HOW TO MAKE BIRD SUET in Belize

Generally speaking, suet is not suitable for climates warmer than 50-degrees (but since we love birds), we have included several "NO MELT Suet Recipes" for bird lovers in Belize.  We have also included some recipes for our Northern friends, recipes which are suitable for winter climates.

What Is Suet?
Suet is basically solidified animal fat, mixed with other ingredients that birds enjoy eating.  For a fancier suet, add natural peanut butter, cornmeal, oatmeal, dried fruits (like raisins, currants, apricots, or citron).
Suet can be in any form, hard cakes, balls, or other shapes.  Not all birds care for suet, but certain birds do.  Suet is a great food to offer birds when they need more calories to maintain high energy levels. While there are many commercial suet blocks, cakes, and plugs available, making your own suet bird food is easy and affordable.

What Types of Birds Eat Suet 
Suet is especially loved by nuthatches, woodpeckers, wrens, chickadees, cardinals, jays, starlings, titmice and most insect-eating birds.  Some Wrens, creepers, kinglets, cardinals and some warblers have been known to enjoy a nice Suet meal occasionally as well.

IN HOT WEATHER (like Belize), bird suet softens & melts quickly which is dangerous for the birds. Making your own NO-MELT SUET will save you the trouble of making or buying several new ones, and birds tend to prefer homemade suet compared to the commercial varieties. Make the suet dough first by rendering the suet and peanut butter, and then combining all of the ingredients. Refrigerate the suet until it has set and then freeze any leftovers until you are ready to use them.

Belize has a sub-tropical climate (which means), temperatures can get brutal at times. The heat itself presents tons of problems for birds, including a lack of water, but one problem people with suet feeders will have is melting suet.  When temperatures exceed 90 degrees, suet quickly becomes a mess. Here’s how to stop that from happening.

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Why melted suet is bad for birds
To start, the heat causes suet to spoil much quicker than it normally would. That results in bacteria growth, which could cause birds to get sick. Not only that but the stench of spoiled suet becomes overwhelming—upsetting neighbors and attracting pests.  Melted suet is also wasted suet. Feeding birds is a great hobby, but it can be expensive. When suet melts or is no longer edible, that’s money and time down the drain.  On top of that, suet that drips on the ground has the potential to cause damage to plants, concrete, and even the birds themselves.  For suet feeders in Belize, DO NOT use your typical Northern climate suet recipes.  You'll want to use a "NO MELT" suet recipe.

Keeping suet from melting
If you buy your suet from a store, many places offer no-melt suet options. They do this by using suet dough with a much higher melting point than average suet. Alternatively, you can make your own suet using a no-melt recipe.

TIP #1 - Keep Suet Out of the Sun
The difference between the direct sunlight and the shade can be anywhere from 10 to 15 degrees. By choosing to put your suet feeder in the shade instead of the direct sunlight, you can limit its susceptibility to melting.

TIP #2 - Make Serving Sizes Manageable
The more suet you put out, the longer it’ll take for birds to eat it. That leaves more exposure to the heat and increases the likelihood that the suet will melt. Only put out enough suet for one day.

Working With Suet
Making homemade suet is just as easy as making hummingbird nectar or creating a custom birdseed mix for your backyard chicken flock. It is also more affordable than purchasing commercial cakes, bells, plugs, or blocks. Making your own suet allows you to customize the ingredients to appeal to the types of birds in your yard or those you specifically wish to attract. A homemade suet mixture is also free from preservatives, dyes, and additives that might be found in purchased suet products. While there is no thoroughly studied evidence showing that these items are harmful to birds, it's always preferable to feed birds natural, organic food sources.

How To Make Bird Suet
Begin by melting your lard, shortening or animal fat and peanut butter together in a large pot (like a Dutch oven pot or soup pot). Once this has melted together, remove the pot from the heat before adding remaining ingredients. The melted shortening and peanut butter will be soupy. Stir in the oatmeal and then the bird seed followed by the cornmeal.  If you use a large pot when melting the lard & peanut butter (you can mix all of the ingredients in this pot), without needing another container.  This makes for a much easier clean up.   Mix all the ingredients together in the order stated above.  This is an easy recipe for children to make, with adult supervision. 

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR ANIMAL SUET
Homemade suet recipes do not need to be complicated in order to attract a range of hungry birds. Before offering the suet to birds, however, it should be rendered to help it maintain its shape more easily. When you purchase suet in cakes from a bird supply store, this step should already be complete.

What You'll Need

• Sharp knife or meat grinder
• Sauce pan
• Wooden spoon
• Bowls
• Cheesecloth or fine-mesh strainer
• Containers for molding suet
• Lard, Shortening or Animal Suet (I like to use bacon fat)

RENDERING ANIMAL SUET 

1. Prepare the fat into small pieces or run it through a meat grinder. If you are getting the fat from a butcher, they may be willing to do this for you. Make sure all traces of meat, bone, or other tissues are removed.
2. Heat the fat on low heat until it is fully liquefied. Do not use higher temperatures to melt the suet more quickly, as this could lead to fires or scorching. Stir the fat constantly to help it melt evenly without burning.
3. Strain the liquefied suet through cheesecloth or a fine-mesh strainer to remove any particles or contaminants.  You should consider straining it several times, so it is as pure as possible. It may need to be reheated between each straining to stay fully liquid and strain more easily.
4. Once the suet is rendered, blend in your treats. 

6 BASIC INGREDIENTS - For Making "NO MELT" Bird Suet
Six simple ingredients is all you need to make bird suet.  Most likely, you'll have most of this in your kitchen right now.

• Lard or Shortening (animal suet is best, I use bacon fat)
• Crunchy peanut butter
  
• Oatmeal
  
• Bird seed of your choice
  
• Cornmeal
  
• Flour
  

Additional things to consider putting into your bird suet.

• Raisins
• Cranberries
• Dried fruit (diced small)
• Sunflower Seeds
• Pumpkin Seeds
• Worms

RECIPE - BELIZE "No Melt" Suet Recipe for Birds

RECIPE - BELIZE "No Melt" Suet Recipe for Birds
1 c. of suet
1 c. crunchy peanut butter
2 c. quick-cooking oats
2 c. yellow cornmeal
1 c. all-purpose flour
1/3 c. sugar
1/2 c. bird or sunflower seeds
Makes 4-6 suet cakes

STEP #1 - Heat the suet and peanut butter for 20 minutes until it's melted.
Slice 1 cup of suet into small pieces and place this into a saucepan. Add 1 cup of crunchy peanut butter to the saucepan and adjust the stove-top to a medium heat. Stir the ingredients occasionally until they have melted.

• If you prefer, you can use half suet and half lard. You can purchase this from your local grocery store or butchery.
  
• There are many different options for the type of suet or lard that you can use to make no-melt bird suet. You can use rendered suet, beef tallow, lard, vegetable shortening, or bacon drippings. Birds will eat all of these different types, so pick the one that you prefer.
  
• Use peanut butter without added sugar if possible, as this is healthier for the birds.
  

STEP #2 - Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl.
Pour the melted suet and crunchy peanut butter mixture into a large mixing bowl. Use a wooden spoon to stir in 2 cups of quick-cooking oats, 2 cups of yellow cornmeal, 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup of sugar, and 1/2 cup of sunflower seeds. Aim for a consistency that is similar to cookie dough.

• If the consistency is too runny, add more all-purpose flour to help the mixture thicken.
  
• Sunflower seeds attract chickadees and cardinals.

STEP #3 - Transfer the mixture to a large baking dish.
Use a baking dish that is approximately 2 inches deep. Line the baking dish with parchment paper and then use a spoon to transfer the mixture from the bowl into the dish.

• Alternatively, you can use the plastic trays that the suet was sold in. These are usually the perfect size for most suet bird feeders and this means that you won’t need to cut the suet to size once it has set.
  
• Microwave dinner trays are also an ideal size for making bird suet.
  
• The parchment paper makes removing the suet much easier once it has set.
  

STEP #4 - Press the dough down firmly in the baking dish or suet trays.
Spread the mixture out so that it evenly covers the dish. Use a fork to press the suet dough down firmly and to remove any air gaps. This creates a solid suet cake that won’t crumble.

• Alternatively, you can use a spatula to press the dough down rather than a fork.

STEP #5 - Refrigerate the suet dough for 24 hours until it has set.
Place the baking dish or the individual suet trays into the refrigerator. Check the dough after 24 hours to ensure that it feels solid and set. If the dough doesn’t feel solid, keep it refrigerated for 2-3 hours longer and then check it again.

• Refrigeration sets all of the ingredients into the suet and peanut butter mixture as it solidifies, which means that the suet cake will stay together and not crumble easily once it has set.

STEP #6 - Cut the suet into pieces if you made it in a baking dish.
Remove the suet from the baking dish and use a sharp knife to slice it into cakes that are the right size for your bird suet feeder. If you are unsure about the size, cakes that are approximately (2 inch x 4 inch) usually work well.

• If you made the suet in individual trays or dishes, you don’t need to slice it as it will already be the right size.
  
• Alternatively, use a pizza cutter rather than a knife to slice the suet into individual cakes.
  

STEP #7 - Store suet cakes (not using) immediately in the freezer.
Suet keeps best when it is frozen until it is used. Place parchment paper in between each cake and place the cakes in either a sealed container or a freezer bag. Then, remove each suet cake as it’s required.

• The suet cakes don’t need to be thawed before they are used. You can place them directly into the suet bird feeder.
  
• The suet cakes can be stored in the freezer for up to 1 year.
  

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Let’s Talk About the Peanut Butter Found In Bird Suet Recipes
Is peanut butter safe for birds? In short reply, yes. Peanut butter is a good source of protein for birds. Try to only use the crunchy kind with lots of nuts and if possible you may even prefer organic. Don’t use low fat. The birds want and need that fat for their nutrition.

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MAKE YOUR OWN SUET FEEDERS

How To Make A Suet Cake Using Ribbon or Rope
If you don’t own a bird feeder with the suet slot, you can add rope or a ribbon into your bird suet to hang from a tree. 
To make a ribbon or rope suet you will need three things:

1. Small ribbon or rope
   
2. Mini Bundt Baking Pan
   
3. Homemade Suet
   

Pour your suet mixture into several mini bundt baking pans.  Place the container in the freezer until it hardens completely, preferably overnight.  Allow the suet to thaw just a bit, remove it from the pan and tie a ribbon or rope through the middle hole of the bundt and hang from a tree (as shown above).  Be sure to place your suet bundt ring, in a spot which allows you to watch your birds enjoying their tasty snack. 

SUET FOR COLD WINTER CLIMATES

WINTER RECIPE #1 - 5 Ingredients Suet

1 c. shortening (such as Crisco)
1 c. crunchy peanut butter
2 c. oatmeal
1 c. cornmeal
2 c. birdseed

Melt the shortening and peanut butter together in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Do not boil.  Remove from heat.  Stir in the oatmeal.  Stir in the birdseed and cornmeal.  Pack down tight into your containers for shaping the 'bricks' of suet.  Wrap in aluminum foil.  Place containers into the freezer overnight.  Carefully remove the solid suet from the containers and feed the birds.

WINTER RECIPE #2 - Basic Suet
1 c. rendered suet
1 c. chunky peanut butter
3 c. ground cornmeal
1/2 c. white or wheat flour

ADDITIONAL ITEMS YOU CAN ADD

• Chopped, unsalted nuts (do not use coated or flavored nuts)
• Dried fruit bits or whole, unsweetened raisins or cranberries
• Birdseed
• Insects, such as dried mealworms, flies, or cricket

Melt the suiet and peanut butter together until they are smoothly blended and liquid.  Add the cornmeal and flour, mixing well.  These ingredients will make the suet more crumbly and e3asier for birds to eat, as well as less messy in the yard.

Mold the Suet Allow the pure suet or mixture to cool slightly to thicken, then pour it into molds or containers to use. Allow it to cool completely until it forms solid blocks. Refrigerate or freeze suet until it is firm and you are ready to use it. Extra suet may be kept frozen for several months until needed. The cakes can be chopped or cut to be fed to the birds, or you may use containers that are the appropriate size to fit your suet feeders.

WINTER RECIPE #3 - Vegetarian Version
Traditionally suet is made from rendered animal fat you can provide the perfect winter substitute for birds that normally feast on insects. This lipid-rich treat can help prepare year-round residents for the long winter and is quite the draw for birds such as woodpeckers, wrens, chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice. 

1-1/2 c. shortening (look for palm oil free options)
3/4 c. nut butter (any kind)
3-1/2 c. wild bird seed
1 c. quick oats
1/2 c. corn meal
Ice cube tray

Mix the dry ingredients of bird seed, oats, and corn meal together and set aside.  Combine the shortening and nut butter in a separate bowl and melt. Stir until completely combined.  Pour the melted mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until combined.  Spoon mixture into the ice cube tray.   Freeze for one to two hours and place in your suet feeder!
Note: Not recommended for outdoor temperatures above 50 degrees .

WINTER RECIPE #4 - Suet Cake #1
2 parts melted fat (beef fat, lard or shortening)
1 part natural peanut butter
2 parts yellow cornmeal
WINTER RECIPE #5 - Suet Cake #2
1 lb. melted fat (beef fat, lard or shortening)
1 c. millet
1 c. sunflower seeds
1 c. raisins 
Instructions for Both Recipes
Melt the fat in a saucepan until completely liquid. Next, remove from heat and let sit for several minutes.  Stir in the remaining ingredients and cook for a few minutes.
Pour into small containers (tuna fish cans are good), and refrigerate until they start to harden and then store them in the freezer until ready for use.  Mixture can also be stuffed into 1-inch holes drilled in small logs to hang from trees.  The recipe can be made all year long as long as you accumulate fat. Fasten containers securely to trees or feeders.

When Should Suet Be Put Outdoors?
Homemade suet should be used only in very cold weather so that it does not melt and become rancid. If you live in a warm climate, we do not recommend using homemade suet because it will spoil too quickly. In this case, it is safer to purchase commercial suet cakes (which are treated and won’t spoil).  It’s also a good idea to hold off until at least December, as suet (and other bird food) can attract bears and other critters if put out too early.   See more wintertime bird food recipes and enjoy watching your feathered friends warm up by your window!

Suet-making Tips
There are several ways to acquire different types of animal fat for making your own cakes, and many birders have one method that is easiest or preferred for them. You can try different methods to find the type of fat that is most popular with your backyard birds as well as best for your budget.

• Purchase rendered plain suet cakes or chunks from a wild bird supply store, garden center, or pet store. These cakes can be used as-is or can be melted down to be used in more specialized suet recipes. This will usually be the most expensive option, as these cakes have already been processed and shaped for feeders.
• Purchase suet or beef fat trimmings from a local butcher. This is a less expensive option and depending on your butcher, you may be able to have these scraps for a drastic discount or even for free. Also, consider asking beef farmers or anyone who butchers cattle about fat trimmings they will give away or sell for a small price.
• Save bacon and pork meat drippings to create your own suet. This will be softer than rendered beef fat but is still suitable for the birds as a rare treat. Do not feed birds exclusively bacon drippings, however, since some compounds from that type of fried fat could be detrimental to birds in the long term. Furthermore, excessive salt in these drippings could be harmful, though more study is needed to determine how much salt birds can ingest safely.
• Buy lard at the grocery store. Lard is typically found shelved near the butter or margarine products and can be used the same way as plain suet, though it will be somewhat softer and may melt more easily on hot days.
• Buy vegetable shortening in place of animal fat. This is a preferred choice for many vegan or vegetarian birders who prefer not to use animal products, and it is still suitable for the birds. Vegetable shortening is typically stocked on the shelves with other baking supplies.