Bird Food

Suet Cakes

I make my own suet cakes for the birds using shortening or lard, peanut butter, and cornmeal.  I mix about 1 part peanut butter to 3 parts shortening and melt it.  Then, I mix in cornmeal.  Don't put too much cornmeal, you don't want it to crumble too easily.  Press it into a cookie sheet and let it cool.  Then, cut into squares for the feeder.  I store it in the refrigerator.

Some recipes I have seen call for adding flour to the mixture, too.  I did not see a benefit when I tried it.  You can also mix in bread crumbs, nuts or seeds or dried fruit bits.

I save my bacon grease and use it the same way.

Pine cones

I collected some big pine cones in eastern and southern Washington which I put the suet mixture on and hang from the feeder pole.  Unfortunately, the squirrels love them and the Steller's Jays and crows carry them off if they are not well secured.

Odds and Ends

I dry whatever leftover breads, rolls, cookies, crackers or chips I have.  I break them up and put it out for the birds.  Sometimes I put it in the hanging feeder and sometimes I just throw it on the ground around the feeder pole.

Seeds from squash or pumpkins are a hit with the birds and they do not need to be dried before you put them out.

Leftover cooked rice is popular and eaten in no time.

Maybe it is just my birds but they have made it a habit to ignore any popcorn or cranberries I have put out for them.

Do you have feeding suggestions?

Email me with any ideas or suggestions you have.  I will put some of them on here.  Thanks.

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