How to choose the Best Suet Feeder

[@knoxtheox897]

a great makeshift suet feeder, is to take a piece of firewood/any wood, and drill into it on multiple sides, and woodpeckers love it because its natural.

[@notesfromleisa-land]

I feed suet year round. I make my own as it is cost effective for me to do so (cornmeal, flour, peanut butter, lard). I have found that 1/2" rat wire (so long as you are handy) allows one to fashion makeshift suet feeders of all types. It is also useful over a shallow pan, as it allows the birds to eat, and the squirrels to not abscond with big chunks! The green coated baskets are wonderful and last for years. A pencil is a great perch for birds such as blue birds..just shove it through both sides and it is stable. I like very much the drilled "tree", and will look for a suitable candidate and get the hole saws out.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

You are dedicated! The birds thank you.

[@mairwaugus5203]

I had to put a small padlock on my suet feeder b/c something was stealing the entire cake ...😮

[@notesfromleisa-land]

@mairwaugus5203 willing to bet it was a raccoon.

[@reginavanzuiden3737]

So glad I found your channel.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Welcome to the channel!

[@darrenmcguin9031]

Great video Mark. The suet logs are by far the best and are my favourite as well. We take the suet cakes and gentle melt them down using a microwave on low power then add a few big spoons of peanut butter(salt free) and more peanut pieces. Mix well and wait to stiffen up and then fill your holes using a soup spoon. After a few times of doing this it becomes very easy. We have 4 log feeders that we fill 1-2 times a week depending on location. These with this mix are guaranteed to bring in the woodpecker’s! We use these all year long and compared to all other suet feeders….there is no comparison! Any questions about this I’ll be glad to answer. Thanks again Mark, Darren

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

That is an awesome method to "kick up" a suet formula. I know your birds have to love that.

[@lloydbrannan1002]

I have no starlings and all poles have stove pipe baffles so I just use a simple cage box hung from the pole.

[@heelswheels1824]

Hello! What a very informative video! Thank you! You mentioned something about raccoons, we have had some of those little critters stealing our suet cakes!! You mentioned hot pepper. I did hear that. (cayenne pepper, as well as black pepper & cinnamon) But will that discourage the woodpeckers and other birds as well? I currently have the cake feeder hanging on our Rose of Sharon bushes by our front window, giving our furbaby entertainment as well.. haha Should I hang it higher, maybe suctioning it to the top window? Thank you so much for sharing all the different types of suet feeders!

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Absolutely. Thanks for watching. The hot pepper cakes are hotter than adding pepper to a traditional cake.

[@heelswheels1824]

@@MarksBackyardBirds I have not heard of hot pepper cakes! ;) (I was under the impression to just sprinkle cayenne pepper, etc on the cake... lol) Can you include a picture, so that I can find it locally? lol And that will not discourage the other birds? ;)

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Will do. Birds are not affected by the heat like mammals are for number of reasons. We sell a lot of hot pepper cakes. Some actually rotate between them and a non heat cake like Peanut Treat. I will send a pic when I am back at the office

[@heelswheels1824]

@@MarksBackyardBirds Thank you so very much for all your useful information/for sending a pic. :) Please also include a video, if you have one pertaining to this subject. Thank you again~

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

@@heelswheels1824 Here is a link to our best selling Hot Pepper cake tinyurl.com/5a5zszde. There are others on the market as well but we have found this one to be both effective and cost efficient.

[@yes350yes]

Maybe someone has a suggestion for me to deter starlings. I like to use a double suet cage I think audubon sells it . The cage openings on it are 1.5" which allows downy woodpeckers to go inside but starlings can reach in far enough to get the edges of the suet. I also made an upside suet feeders which does help some but the starlings are very persistent and will hang on it and knock suet out to others waiting on the ground.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

This is the caged suet feeder we have had good luck with in the past : shopbackyardbirdcenter.com/products/squirrel-resistant-suet-palace

[@brianbeidle8520]

Magic halos can defend any hanging feeder from house sparrows, but wood peckers, chicadees, and nut hatches have no issue with the halos. These devices were invented and then experimented with at the University of Nebraska. I made three and they defend my suet log, tube feeder, tail prop feeder, and hopper from sparrows. Watch videos on the "backyard birds" channel by Jeff Hansen to learn how to make them. Easy to do and will save you money and help not feed the invasive House sparrow.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

I tried them twice and both time, at least at my feeders they only worked for a couple of days. They are worth a try because if they do work it is a blessing.

[@brianbeidle8520]

@Mark's Backyard Birds It has been noted that the juvenile house sparrow sometimes has a capacity to defeat the Halo. Was this at a period of time when there was fledging or did you try it in the Spring and Winter time? Also the type of Lines did you use? I have had both heavy weight fishing line and black shoe string laces work. these are anchored with steel washers.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

@@brianbeidle8520 The halos were commercially made so I'm not sure the exact fishing line size they used. On our bluebird boxes, we never use greater than 10lb test as that tends to scare the bluebirds off. We did have considerable more success with the nest boxes than feeders, but too was highly varied. Some boxes it worked for years, some just days.

[@BryWorYT]

Yes, suet logs can be a good option when starlings are a problem, but, like all feeders, they should be cleaned periodically. I find scrubbing with a solution of Oxiclean (or equivalent percarbonate product) and dish detergent to be very effective in removing the accumulated fatty residue; bleach will damage the wood.

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Good advice

[@user-lz6dm5lk9y]

i cannot see the label on the high quality suet cake. Which brand/flavour is it? Thanks!

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

@@user-lz6dm5lk9y C&S Peanut Treat.

[@user-lz6dm5lk9y]

@@MarksBackyardBirds Tried it, and the birds love it! Thanks!

[@kellybrantley2567]

I have made a couple of these from the pieces of wood my question is how do you clean them?

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

They, like all wooden feeders are a challenge to clean. I find that the power washer does the best job but I know that isn’t an option for everyone. Soapy water and a good scrub brush is the best alternative.

[@kellybrantley2567]

@@MarksBackyardBirds Thank you.

[@jaurijantzi424]

I’ve seen juncos go after suet before

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

It does happen. Just not that often.

[@valeriefergusson3158]

What do I do with pigeons that eat the seed? Would seed with hot pepper stop them hogging my bird feeders?

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Hot pepper doesn't bother birds, even pigeons. You typically have to use their size against them. Taking trays off of tube feeders is effective as are caged feeders.

[@AnneMOakes]

Has half the population lost their minds? Since when do people have a problem feeding Starlings? The “common stalling“ or European starling which has absolutely nothing common about it has the most beautiful iridescent plumage I’ve seen on any bird and I can’t imagine why anyone would want to keep them away from their homes. I’ve never had a problem with the Starlings in my back yard. The animals in my little circle of furry friends all get along well and it’s the most beautiful thing. Have you ever held on in your hands? God is great and loves ALL of His creations no matter what humans may think of them.All Life deserves to be respected and treated kindly. This is somewhat reminiscent of the ridiculous attempt to rid New York of the beautiful spotted lantern bug calling them ugly when in reality there are absolutely beautiful but some people thought they were spies and purposefully went out of their way to not only stomp on them but drag their beautiful red wings causing red striation marks all over the sidewalks. Some claimed they were killing trees but that turned out to be bogus as well.

[@VS-lx7ll]

Starlings can destroy the eggs of other bird nests- that's why some don't want them.

[@loustoneberger8921]

Is smush a word??? Well of course it is.😎

[@alexandrac9536]

I don't get people who want to discourage certain birds. If you put something outside it's for all the animals

[@mairwaugus5203]

Everybody has to eat❤

[@AndrewJR66]

I want to buy one on your website, but I see they come of variety and I would prefer to have one if I ordered one where the holes don’t go all the way through so it’s easier to smash the suet

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

Excellent. Put that in the notes section when you place the order. I will likely remember anyway but just to be safe.

[@AndrewJR66]

OK I’m placing my order now but it won’t let me add anything to Notes hope you don’t forget lol 😂

[@AndrewJR66]

@@MarksBackyardBirds I am placing my order right now, but it won’t let me put anything in notes so hope you don’t forget lol 😂

[@MarksBackyardBirds]

We are pulling it right now. Got you covered

[@AndrewJR66]

@@MarksBackyardBirdsthank you so much