Can You Use Bacon Grease to Make Bird Suet? The Complete Guide
As an avid birdwatcher attracting colorful and lively birds to your backyard can be a very rewarding experience. One of the best ways to do this is by offering nutritious treats that appeal to a wide variety of species. Bird suet is a popular option, providing necessary fat and protein during harsh winter months when food sources are scarce. But did you know that humble bacon grease can be used to make suet even more enticing?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about crafting suet with bacon grease to bring all the neighborhood birds flocking to your yard.
What is Bird Suet?
Bird suet is a high-fat nutritious cake made of rendered fat mixed with seeds, nuts, fruits and grains It provides birds with the calories and energy they need to survive cold temperatures and maintain their high metabolism
Suet can be purchased from most pet stores but many bird enthusiasts prefer to make their own. This allows customization with ingredients particularly appealing in your area and avoids preservatives found in commercial varieties.
Suet is commonly served in special suet cage feeders, but it can also be placed in mesh bags and hung from tree branches. No matter how it’s offered, suet is irresistible for many backyard birds like:
- Woodpeckers
- Nuthatches
- Chickadees
- Titmice
- Wrens
- Warblers
- Tanagers
- Orioles
And yes, even bacon grease can be used to up the ante!
Why Use Bacon Grease for Bird Suet?
While any solid animal fat like lard or tallow can be used to make suet, recycled bacon grease offers some unique advantages:
Enticing smell – Birds have a highly developed sense of smell, and the tempting aroma of bacon is sure to grab their attention.
Added flavor – Infusing suet with everyone’s favorite breakfast meat adds a savory, smoky essence birds find delicious.
Nutritional profile – Bacon grease contains vitamins, minerals, protein and amino acids birds need. The sodium also drives thirst, encouraging more visits to water sources.
Easy sourcing – Most cooks continually accumulate bacon grease they don’t know what to do with. Making suet is a productive reuse of this common kitchen byproduct.
Budget-friendly – Since it’s usually free, bacon grease makes suet extremely affordable. It provides more bang for your buck compared to suet made with purchased fats.
Natural and chemical-free – Bacon grease avoids potentially harmful additives present in some commercial suet cakes. Birds ingest it safely.
With all these advantages, it’s easy to see why bacon grease can elevate basic suet to create a treat no bird can pass up. Time to learn how!
Step-By-Step Guide to Make Bacon Grease Suet
Making suet with bacon grease at home is remarkably easy. Here are step-by-step instructions:
Ingredients:
- 1 – 1.5 cups bacon grease
- 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup wild birdseed blend
- 1/2 cup black oil sunflower seeds
Equipment:
- Mixing bowls
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Mold containers like cupcake liners or paper cups
- String, twine or suet cage feeder
Steps:
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Collect at least 1 cup of cooled bacon grease in a container and store in the fridge or freezer until needed.
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Combine peanut butter and bacon grease in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt in the microwave for 30-45 seconds on low power. Stir until blended.
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Mix dry ingredients of oats, cornmeal, flour, birdseed and sunflower seeds together in a large bowl.
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Pour melted peanut butter and bacon grease mix over dry ingredients. Stir well until fully incorporated.
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Scoop mixture into cupcake liners, paper cups or other small molds. Smooth tops flat.
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Chill suet cakes in the freezer 2-3 hours until firm.
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Remove hardened suet from molds.
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Hang individually in mesh bags or place in a suet cage feeder outside for birds to enjoy!
Follow these instructions precisely, and you’ll have scrumptious bacon-infused suet cakes ready to serve your feathered friends in no time.
![Bird enjoying suet][]
Birds will relish the alluring scent of bacon fat in homemade suet cakes
Handy Tips for Making Perfect Bacon Grease Suet
To maximize success when crafting and serving your suet creations, keep these useful tips in mind:
- Make suet only in winter since the fat content causes it to melt in warmer weather.
- Store any unused bacon grease in the fridge for up to 1 month or the freezer for 4-6 months.
- Mix in crunchy bits like chopped peanuts, sunflower hearts, raisins or crumbled biscuits for texture.
- Add decorative touches like sprinkles, edible glitter or herbs for extra visual appeal.
- Use sturdy no-melt suet cages to prevent suet from falling onto the ground as it softens.
- Place suet in shaded areas protected from direct sun to prolong solidity.
- Refresh suet every few days since birds devour it quickly.
- Experiment with suet “flavored” with other recycled meat fats like chicken, beef or duck.
- Sit back and relax while watching your feathered friends feast on their bacon-y bird banquet!
With this advice for maximizing enjoyment of bacon grease suet for both you and local birds, your backyard is sure to become the most popular refueling station around.
Answering Common Bacon Grease Suet FAQs
If the idea of cooking up bacon grease suet still has you asking questions, these answers to frequently asked queries should help:
Is bacon grease suet safe for birds?
Yes, in moderation. While very high in fat, the amount birds consume from suet is small. Many thrive on suet, especially in winter.
Can you use bacon grease suet in summer?
No. Suet melts quickly in summer heat. Use alternative high-energy treats like nectar or fruit instead.
How long does bacon grease suet last?
Homemade suet lasts 2-4 weeks refrigerated. It lasts 2-3 months frozen. Toss out any with mold, moisture or a rancid smell.
What birds eat bacon grease suet?
Most backyard birds gladly eat suet, including woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, wrens, jays, tanagers, orioles and more.
Will bacon grease suet attract pests?
It can draw opportunistic squirrels or rats. Use specialty “squirrel-proof” suet cages to block them.
Can you use turkey bacon or veggie bacon grease?
Yes, but the appeal may be less than regular pork bacon grease. Feel free to experiment!
This quick FAQ overview should address any remaining concerns about crafting and feeding bacon grease suet cakes to wild birds. Time to put your questions aside and start cooking!
Enjoy the Bacon Grease Bird Feeding Frenzy
Now that you’re armed with expert tips, tricks and advice, nothing should stop you from whipping up lip-smacking suet treats using recycled bacon grease beloved by all your feathered pals.
As an added benefit, putting your bacon grease to productive use lets you reduce kitchen waste. It’s a win-win for you and for the birds!
With the simple tutorial and helpful guidance above, you can dive right in and start enjoying these rewards:
- More bird diversity – Suet attracts species rarely seen at seed or nectar feeders.
- Closer bird encounters – Suet brings birds right up to yards and windows for easy viewing.
- Seasonal support – Protein and fat-rich suet provides essential winter nutrition and energy.
- Feeding satisfaction – It feels great to see birds relishing suet made with your own hands.
- Environmental stewardship – Repurposing bacon grease diminishes waste destined for landfills.
So don’t delay any longer! Get cooking up some bacon grease bird suet as a small effort that makes a really big impact for your wild feathered friends. Then grab your binoculars to watch the bird feeding frenzy begin!