How to Render Suet to Feed Wild Birds

Last Updated on December 30, 2022 by Ellen Christian

Do you know how to render suet or how it can help the wild birds? Learn more about rendering suet to make your own suet cakes.

How to Render Suet 

We love feeding the birds year round, and my husband loves to watch them at our feeders. Bird watching is a great way to relax and learn more about your environment.

You can bird watch with your kids as a way to teach them about the wildlife that lives in your area, and also teach them to respect nature and the world around us.

Living in the woods in rural Vermont, we always have tons of wild birds around our property, but we make sure that our yard is an inviting place for them to visit.

As the weather gets colder, some of the more colorful birds fly south to warmer climates. But, we still have lots of wildbirds here that stay for the winter and into spring.

I like to set out some special food for them to provide extra energy that they need for the colder moths. Leaving out suet along with a mixture of seeds and nuts is a great way to do this.

What is suet?

Suet is a hard fat that you generally get from cows. I buy it at the grocery store in the meat section. It comes in a big solid lump which is difficult to set out for the birds.

I prefer to render it and mix it with bird seed to make it more attractive.

Rendering suet

• Place a large slab of suet in a sauce pan and heat it on low. Watch it carefully, and do not turn the heat up too high.
• Once the suet melts, strain it through cheesecloth to remove any impurities.
• Stir in the extras which can include sunflower seeds, bird food, corn meal, nuts, etc.
• Pour it into a small flexible mold like a yogurt container or a silicone cupcake liner.
• Place in the refrigerator or freezer until they turn solid. Pop them out.
• Place in a wedge between two branches of a tree or tie in netting to a tree branch

I leave suet out regularly in the cooler months from about October through May. You can certainly leave it out year-round, but the heat in the summer may make it melt. Remember that you should also set out bird feeders, a bird bath and bird houses to make your yard attractive.

You may want to learn how to make wild bird treats or make a simple bird feeder.

Have you ever set out suet for the birds and squirrels?

You may also like:

• How to attract birds to your backyard
• Wild bird treats for winter energy
• Fall bird feeding tips