Lard, crunchy peanut butter melted. Add raisens and oatmeal and chopped raw peanuts. Form in a block and freeze. You can make 8 or 10 at a time. Thaw and put out for our feathered friends. I have put out about 15 cakes so for this year. Buy the cheap lard and the cheap peanut butter. You will be glad you did.

I have just been keeping a feeder going...amazing how many birds are here in winter! Trying to learn to ID more of them...I don't know a lot. Will get some peanut butter when I go into town. I guess I might have to move the feeder because the squirrel (or squirrels?) just keeps coming back and takes way too much! Maybe closer to the the house would be better!

We have to fight the squirrels off of the feeders constantly. We even feed the squirrels in a pan on the ground, but they would rather raid the bird feeders.

I have domes over my feeders so the squirrels cannot get to them. This also protects the seed from the rain (or snow).

There are some feeders out there that the squirrels can't get to the seed. With the weight of the squirrels the cage drops down and the holes are closed. We have had one for many years and if taken care of they really work. This year we have two. They are pricy but last for years.

When we got the first one it was a sight to behold but now the squirrels do not even try.

Be sure to keep your bird baths clean and full too. Here are some bird seed recipes that I found on some website. Can't remember which one, but here they are.
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The bricks are easier and smell much better than the kidney suet when melting it down. Bacon grease may be added as well if you have it. Here is a recipe I often use which is very popular at our feeders:

Bird Feed
2 one pound bricks of lard
2 cups of crunchy peanut butter

Melt down lard and peanut butter, remove from heat and add:

3 cups of quick cooking oats
3 cups of cornmeal
2 cups of all purpose flour
1/3 cup of sugar
1 to 2 cups of mixed birdseed

Also chop up and add dried fruits, raisins, Currants, Dates, Cherries, Cranberries. Pour the mix into containers, let it cool a bit then add portions into those zip top sandwich bags and place them into the freezer.
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More Bird Feed

1c. lard
1c. peanut butter
1c. flour
3c. cornmeal

Melt lard and peanut butter, add flour and cornmeal. Spread into an 8" x 8" pan and cool. It cuts into 4 4" squares. We triple it and us a 10" x 14" pan, this makes thicker cakes which last a little longer.
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Peanut butter Suet Cakes

2c lard 2 c crunchy peanut butter
½ c dried, crushed egg shells
½ c cracked corn
½ c sunflower seeds
½ c crushed nuts

The above 4 items can vary as to your desire. Can even use raisins and/or bird seed to make up the 2 c requirement.

6 c plain cornmeal
5 c all purpose flour

Melt lard & peanut butter over medium heat or in micro for 3 minutes on high. Stir in egg shells, corn, sunflower seeds & nuts. In a separate bowl mix together flour and corn meal. Add to the lard and peanut butter by cupfuls until well blended. Mixture will be stiff. You can put into old store-bought suet containers, old milk cartons, or anything square. Freeze until needed. This recipe makes approximately 8-10 store-bought filled containers. (Depending on how full you fill them)
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FEED THE BIRDS

1 cup of lard (not vegetable oil)
1 cup peanut better (either crunchy or smooth)
1 cup flour
2 cups cornmeal
1 cup raisins
1 cup unsalted ground peanuts
Melt lard and peanut butter together, and then stir this in a large bowl with the other ingredients. Pour into a square bread pan and put in the fridge overnight. Next day, cut it into blocks to fit your suet feeder, wrap each block in wax paper and freeze until you are ready to use the rest.

To heck with the birds....I want a bite! lol

Bird buffet, free to all! They sure do eat a lot, even with just a feeder!

I have 12 feeders, Linda, and I just fininshed filling most of them, but it took 21 pounds of bird seed, and two new suet cakes. Boy, snow makes birds really hungry....LOL> Off to Sam's tomorrow to buy more seed.

Yes, you can't have too much bird seed! I ran out yesterday, so I need to go buy some later. And I have 4 hummingbird feeders out. I have at least two ruby throats using them, and I have heard, but not seen, buff bellies. And I have several large rosemarys blooming and the hummers have been using them. Oh, I so want spring to get here and soon!

Suet super deal at Ace Hardware.

I usually make my own. Great way to combine a tub of cheap lard and peanut butter with cornmeal, some flour and all the cereal and fruits that are going stale.

Last weekend I was at my local Ace...Arlington Hardware for locals...they have suet cakes 3 for $1.77! What a deal.

Does anyone know where my flock of blackbirds went? They were here twice a day for about 2 weeks. Plents of red wings mixed in and a great cheerful party. The last time I saw them was Friday. I think the snow must have sent them south. It makes me sad.

We aren't birdless...and them plus the pigeons and 50+ white wing doves and squirrels really did go throug 10 lbs or more of seed a day, so I don't miss the expense...but I sure do miss the riotous party on my feeders.

maybe some of you further south, where it didn't snow a foot and where chainsaws and wood chewing asplund trucks haven't taken over the world will find the party has moved to your yard.

BTW, I am not complaining about the folks who are here cleaning up the mangled trees. Just missing the winter visitors.

c

I don't miss the blackbirds, Cynthia.

About those Squirrels in your feeders....I set a 2X4 post in the ground with another 8 inch 2X4 nailed to each side of the top. I set a large clay pot upside down on the post and then set a clay saucer on top of the clay pot to hold bird seed. The Squirrels climb the post but can't get their claws in the hard clay of the pot.

do u have a pic of this tibbar?

Cynthia, all your blackbirds are feeding happily in my yard! It's been great but, like all guests that stay too long, it's time for them to move on! I don't mind feeding them some (they have to eat too) but they come in such vast numbers that they wipe out my supplies fast and then the little birds don't get much.

I would like to know where my little Titmice are? Do they come later in the year? They are so cute.

Lynn

My titmice are here year round, texas lynn, they feed at the same time as the chickadees.

Hi Carrie, I don't think they are in my area year round. I don't remember when they have come in years past......one of my cats got one of the last ones here that I saw last year - maybe scared them all off :(

I've only seen a few chickadees; I have an abundance of grackles/blackbirds, dove, and finches. And a single pair of cardinals and a pair of mockingbirds. And a beautiful hawk that dines on crawdads on my fence!

Don't know where you live, texas lynn, but in a warmer zone than I. I am in Copper Canyon located between Dallas and Denton. I have so many varieties of birds, and it is such a blessing to be able to sit here and watch them through the bay window. This year I have a pair of ruby crested kinglets that have been here all winter. Usually, I see them for only a short period of time. They feed on the suet .......seldom on seeds.

I hope this picture comes through.

{{gwi:1337388}}

nana9,

I tried and it was there for a bit and now it is gone. I will try again

I see the titmice some afternoons here. Arlington.

Today many of the black birds and grackles are back....yea!

Still no sign of the red wing BB's.

I got a big bag of unsalted roasted peanuts weeks ago. I've tried to give them to the squirrels and pigeons but they just didn't get it.

Finally, just today the grackles figured it out. Smart and resourceful little loud mouths!

c

thanks tibbar,will give that a try..but my squirrels r smart.......hmmmmmmmmmm

Terxas lynne, will you email me? I could not find an email address for you on GW.

I never forget to feed the birds--I have Mexican parrots fighting with the jays and cardinals over the mixed seed and sunflower seed.
They make even more of a racket when the feeder is empty!
I wonder if they would like suet?
I couldn't believe the parrots stayed here in Houston through the snow.