My son Erik installed some bird feeders for us a few years ago, and every summer we’ve really enjoyed seeing all the feathered visitors that the feeders attract to the yard! We’ve been able to see several species of finches, hummingbirds, and doves that live in the northern Utah area.
One of the bird feeders that we’ve enjoyed watching is his suet cake cage. This little boxy cage contains a “cake” made out of bird-friendly seeds and, of course, suet. Suet, which is rendered fat from sheep or cattle, makes a tasty and easily digestible snack for many species of birds. A suet cake cage in your backyard can attract many different fun-to-watch birds such as woodpeckers, wrens, robins, orioles, jays, and more!
Making your own suet cakes is easy, affordable, and they’re sure to turn your backyard into a bird-watching hot spot this summer!
Related: 7 Simple Ways To Make Your Yard A Haven For Birds
Homemade Suet Cakes
Ingredients:
- 1/2 lb. suet or lard
- 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
- 2 1/2 cups sunflower seeds
- 1 1/2 cups millet
- 1 cup dried fruit
Directions:
Melt the suet (or lard) and peanut butter together in a pot over low heat.
Pour the melted suet and peanut butter over the sunflower seeds, millet, and dried fruit. Mix well.
Spoon the mixture into a shallow baking dish and place it in your freezer for a few hours.
When the mixture has frozen completely, use a sharp knife to cut it down into individual suet cakes.
Place a cake into a suet cake cage and hang outside.
Tips For Hanging Your Suet Cakes
Suet is similar to coconut oil in that it will start to melt when the temperature gets much over room temperature. It’s important to hang your suet cake in a shady area to keep it from melting immediately in the sun!
But if you live in a very warm area, you may want to eliminate the suet from the recipe entirely. Just sub in more peanut butter and seeds for a more solid, less melty texture for your cakes.
