshakti]

Dad set the copper drip line just fast enough to avoid freezing. I use a black plastic dish tub in winter to retain heat and not be ruined if it freezes. I refill in the morning. Can put partially in ground to prevent freezing. Be sure to add rocks or stick for access (and escape for varmints). I hang a gallon jug above bath with one pin hole to drip. I cover it with dark cloth so it isn't noticable, and keeps unfrozen. (Sm shepherd hook) The drip attracts birds and prevents freezing to some degree. It lasts most of the day, and I refill in the morning. I buy suet for $1 at tractor supply. Everyone's favorite is peanut. I serve in covered cage for woodpeckers, and to discourage bully birds. Baffle is the cover. I do have several visitors to suet besides the regulars, including brown thrasher, cat bird, bluebirds, warblers. (Regulars include Downey's, hairy wp., red bellied, pileated, white breasted nuthatch, chickadee, tufted titmouse, Carolina wren, etc.) I have a northern flicker, but it doesn't do feeders. I make a mix for bluebirds, small birds, and woodpeckers that I serve in covered platform feeder or open sided covered feeder in a small dish or cup. Generous scoop real peanut butter, 2 T bacon grease, optional, add (100%/real cornmeal, not mix w rising agent) cornmeal til crumbly texture, mix w spoon.. do not want it too sticky or greasy. Add seeds, chopped nuts, chopped dry fruit, meal worms as desired. I keep a peanut butter jar to make mix in and store for next refill. Natural bacon without preservatives is better for ppl, too. More expensive, so I eat less. 3rd generation Audobon

[@archenema6792]

The elder Mr. Dawes said, "Fiddlesticks, boy. Feed the birds and what have you got? Fat birds." Well, Mr. Dawes, they may get fat, but they'll be loyal. I'm 100% loyal to anyone who feeds me bacon. 🥓😛

[@OurCatioHome]

Hi Lesley, we always love your videos! We have 2 hanging bathes. During the winter months, we take them in at night and return them in the morning with warm water. This seems to last for several hours until the sun warms things up, plus the water is cleaned out daily. Simple but effective for us. 🐦

[@StonedustandStardust]

My Husband pours boiling water into our stone birdbath in the mornings in freezing weather. We are boiling the water for our french press coffee maker so it's no extra work. We do have suet feeders in different areas of our yard. We put some out farther from the house for starlings that started coming around. We find it keeps them away from the other feeders so they don't bother the smaller birds. We use sunflower hearts in the feeders near the house to avoid the messy black shells. I like to make treats by spreading peanut butter on pine cones and rolling them in seeds. Then I hang them in the trees. The peanut butter cones are favorites of the chickadees. Love your channel, Leslie! Thanks for the info on the suet. I don't see myself making any - too easy to buy good suet cakes online.

[@Kitties_are_pretty]

Birds are so precious.

[@dmotta2811]

I love them 💕 🐦

[@tlb2732]

After years of feeding & housing birds I became concerned. I had enjoyed watching the progression from egg to fledgling of several clutches of house sparrows and noticed that the fledglings followed their parents to the feeder. As I thrilled at watching the clutches linger among my trees and shrubs for weeks and frequent the feeder, it occured to me that I was making them too dependent upon my feeder. I now maintain plantings of Purple Coneflower, Sunflower, Black Eyed Susan, and other flowers. After they bloom and dry out, instead of removing them I leave them all winter long. I still fill my feeders with seeds and suet pellets, but I get much more satisfaction watching them eat the seeds from the dried stalks. They feed on them continually and utilize the natural cover as well.

[@AbsolutelyAdorableStudio]

Ooooo I’ll check out those links to make homemade suet ❤️ I put my store bought suet out this week and the red bellied woodpeckers and downy woodpeckers are loving it 😍😍😍

[@mrsjones2925]

We had woodpeckers and blue jays at our suet all summer in NJ. I love watching them.

[@AbsolutelyAdorableStudio]

@@mrsjones2925 They are so cuteeee :)

[@BuildingCenter]

I remember reading about suet in Childcraft, The How and Why Library. Had to be in 1978, 79. The books came with my parents’ 1970s World Book encyclopedia set. I think the recipe included lard, or tallow. I knew you could make tallow candles, but I didn’t know what tallow _really_was, and I knew Moms didn’t use lard. Thus ended my self-taught, private charter preschool, auto-homeschooling exploration of winter bird feeding.

[@tamipie]

I haven't made suet, but I have done a peanut butter and seed hanger - that worked pretty well, I coated a cardboard paper towel roll with peanut butter, then rolled it in seeds. Worked pretty well. I usually fill my bird-feeders every morning. In the evening, I empty the bird (bowl) so it doesn't freeze, then I can refill it in the morning. That way it doesn't freeze over night.

[@elizabethkalis24]

I’m so excited!! Just had my first black backed woodpecker come and visit my suet feeder. 🥰

[@holidaze8998]

what a beautiful video. Thank you for all the information and beautiful pictures of those lovely birds.

[@IreneDowningNature]

Beautiful video Lesley. Lovely captures my friend. Such a delight to watch. Enjoyed as always Irene.😍💗

[@fionaproctor6330]

I have made my own suet for years now. I make huge batches as I go through ALOT during the cold months. I put it out in October/November thinking that my birds can start to fatten up a little either for migration or the coming winter months in Niagara Ontario. I use equal parts lard and peanut butter from a bulk store. To that I add corn meal, rolled oats and flour. After that in goes mixed bird seed, peanut halves, black sunflower seed, raisins, dried cranberries (if they’re on sale) and maybe some meal worms. While still warm and mailable I pile into a parchment lined pizza box which is the perfect size and press flat, scoring the suet into eight squares then into the fridge! When the marauding starlings eventually spot the suet they they devour it till it’s gone and I have to leave it empty for a couple days until they move on otherwise they’d eat me out of house and home.

[@HarleyAverage]

I definitely needed this today. I had a bad busy day at work, and I haven’t been able to watch my backyard birds all week except for yesterday. I’m gonna try the black ball, because that sounds fun. I have read online that bringing in your bird bath at night and putting out fresh water in the morning can be enough to stop freezing water.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Sorry to read about your ordeal I hope your day is better tomorrow and the rest of the week. Interesting about taking the bird bath in a night and putting it out in the morning with fresh new water. Makes sense and in going to give it a go. Thank you for sharing. Take care

[@margaretmorey3154]

I make my own suet cakes. There is a butcher shop near my home that offers ground suet-this melts faster and much more evenly. I use my crockpot to melt (render) the suet. For easy clean up, l use crock pot liners, found at grocery stores, in the same aisle as plastic wrap, aluminum foil, etc. I've found that 3 pounds of ground suet fits perfectly into my large crock pot-it will 'cook' down, so there will be room left in the crock pot. After the suet is rendered, l add peanut butter (chunky), and let that melt into the suet. Then l add millet seed, peanut pieces, sunflower hearts, and some black oil sunflower seeds. Turn off the crackpot, let the mixture cool. Ladle into pans, forms, whatever you're using. After it cools down, you can put it into the refrigerator to harden. I just set it out in my unheated garage overnight. The next day, you can slice it up to fit into the suet cage you're using, set it out...then stand back and watch the show! Besides the 'usual suspects', i.e Chickadees, finches, sparrows, bushtits, and nut hatches, in my yard, l watch as Blue Jays (Steller's and Western Scrub), Crows (they're fun to watch, as they try to perch on the cage, flapping their wings as they peck away), Western Flickers and Squirrels. Squirrels REALLY love these suet cakes! They will hang upside down to reach them.

[@davidmeyer3795]

When I worked as a butcher I once brought home a 10 pound solid block of suet. I took it to my bird loving grandmother. Her eyes went huge when she saw it. Dozens of birds swarmed all over it for a week

[@DivaInTheWoods]

This may be a dumb question, but I've never purchased suet from a butcher. Can it be used in feeders as is, or do you have to render it? I'm assuming rendering it "melts" it so to speak. I finally found a local butcher and am planning to stop in soon.

[@davidmeyer3795]

@@DivaInTheWoods I put it out as a whole piece just for the spectacle of it but yes rendering is more or less just melting it. Then you could also add feed or just portion it into smaller amounts. Maybe use a small Tupperware container to make blocks that would fit a commercial suet feeder

[@nicatee8737]

I have a heated bird bath that I set out in the winter for the birds. Once the snow starts here, I add peanuts and a seed mix to what I offer. Suet, black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer and berries are out year round. I started using suet to bring in woodpeckers. Every bird that is in my yard eats from it....well except for the crows.

[@judithwalker3600]

Yes, I did know about what makes bad suet and what makes good suet! In most respects, it is simply common sense. Don't feed to the birds what you wouldn't eat yourself! Thank you, Lesley, your knowledge and refreshing honesty when you don't know, make your videos an absolute joy as well as a trusted resource! I don't have a place safe enough to get to watch the birds feed but I do leave food for them close by.

[@RachelWhelton]

I have one of the plug-in, heated bird baths. It works most of the winter as long as I check on it, swipe off snow, and keep filling it. It is always rewarding to see birds enjoying the water, usually Juncos or Bluebirds, sometimes finches. I look forward to putting suet out soon but right now we still have a bear around town here in New Hampshire. The best thing I have found is to make sure to have multiple feeders. It seems to help the birds feel happy and safe because more of them can get seeds at the same time instead of having to wait their turn. I'm really looking forward to winter feeding this year since already we are seeing so many birds.

[@BirdsNatureTravel]

Great information with beautiful bird watching video.. thanks for sharing 👍

[@susannevling1291]

Leslie, your videos are pure pleasure especially in the US with all the political stress. Thank you for the respite. I have read about making suet but do not cook period. I agree that quality seed is very important. Because we live in a condo complex with protected wetlands, we have many birds from raptors to water fowl and song birds. We also have an overabundance of chipmunks and squirrels with a rare skunk. Although very cute, I cannot afford to feed them too. We started adding habenero oil to black oil sunflower seeds. It has solved the problem. Birds still enjoy the seeds and mammals leave the seeds alone.

[@diannehale5155]

I use ready-made suet blocks, but I also make my own when I have enough ingredients. I mix organic peanut butter (no additives) with leftover Harrison’s pellets (high quality parrot food), and add seeds and peanut bits. The birds can go through 2 of these in an afternoon! 😄. I’m guessing that they like it. I also put out shelled peanuts in special feeders that the squirrels can’t chew through. 😝 Being on the Wet Coast of B.C. We don’t have much in the way of freezing temperatures and we get LOTS of rain which keeps our bird baths full. We also have a stone bowl for the ground-bound critters. Last week, I made too many waffles and decided to try those in my feeders, smeared with peanut butter and mixed seed. They were all gone by early evening. It feels good to be providing for our local birds, even if sometimes (often) the squirrels and raccoons also partake.

[@GratefulDeb270]

We have 2 heated bird baths here in my Wisconsin yard... one elevated /birdbath height and one on the ground. They both get used a lot. It surprises me how often the birds bathe when it’s very cold! Thx for wonderful bird videos!

[@SonicGirl4Ever]

I use the Allied Precision Heated Bird Bath at my home in Wisconsin. The birds love it! It has a latch which connects directly to my back porch railing.

[@rherman9085]

Ms. Lesley, I love your channel! I moved in July 23 miles from my other home. I'm in the same weather district. The first day at my new digs, I put out bird feeders & suet cakes. It has taken up until last week or so for the birds to take to my feeders (squirrels too for that matter) or about two months. I live alone for the most part and no neighbors. I can't get the birds (or the squirrels for that matter) to eat from the suet cakes. I've have several Rural King varieties put out. It is the same ones used at my wife's house (She stayed behind to care for her parents). WE have about a half dozen squirrels & probably 3 to 4 dozen birds on our feeders at my wife's, but I barely have a dozen birds on my feeders. I have six feeders out on 1 acre. Any suggestions would be great. Thank you. Oh, this is in Central western KY area.

[@gordroberts53]

Thanks Leslie, that's a lot of information. I've always bought a good quality suet. Where we live on Vancouver island it rarely freezes hard or for long so even keeping the hummingbird feeders ice free is pretty easy. We are moving into town in a few weeks so have a new group of birds to befriend. Thanks always for sharing!

[@tegoblue]

What?! Do your hummingbirds stick around for the Canadian winter??

[@gordroberts53]

@@tegoblue In some areas, yes. We live on the eastern shoes of Vancouver Island, Qualicum Beach to be exact. The winters here are mild, generally with only a couple weeks of really cold weather. I generally have a half dozen or so resident Anna's Hummingbirds that overwinter with us. The only days they don't have small gnats available for their diets is when it is below freezing. All through the winter we have a couple feeders in play, one on the hook in front of the kitchen window and one staying warm in the laundry room. Overnight both feeders are inside to avoid freezing. I am up before dawn each day to put a warm feeder out for them. They arrive first light for a warm drink. We also keep the bird bath clear of ice throughout the winter.

[@garyw4596]

Luv your bird channel. We keep a medium sized koi pond with a waterfall running 24/7/365. It does freeze over for a few weeks but it is deep enough to keep water flowing around the waterfall and provides our feathered friends water all year.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Oh man that sounds really nice. Thanks for letting me know and the nice comment. Take care 🐦

[@CenturianEagle]

Very informative! I loved seeing the cute juncos in this video, they’re so adorable! Thanks for this great information! Seeing the crow by the same feeder the junco was eating from makes me realize how huge crows are! I know juncos are small but wow that crow is a big bird!

[@dougmaceachern5568]

Nice video, I spend hundreds of hours watching the birds at the feeders , it gives me a great sense of joy in watching the different personalities of the birds and satisfaction in a small way helping out... Please try and give all birds a chance at the feeders. While some are prettier to look at sparrows, crows , grackles, junco's etc, deserve a chance as well.

[@ursulaansbach2244]

Am amazed at all involved in birding

[@igotakitty777]

He Lesley, hope you're doing well this week. Another really nice informative video. I make homemade berry suet now, which has attracted the attention of a male red-breasted nuthatch. I've never had nuthatches at my feeder before! Suet is such a good way to attract a more diverse group of birds.

[@igotakitty777]

youdoitsuet.com/blog/berry-pink-suet-cake-recipe/ This is the recipe I use, except I omit the food coloring & oats, and don't add as much eggshell since the birds typically discard it. I use fat trimmings from steaks or excess from ground beef.

[@brianbraeger8611]

Thank you for your time and I appreciate your videos!

[@shelleybrandon2825]

Lesley, I always enjoy your videos as I've been a bird watcher since I was a kid! Over the years I found that the commercial mix of nut and berry suet has been the choice fav among my wild avian friends. Enjoyed by nearly all species flying to it from woodpeckers to chickadees to nuthatches and bluejays, even some newbie songbirds checking it out like pine siskins. Even in summer catbirds and thrashers enjoy it!! For water, I believe that is the best thing to have to attract birds to your yard, actually ALL year long. No matter the other offerings, fresh water is key. I have a heated bird bath in winter (mourning doves gather around it like a sauna in winter) everyone come to take a drink. Mine is elevated in a stand. In warmer months I also offer a ground bird bath that is used even more by non seed eaters like thrashers, robins, white crown sparrows, white throats, towhees, catbirds and more!! In winter, water is the greatest draw up here in the Northwoods of Wisconsin and in southern Minnesota where I divide my time.

[@mrskinner8473]

For birdbaths in winter I made one this yr out of an old tire and black heavy duty Garbage bag and filled with warm water each morning every day. I also put sticks in it that wouldn't poke holes in the sides. They've loved it I also have a pond I dug on the other side which I also filled with warm water each night and put logs in

[@A711-m1d]

Another informative video , thanks Lesley. I always enjoy your calming videos . 🐦 ❤ 🌴

[@kimh9337]

I noticed that for the magpies in my yard, they got for the "Size Matters" principle. I throw out whole peanuts first, and the crows and magpies are going for those first. And I also throw smaller seeds like, (Sunflower and other), which the smaller birds are picking up, while the bigger birds are busying themselves getting through the peanut shell :)

[@mtnwriter4011]

I live in Colorado Springs. I've never made my own suet -will buy it instead. I put out suet, but our winters are so warm now, even "hot," (70 today) that my birds are not taking to it at all. But they always love the sunflower seeds.

[@raggedyanarchist]

I have a heated bird bath and I absolutely love it. They'll even get in there and splash around as long as the weather stays above -12 or so.

[@hugomikaelsson4055]

Those are some stunningly beautiful birds in this video. Thank you for the upload.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Many thanks!

[@celowski6296]

Hanging up a deer carcass after the meat is removed , is a great source of food for the birds. Up here in Michigan many of us hunters have been doing this our whole life. Woodpeckers and chickadees really love the ribs! Fact is three turkey vultures can clean a carcass clean in a week.. Nothing goes to wast in nature.

[@wmluna381]

Huh, I did not know this. Interesting. I won't think it's weird or lazy now if someone just keeps one on display for days. 😁

[@celowski6296]

@@wmluna381 The birds love the suet on the carcass. I have everything from chickadees to pileated woodpeckers eating off it. Nothing in nature goes to wast. Also porcupine love to chew on the bones for calcium...

[@chrisk8322]

Hi Lesley thought I'd let you know that things coloured black work well in the winter. I put about 3 circles of black electricians tape around the glass part off my hummingbird feeder bc I got tired of it always freezing on me. And it worked. It didn't keep it from freezing when it went below -10 or colder at night but for all the mornings that were -2/3 it worked. Just put the tape around the parts that would freeze 1st. Also I tried making my own suet 1 winter with mixed seeds, shortening and plain chunky peanut butter. It was a mild winter and they came out a bit soft not like the ones u buy from the store.

[@keithheid2773]

Hi, Leslie. I love your videos and your knowledge. My wife and I are moving to Florida from Maryland. In Maryland, I used to run a extension cord to a bird bath de-icer when the temp was below freezing. I place my winter bird bath on the ground, which allowed foxes, raccoons, and opossums ample water as well. We also used to provide homemade suet, along with the store bought suet cakes, but will no longer make our own suet, after seeing your video.

[@tk423b]

I noticed that chickadee pose you mentioned. The stay away I am feeding posture. So cool.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Awesome. Glad you were able to witness it for yourself. Cute little tough puff balls 😄🐦

[@tk423b]

@@LesleytheBirdNerd probably my favorite. Love the channel. Keep up the great work.

[@Loveofpets]

Excellent video. I enjoyed seeing all the birds. Most of those birds come to my feeder also. I don't make my own suet but I saw that post going around. I put out fresh water during bathe day and change it if it freezes but sometimes it too cold and it freezes within minutes

[@lwliu1112]

I buy my suet cakes from an animal feed store. I’m shocked to find suet with artificial fruit flavors that contain no actual fruit. I always buy suet that contains nut fragments as additional nutrition. Most people don’t realize that the “citrus” or “berry” flavored suet don’t contain any citrus or berries. I hang the suet cage next to a feeder filled with sunflower seeds. Love watching the birds. Thank you for producing all these informative videos.

[@sharonhoang]

Thanks for the post! I buy suet blocks for my outdoor birds and hang them outside my kitchen window. They love the food and i love watching them. Did not know about the bacon.

[@betty8419]

You are absolutely right.. Quality food.. Heated water is important also.. No salt..🙋‍♀️

[@allenbrown1]

Great tips, Lesley. I use one of the heated bird baths. I’m lucky to have a convenient outlet on my deck.

[@tramarherrera6685]

Thank you for the information on black rocks or plastic keeping water from freezing. I didn't know that.❤

[@wmluna381]

The white-coated wire drawer organizers in the kitchen section of Dollar Tree work really well as cheap suet holders. The square ones hold 2-3 traditional or thicker homemade cakes at one time and the longer rectangular ones hold my homemade suet and seed balls. I stack 2 on top of each other, attach them on the bottom with 2 white zip ties and use the 2 white twisty ties they come with to cinch and close up the wire higher up on either side. Dollar Tree also sells smaller ~6" black metal S-hooks in a 2 pack which I use to hang them with. An easy and cheap project for the lazy (which I am). The white color looks attractive against a snowy background, too.

[@finnajane]

I love the slow-motion of the blue jay drinking 😀 I just bought a 12 pack of suet cakes. My downy and red-bellied woodpeckers love them.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

That is awesome!

[@sarahdee374]

I live in the NC mountains. I've tried everything to deter squirrels, and have settled on Sizzle and Heat seed and spicy suet. It's all that keeps dozens of squirrels from dominating the feeders and preventing birds from accessing. It's expensive, and they seem to love it.

[@SmokyMountainBlessed]

thanks for the tips

[@johnlounsbury6191]

Lesley, I buy suet (Beef fat) from Krogers. The Downeys, Carolina wrens ,Chickadees, Nut hatches and others wait in line on cold winter days. Also, I manually break and remove ice from a small pumped pond I built and that attracts as many birds as does my feeders. the are a joy to watch!

[@cattailer1077]

Great info for winter feeding of our feathery little ones!🥰

[@JennRighter]

00:36 SUCH beautiful scenery, it makes me miss the north. The whole video is beautiful, but that part just looks like the snow falling from my back deck in Ohio. 💖 🦅 ❄️

[@JennRighter]

I live in Texas now. Texas is great for birding, specifically shore birds and the elusive and endangered whooping cranes. But I miss the seasons, snow and birds of the north.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

@@JennRighter I've heard a few people talking about how good birding is in Texas. One day I'll have to visit. 🐦🙂

[@johnfoster6110]

Thanks for your videos.

[@lesliemoiseauthor]

Good information about bird bath heating.

[@theteenagegardener]

Wow, Amazing video once again, Lesley! Your videos always make my day, and lift me up during these days of Quarantine. Once again, thank you so much for this beautiful video.

[@kennybrown8586]

I sometimes make my own suet using a verity of fats; beef suet, lard, butter, margarine, bacon grease, and peanut butter. What ever I have. Then I mix bird seed, dried fruit, peanuts, other nuts, cereal, and oats, peanut butter with cornmeal. I make it in small amounts so I can make a verity. Kenny's wife Anna

[@mjduncan80]

Leslie, I have a pond in my back yard which acts a a good water source. I have a bubble aerator on the bottom which keeps an open spot in the winter ice. It’s good for the pond and is a great compliment to my feeders. Any size pond that circulates water from below the frost line will not fully freeze during the winter.

[@dbeachmawmaw]

I bought suet twice, bought the grate it fits in hung it out by my other feeders. All fall and winter (I did change it) but my birds here in Texas were not very interested in it at all. However I couldn't keep enough black oil sunflower seeds out for them. So that's what I stuck with, and from Cardinals, Black Capped Chickadees to Titmouse they loved the sunflower seeds! I did get peanuts for the BlueJays. 😊❤ Love the video! Oh, I don't have to worry too much about my water bowl for them freezing, being here in Central Texas, maybe a couple times in Jan or Feb but I change it out everyday so I keep it good, fresh & clean.

[@mickeyd7045]

We put out the leftover carcass of a chicken when we bake a whole one and put out the turkey carcass from thanksgiving dinner. The Gray jays ,Magpies ,Nuthatches ,Boreal Chickadees and the Hairy and Downey woodpeckers seem to love it. Although a Bald Eagle will sometimes take off with before the little birds can finish it.

[@backyardbirdscincinnati5166]

I use a bird bath heater (50 watts?). It keeps the water from freezing unless the temperature is well below freezing and/or it's windy. Even then it has never "frozen over". They definitely drink from the heated bath, but usually don't bathe in it. Pure beef suet cakes from Wild Birds Unlimited are popular in the winter in my yard.

[@Hoonozit]

We buy Suet at Wally World. Less than a dollar a block. We hope it's ok for them, because we don't actually know.

[@desertfox3860]

This will be my second Winter feeding suet. I get it from the local farm store. For water, I bring the bird bath over to the house and plug in a submersible heater for the little guys. They did fine last Winter.

[@themiageorge]

i will definitely try out making the bird suet! sounds fun and good for the birds :)

[@kmwrites7456]

wonderful video and information. I have just subscribed. Thank you for caring for these little beauties.