6 replies to this topic

[JimBob]

I was wondering if any of you guys have recipes to bird treats? I have a lot, I also wing m suet mixes. If you do have some I would love to have em! I will give my best recipe.

One suet block.

Half cup of peanut butter.

Handful of raisins (around a quarter cup).

Quarter cup of corn meal.  

I take the suet out of the container and put in a microwavable container. I microwave it for around a minute on high. After it is melted I mix in the peanut butter. I then put in the corn meal, and mix. Then toss the raisins in. I put it in the refrigerator, and let it harden.

If you get the stuff with seeds in it, I have another thing to do with them. I do the same thing, but after I melt the suet I strain the seeds out. The suet that you don't get out stays on the seeds. This makes them harden, you can form them into balls or something else. This is a favorite of Northern Mockingbirds, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, European Starlings (oh well), Blue Jays and a few more. Any way share yours!     

[cwj2323]

I tried a new recipe late last week.  Instead of the crumbled like on the website, I pressed them into containers so they will fit in the suet cages.
Zick Dough

My Downy woodpecker turned her nose up at that, so I made a different batch for her.
Bacon grease-whatever was in the pan.
Peanut butter-about the same amount as grease.
Melt those two together, stir, then add  a couple handfuls of layer feed (Non-medicated)  Pour into a container and put in freezer.  I took a picture before taking it outside.

 

Miss Downy is eating again.  She's doubly happy the Red-bellied can no longer take large chunks away since I put this in a suet cage. I used to just place chunks in the platform feeder.   He's happy with the Zick Dough, so all is well. 

Here she is...  The Zick Dough is in the small pie plate I used as a test before putting out a whole bunch. Several birds have been eating off of it.

 

[JimBob]

Cool. I will have to try it. By layer feed, do you mean layer chicken feed? I have chickens and get layer feed so. . .

[cwj2323]

JimBob:

Cool. I will have to try it. By layer feed, do you mean layer chicken feed? I have chickens and get layer feed so. . .

Yes.  We get it for the ducks when we cannot find the game bird feed.  Double check that yours doesn't have the antibiotics.   I read somewhere, we don't want to put that into our wild birds.  :) But I do not know specifically if it would harm them.

[JimBob]

I thought I would say another recipe I have. 

Around a quarter cup of peanut butter

Around a quarter cup of suet/lard

Quarter cup of corn meal

Around a quarter cup of quick oats

Microwave the suet and peanut butter. Don't melt it though. (15-30 second should do). Add the dry stuff. And mix. When you are done mixing, smear it on a pine-cone. Put some metal wiring around the stem, and hang it up. I have seen Northern Mockingbirds, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, and White-breasted Nuthatches all eat it. Once the photos of them eating it are done downloading, I will post them. (probably at the "at the feeder" thread) 

[JimBob]

A squirrel just took the pine-cone. Sometimes I hate them, squirrels!  

[dklucius]

i don't keep cjickens anymore but do get the chicken scratch for my birds it is a mix of different grains such as cracked corn and wheat and milo and millet or other grains. many of the birds i get eat it very well such as doves and jays and juncos and magpies and even some of the sparrows and finches. the egg layer mix or the chick starter mix often do have additives or antibiotics. i have an assortment of woodpeckers here also and they love the cracked corn and when i make the suet mix i often add sorghum or molasses to the mix as many of the birds have a sweet tooth and go for the sweet taste of the suet mix. and i do use the chicken scratch to thicken the suet.