Jean's Homemade Bird Cakes
Ingredients
About 2 cups of Lard (I only use the Armour)
About 1/2 cup Chunky Peanut Butter
About 2 cups of quick-cooking Oatmeal
About 2 cups of Cornmeal (I prefer the yellow and plain)
About 1 cup of Whole Wheat Flour
Melt the Lard (I do this in a big mixing bowl in the microwave.) and stir in the Peanut Butter until it has melted. Next add the Oatmeal and stir until blended....then add the Corn Meal and Flour.
When all is well blended spoon or pour into containers...such as the plastic forms that come with the store brought suet cakes. A muffin pan will work and other containers as long as you consider the size of your suet feeder.
Then you put the cakes in the freezer. Once they are firm they will easily slip out and are ready for your birds to enjoy.
You really can play with this recipe. If I am out of flour I just up the corn meal. The birds don't seem to mind. One friend in NC adds breakfast cereal to the mix and has great success. So you may find that the birds in your region loves it with seeds or bits of fruit. One reason I like using Lard instead of Beef Suet is that as long as the feeders are in the shade the cake will not melt when our temps reach the 90's and above. Plus the Lard is easier for small billed birds to nibble. I allow some of the mixture to cool enough and I stuff it into my Log suet feeder. I have tried making it stiffer so it will crumble for Eastern Bluebirds. It did disappear but I was unable to see the bird(s) who ate it.
The birds of northern WV vouch for her recipe:
There's a Donate link on her page..if you try her recipe, pass a buck on in appreciation!
How does this go over with kids and spouses?
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