Our backyard is like a wildlife refuge right now. We have so many birds and squirrels, there is constant movement and activity. I’m curious how they’ll enjoy this Homemade Bird Suet Recipe.
This summer, I can’t wait to sit outside in our outdoor room and listen to all those cute little birds thank you for their food all winter.
Bird suet is a high-fat bird feed that provides birds with the energy they need, especially during cold winter months. Suet typically contains rendered beef fat, but some people wonder if bacon drippings can be used as well. While it may seem like a good way to repurpose leftover bacon grease, there are a few reasons why bacon fat is not the best choice for bird suet.
What is Suet?
Duck or beef fat that has been rendered to get the fat out is used to make suet. Rendering involves heating and straining the fat to remove connective tissues and impurities. The melting point of true suet is high, at about 113°F (45°C). This means that it stays solid in most outdoor temperatures. Birds like woodpeckers and nuthatches can stick to suet without getting grease on it because it is hard.
Suet provides birds with concentrated calories to maintain their energy levels. It’s especially important for small birds that need to eat more calories than their bodies allow them to in the winter. Birds can stay warm and have energy on cold nights thanks to the fat content.
Why Bacon Grease is Not Ideal for Bird Suet
While using bacon drippings in suet may seem like a good way to reduce kitchen waste there are a few reasons why it is not recommended
Lower Melting Point
Unlike beef suet, bacon grease has a lower melting point below 100°F. When it’s warmer outside, bacon fat suet can melt and become soft and gooey. Softer suet is more likely to get stuck on birds’ feathers, making them less able to keep heat in. Hard suet that maintains its shape is less messy for birds to eat.
Chemical Preservatives
Commercial bacon contains preservatives like nitrates and nitrites to maintain color and extend shelf life While small amounts of these chemicals are considered safe for human consumption, they can be problematic for birds when concentrated in rendered bacon grease
High Salt Content
Bacon contains a lot of added salt, which gets concentrated when the bacon fat is cooked down. Excessive salt can be harmful to birds’ kidneys and cardiovascular health. Beef suet has little to no salt naturally.
Rancidity
The unsaturated fat composition of bacon makes it more prone to rancidity than beef suet. Rancid fats can cause diarrhea and digestive upset in birds. The rendered bacon fat tends to go rancid faster than suet, so it requires more frequent replacement.
Other Contaminants
If bacon drippings are used to cook other foods, they can pick up seasoning, spices and food particles that may be unhealthy for birds. Pure rendered suet avoids this contamination risk.
Alternatives to Bacon Grease for Bird Suet
While bacon drippings are not ideal, there are some suitable alternatives if you don’t have rendered beef suet:
Lard
Lard rendered from pork fat is the closest alternative to beef suet in terms of fat content, hardness and melting point. Make sure to use pure lard rather than hydrogenated lard.
Peanut Butter
All-natural peanut butter adds hardness to suet and is safe for most birds as long as they are not allergic. Check the ingredients to avoid added oils, sugars or preservatives.
Vegetable Shortening
Look for non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening made from palm oil or coconut oil. The saturated fats help mimic the hardness of suet. Avoid soft or liquid oils.
Tallow
Save fat drippings from cooking beef, lamb or venison to render into tallow. This makes use of meat fats while avoiding additives found in commercial bacon.
Tips for Making Safe Suet Cakes
If you want to make your own suet cakes for birds, here are some tips:
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Use beef suet or one of the recommended alternative fats
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Add crushed nuts, seeds, dried fruits or oats for extra nutrition
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Mix in crunchy crumbs or peanut hearts to add texture
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Use minimal additives like flour, cornmeal or breadcrumbs to bind
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Add just enough soft ingredients like peanut butter to help bind the suet
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Avoid anything sticky, greasy or high in sugar or salt
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Use sturdy molds like cupcake tins or muffin pans to shape suet cakes
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Allow cakes to fully harden in the freezer before putting them out
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Offer suet in cages or mesh bags to minimize contact with soft fats
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Monitor suet in warmer weather and replace if it starts melting
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Clean feeders regularly to prevent rancid buildup
Health Risks of Bacon Grease Suet
While the occasional bit of bacon fat mixed into suet won’t hurt, relying solely on bacon grease has some risks:
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Feather contamination resulting in cold stress
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Digestive upset from excessive salt or rancid fat
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Potential toxicity from concentrated nitrates/nitrites
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Increased choking
Homemade Bird Suet RecipeYield:
Substitute seeds or bird food for specific species
- 1/2 Cup Bacon Fat (substitute with lard or shortening)
- 1/2 Cup Peanut Butter (creamy or chunky)
- 1 Cup Cornmeal
- 1 Cup Rolled Oats
- 1/2 Cup Flour
- 1 Cup bird seed – Black Sunflower seeds
- Toast the bacon fat and peanut butter for a minute or two, then mix them well.
- Mix in the remaining ingredients and stir well.
- Put the mixture in paper cups and freeze or fridge them.
- Once it’s cool, separate the cup from the suet and put it in the mesh bag.
- I wrapped twine around the end that was open and made it strong enough to hang from a tree.
Where Do I Hang Bird Suet?
When I cleaned up my office, my husband put a bird feeder outside my window so I could see it. We were going through two feeders a day because of the squirrels and raccoons. They were having a great time when the sun went down. It turned out that the bird feeder was too close to the fence, so it was easy for them to get to it and shake it.
We have learned to hang the suet at least 5 feet from the ground and away from the fence. I do hang in it a tree, but if I see that a raccoon or squirrel breaking into it, I move it. One of these hangers is perfect or use one that attaches to a deck railing.
We have since invested in a squirrel proof feeder for the seed and so far it’s working.
MAKE YOUR OWN BIRD SUET WITH BACON GREASE
FAQ
Is bacon grease safe for birds?
What is the best fat for bird suet?
What is a substitute for lard in bird suet?
How to make bird Suet with bacon grease?
Add all the dry ingredients, including black sunflower seeds, wild bird seeds, all-purpose flour, cornmeal, and rolled oats, to a large mixing bowl and set it aside. Add creamy or chunky peanut butter and bacon grease to a microwave-safe container and heat it for about 30 to 45 seconds at the lowest setting.
Can you put bacon grease in a suet?
Release into a suet feeder or cut them into cakes, seal in plastic wrap, and store in the freezer. It’s important to note that while bacon grease can be used in suet recipes, it should be used sparingly and diluted with other fats to avoid harm to birds.
How do you make a bird suet?
Dilute the bacon grease: Mix the bacon grease with other fats such as lard or peanut butter to reduce the salt content and make it easier for birds to digest. 3. Add dry ingredients: Mix in dry ingredients such as rolled oats, cornmeal, all-purpose flour, wild bird seeds, and black sunflower seeds to make the suet hold together as a cake.
Can birds eat bacon grease?
Kenn and Kimberly: We know it seems as if bacon grease should be OK, since it’s animal fat just like beef suet. But the preservatives in bacon contain carcinogenic compounds that are harmful to birds. When it comes to bread, it’s sort of like junk food for birds—it offers very little nutritional value for them.