Last winter I kept the pair of Baltimore Orioles (and a horde of Pine
Siskins) alive with my home made suet.
I get big buckets of lard , corn meal and cheapo peanut butter along with
Moist and Meaty dog food at Wal-Mart. I also add millet from Southern
States. I've seen the Woodpeckers (and others) pick out the dog food bits as
the choicest part. I feel they need all the fat they can get. The dog food
replaces the bugs they can't find in the colder months. I do cook the lard
down to a liquid before I mix in all the other stuff. I can't make it fast
enough. I tried buying the fruit and berry pre-made suet and no one touched
it. I gave it to the squirrels. Been making suet cakes for years. I do use
veg. shortening if I can't find the buckets of lard. I wish there was a
butcher or grocery store that sold rendered beef fat or pure tallow, but so
far, I can't find one. The meat depts. in stores in the northern states
always have suet/beef fat for birds at very reasonable prices. Anybody know
of one near the Richmond area?
Just my 2 cents..
Lynda Blair
New Kent County
