If you’re struggling to attract birds to your yard and nothing seems to work, you could try making your own DIY suet cakes!
Last year, I gave it a try and had a blast watching the birds flock to my creations. The best part (besides enjoying a garden full of cheerful birds) is that it’s super easy to make!
All you have to do is mix some fat with bird-friendly treats like nuts and seeds, and you’re good to go. You can even repurpose old items like egg cartons or wine bottles as feeders.
Suet cakes are tougher than standard feeders, resisting squirrels and wind, and they’ll keep your feathered friends coming back for more.
The question is, are you ready to make your garden the hottest hangout for birds? If so, follow my lead:
Gather Your Fat Of Choice And Get To Molding
What’s great about suet cakes is that you don’t need to splurge on special bird fat. I used the drippings from my kitchen instead!
Beef or bacon fat are great options, but you can basically use any (as long as it melts at 113°F or higher). I would recommend avoiding fats that melt too easily – these can get messy and end up harming the birds (and we don’t want that!).
If you’re not into animal fat, what can also do the trick is peanut butter (make sure it’s natural without any harmful oils added).
Now here’s the fun part: you can get creative with molding your suet cakes. I used a donut mold, but coffee cups or even cupcake tins are great options as well.
Melt your fat of choice, mix in seeds, nuts, and dried fruit, and pour it into your mold. Once it cools and hardens, pop it into a suet feeder or hang it from a tree with a bit of string (yes, it’s that easy).
Want more birds? Here’s a great way to attract them to your yard: Fruit And Berry Trees That Will Make Your Garden A Bird Paradise
Hang Them Around Your Garden And Enjoy The Show
You can think of suet cakes like protein bars for birds. They are perfect for chilly months when they need extra fuel to stay warm.
These little blocks of fat are a winter wonder for our feathered friends because they stay solid in the cold and provide much-needed energy.
But beware: suet cakes are not summer treats!
If temperatures rise above 80°F, the fat can melt and go rancid quickly. If you catch a whiff of something unpleasant, it’s time for a replacement.
Different bird species will flock to your suet cakes, including chickadees, nuthatches, jays, and woodpeckers.
The right mix of seeds and nuts can attract a variety of birds, but be cautious of red-winged blackbirds (they can scare off your songbirds!).
Try placing suet cakes away from your regular feeders to keep the blackbirds distracted, letting the more delicate species enjoy your bird-friendly setup.
I personally have never spotted a blackbird in my yard, which is why I hung these suet cakes all over. If you live in an area where these bullies are popular, be mindful where you put out your blocks of fat.
You’ll soon see plenty of beautiful birds flocking in and singing their favorite songs. Before you know it, your garden will feel like a scene straight out of a fairy tale.
Also read: 11 Genius Hacks To Protect Your Hummingbird Feeder And Keep Those Pesky Wasps Away