Thank you. What I like most about them is that a great variety of birds can use it and birds like blue jays that only want the sunflower, corn and peanuts can pick out what they want without scratching through the seed and dumping most of it on the ground like they tend to do at a lot of other feeders.
Dale Calder good point! im thinking on making a feeder like yours...i have comercial metal feeders and a couple open platforms but they have no top and when it rains the seeds get wet, which I dont like! Ive had trouble with seedall over the ground with the bluejays. my open feeders are much smaller than yours so they must dig around to get the seed they like.
Nice video. :) I've been making my own suet for years, and the birds love it. To get them the same size as the suet cage, I use 1 pound plastic margarine containers, and put about 1 inch of the mixture in the bottom. I freeze it in the container, then pop them out as I need them.
Im always amazed at the different combinations of suet cakes and there is really no wrong way as long as you start with a fat base. I always use some of the stuff I have on hand and use anyway, peanut butter , fat , oatmeal, birdseed , cornmeal, raisons , peanuts. I make the mix with downy woodpeckers in mind and try to use a feeder cage which is designed to deter starlings and grackles but usually does not .
Those are some lucky birds!! They'll be happy to see winter come every year if they know Uncle Dale's suet cakes will be waiting for them! I hear Prince Leah in the background asking for some. We got pounded with over 30cm of snow here.
Here I have been sitting impatiently waiting for pay day so I can buy suet cakes for the birds. I watched your video & didn't give it a thumbs up because I made a fast dash to the kitchen to make cakes for the birds. DUH! Here I have all the stuff to MAKE cakes & just never thought of it! Gosh!! Now I'm watching you make cakes again so I can give the video a thumbs up! I have my fresh cakes in the refrig. getting cold & had so much fun (and easy) making the them too. Thanks Dale, another great video!!!! xxxoooJudie Give Angel a good pettin for me!!!!! please!
You say your bird table is "crudely built" I think its great,and I bet the birds love it!! I'm going to try and make one. It looks like an ideal place for feeding robin's etc. It keeps the bird food dry in wet weather and also keeps birds safe from most predators.
That's great I'm sure the birds will love them. I haven't made any yet this fall I can't put them out until it is cold enough that the raccoons have gone.
Someone else mentioned the problem with salt in the peanut butter but that wasn't shortening it was lard, pure animal fat. I just bought some suet and plan to use that this year.
unless you live in a very hot area, where monsoon season occurs, it wouldnt do anything. fat is water repellant. even if you sprayed one of these with your garden hose, it would take hours to break it apart.
@shadowofjuniperhill At my feeder it seems to be bluejays, all of the various woodpeckers, chick-a-dees, nuthatches, and grackles that eat the suet. I've never seen sparrows or doves try it. I think I will lay one flat on the bird table to see if some of these birds try it they might not be eating it because they are ground feeders and don't cling to things and pick at it like the others do.
Hello Dale, I love ur suet cake video... I buy my suet cakes & have been wanting to make my own for sime time now. Watching your vd is inspiring me to make suet cakes soon for the wild birds. =)
@baconsoda I agree Brendan it is expensive my last bag of mixed seed 14kg was over $25.00. I only feed in winter but the birds are always there the first day that I put it out so I know they depend on it. Here we blame the starlings on the English, they are not a North American bird but we have millions because an early English immigrant introduced all of the birds the Shakespeare wrote about.
I've been making cakes for a couple of years and they do seem to go down well... especially with the Starlings (who are supposed to be in N. Africa now). My mix is pretty much like yours except for the peanut butter so I'll add that to the next lot. I buy seed and nuts for the wild birds in 25kg bags now and store the seed in dustbins. It's getting to be an expensive hobby. Best Wishes, Brendan.
@loislaney23 Thank you. First time I've ever made them I guess it was successful, the birds seem to approve this afternoon anyway. I've never tried the pine cone thing we don't have pine trees here, that make large cones, so I would have to get them somewhere else.
I don't think a trace of salt is too bad,but it can be harmfull t birds particulary in winter time when water is frozen and difficult for birds to obtain. I am sure you know it is just as important to supply your garden birds with fresh water as the nutritious food you make for them. Many thanks, I am sure your birds enjoy your tasty treats! And I will certainly try making your bird cake. All the best to you!
@DCARA06 They seem to be enjoying them. I think Leah was a bit ticked because he could hear me out around but I hadn't taken him his hot cereal yet. I didn't know you got walloped like that we got mostly rain and a little flurry after dark last night.
I feed the birds but have not tried putting out suet cakes for them. I would like to try this and see if they like it. Do all birds eat suet? Thanks, they looked very good and easy to make.
Human peanut butter, salted or not, is not "soooo" bad for birds because it is always mixed with other ingredients. And they do not eat just what we put out. Birds LOVE freshly made cakes. Agree about the lack of refrigeration and turn over of commercial cakes. Please ignore those who denounce peanut butter salt. It is a super food for all creatures and they are intensely attracted to it for GOOD REASON. Alarmist purists are killjoys. LOL ;)
Love this Idea the ones i bought i wouldnt buy them anymore the birds wouldnt eat them thanks dale . im getting some red stars chickens this weekend could you video your birds? take care
Great video, really informative. I didn’t know you could also use pork lard. I have two questions though about that beautiful double boiler you have, if you don’t mind. About how much does it hold (in the cooking part) and where did you buy it? My mother has a favorite bread recipe that calls for a double boiler, but is having trouble finding the right one. I’m on a mission to find one and surprise her. Thanks! Again, great video!
Yeah,you're right. They ask you to store bird food in a cool,dry place and yet most store bought foods are in heated supermarkets!? So how old is it when you buy it? Thank you. But be careful of adding peanut butter,I am a bit worred if it might contain salt or addatives,salt can be harmful to wild birds. But I am sure you know this and have checked it out..
Only if all you feed them is peanut butter. All complex organisms need some salt for electrolyte balance. So no, it is not "soooooo" bad for birds. It is if they eat nothing but salted feed. They're not idiots and they don't eat just what we put out. Putting out a mix of peanut butter, suet/lard, corn meal, quick oats, and then whatever else you like, means the cake is sufficiently diluted by the other ingredients. Many animals are attracted to peanut butter because it is a Super Food. It is for us and them. The relatively minor salt hit is well out weighed by the enormous benefit. Relax. Carry on Dale.
You are "a gentle of soul" such a wonderful kind of man....LOL Judie
Thank you Judie.
Thank you. What I like most about them is that a great variety of birds can use it and birds like blue jays that only want the sunflower, corn and peanuts can pick out what they want without scratching through the seed and dumping most of it on the ground like they tend to do at a lot of other feeders.
Dale Calder good point! im thinking on making a feeder like yours...i have comercial metal feeders and a couple open platforms but they have no top and when it rains the seeds get wet, which I dont like! Ive had trouble with seedall over the ground with the bluejays. my open feeders are much smaller than yours so they must dig around to get the seed they like.
I've been buying suet for years, now I got to try making it. Would be very rewarding to have the birds eating something I made. Thanks for the idea.
I have to make mine soon too. I'm always concerned with the store bought ones as to how old they might be and they are so easy to make so I do my own.
Nice video. :)
I've been making my own suet for years, and the birds love it.
To get them the same size as the suet cage, I use 1 pound plastic margarine containers, and put about 1 inch of the mixture in the bottom. I freeze it in the container, then pop them out as I need them.
Thank you Dale and everyone here that is being loving and kind to our Earth friends. Much love to all!!!
Thank you .
Im always amazed at the different combinations of suet cakes and there is really no wrong way as long as you start with a fat base. I always use some of the stuff I have on hand and use anyway, peanut butter , fat , oatmeal, birdseed , cornmeal, raisons , peanuts. I make the mix with downy woodpeckers in mind and try to use a feeder cage which is designed to deter starlings and grackles but usually does not .
My issue is keeping the coons out of it I have had them take cage and all.
Those are some lucky birds!! They'll be happy to see winter come every year if they know Uncle Dale's suet cakes will be waiting for them!
I hear Prince Leah in the background asking for some.
We got pounded with over 30cm of snow here.
Here I have been sitting impatiently waiting for pay day so I can buy suet cakes for the birds. I watched your video & didn't give it a thumbs up because I made a fast dash to the kitchen to make cakes for the birds. DUH! Here I have all the stuff to MAKE cakes & just never thought of it! Gosh!! Now I'm watching you make cakes again so I can give the video a thumbs up! I have my fresh cakes in the refrig. getting cold & had so much fun (and easy) making the them too. Thanks Dale, another great video!!!! xxxoooJudie Give Angel a good pettin for me!!!!! please!
Thank you Julie glad you enjoyed the process Angel says Hi.
Great idea. I have thought about doing this but haven't. One year with my granddaughter, we did the peanut butter and pine cone thing. That was fun.
Looks good. I think I'm going to try it this winter. My wife thinks I'm a terrible cook, maybe this will change her mind!!!
Thank you good luck with yours.
Your birds do eat well. I enjoyed this video also. Thank you Dale.
Thank you .
If you mean the little plastic tray that the cake comes in yes that is what I use and it works very well.
You say your bird table is "crudely built" I think its great,and I bet the birds love it!!
I'm going to try and make one. It looks like an ideal place for feeding robin's etc. It keeps the bird food dry in wet weather and also keeps birds safe from most predators.
I make my suet cakes the same way. Nice video. New friend here.
Thank you Gabby.
What an incredibly beautiful thing to do! Giving back to nature. Gods creatures!🕊🙏☺️🌲
Yes and I should be making some I don't have any left.
I made about 5 of them today just got done I will see how they turn out good video thanks I used tupperware plastic containers too,thanks
That's great I'm sure the birds will love them. I haven't made any yet this fall I can't put them out until it is cold enough that the raccoons have gone.
@GospelTruth37059 Thanks glad you enjoyed it the birds have been at mine all afternoon.
Someone else mentioned the problem with salt in the peanut butter but that wasn't shortening it was lard, pure animal fat. I just bought some suet and plan to use that this year.
Dale, how do these hold up in rainy weather?
unless you live in a very hot area, where monsoon season occurs, it wouldnt do anything. fat is water repellant. even if you sprayed one of these with your garden hose, it would take hours to break it apart.
@shadowofjuniperhill At my feeder it seems to be bluejays, all of the various woodpeckers, chick-a-dees, nuthatches, and grackles that eat the suet. I've never seen sparrows or doves try it. I think I will lay one flat on the bird table to see if some of these birds try it they might not be eating it because they are ground feeders and don't cling to things and pick at it like the others do.
@Holls2thewall Thank you. It was so easy I don't know why I haven't done this before.
Thanks for giving me lessons on suet! I like the cartoonish laughing sound the chickadees make.
@1965blaze Thank you. That's great news have you had chickens before?
Hello Dale, I love ur suet cake video... I buy my suet cakes & have been wanting to make my own for sime time now. Watching your vd is inspiring me to make suet cakes soon for the wild birds. =)
@dianemummvideos It is and I like the idea of knowing what's in it and how fresh they are. I think I will make my own from now on.
@baconsoda I agree Brendan it is expensive my last bag of mixed seed 14kg was over $25.00. I only feed in winter but the birds are always there the first day that I put it out so I know they depend on it. Here we blame the starlings on the English, they are not a North American bird but we have millions because an early English immigrant introduced all of the birds the Shakespeare wrote about.
Thank you I hope it works well for you.
That is so gorgeous.
Thank you .
I've been making cakes for a couple of years and they do seem to go down well... especially with the Starlings (who are supposed to be in N. Africa now). My mix is pretty much like yours except for the peanut butter so I'll add that to the next lot. I buy seed and nuts for the wild birds in 25kg bags now and store the seed in dustbins. It's getting to be an expensive hobby.
Best Wishes, Brendan.
What a great idea! Thank you :) I love feeding my birdies I think I will try it :)
@garygardens Yes I think they really need them especially here in the cold, every little bit helps.
They look yummy! Thanks I want to make these!
Please do!
You can use the suet bottom holder for a model for the new cakes
@dalecalder2003 yep i had RIR white leghorn and some others i had a farm
@loislaney23 Thank you. First time I've ever made them I guess it was successful, the birds seem to approve this afternoon anyway. I've never tried the pine cone thing we don't have pine trees here, that make large cones, so I would have to get them somewhere else.
No idea, I should walk off into the woods to see if I can find it. All I've done so far is walk around the cabin and don't see any trace of it.
Cool, Thx for sharing. i will try it tomorrow
Have fun
I did that to be on the safe side didn't want all that lard to catch fire.
@Cyndirelli Thank you. Mine have all been eaten so I guess they must have been acceptable.
Do birds eat raisins?
I don't think a trace of salt is too bad,but it can be harmfull t birds particulary in winter time when water is frozen and difficult for birds to obtain. I am sure you know it is just as important to supply your garden birds with fresh water as the nutritious food you make for them. Many thanks, I am sure your birds enjoy your tasty treats!
And I will certainly try making your bird cake. All the best to you!
Your voice sounds like actor Hugo Weaving, extremely close. Thank you.
Thank you .
@DCARA06 They seem to be enjoying them. I think Leah was a bit ticked because he could hear me out around but I hadn't taken him his hot cereal yet. I didn't know you got walloped like that we got mostly rain and a little flurry after dark last night.
I feed the birds but have not tried putting out suet cakes for them. I would like to try this and see if they like it. Do all birds eat suet? Thanks, they looked very good and easy to make.
@Starzz1976 Thank you that's a good idea. Later today the birds were all over both cakes so I guess it was accepted.
Trying to find some projects to do with my neice....... Thank you for your video...... We are going to love making these!! :0)
I use a old book shelf for a feeder
Good idea
i was looking at suet cakes on amazon & i was surprised at how expensive they were. so naturally i ended up here.
I need to find some suet and make some more.
Human peanut butter, salted or not, is not "soooo" bad for birds because it is always mixed with other ingredients. And they do not eat just what we put out. Birds LOVE freshly made cakes. Agree about the lack of refrigeration and turn over of commercial cakes. Please ignore those who denounce peanut butter salt. It is a super food for all creatures and they are intensely attracted to it for GOOD REASON. Alarmist purists are killjoys. LOL ;)
Fruit salad yummy yummy
LOL
Love this Idea the ones i bought i wouldnt buy them anymore the birds wouldnt eat them thanks dale .
im getting some red stars chickens this weekend could you video your birds?
take care
thank you so much for this video!!
Thank you Rachel.
Great video, really informative. I didn’t know you could also use pork lard.
I have two questions though about that beautiful double boiler you have, if you don’t mind. About how much does it hold (in the cooking part) and where did you buy it? My mother has a favorite bread recipe that calls for a double boiler, but is having trouble finding the right one. I’m on a mission to find one and surprise her. Thanks! Again, great video!
I know that I bought it at Rooster Brothers in Ellsworth, Maine and I just measured it , it will hold 6 cups of water.
Dale Calder wonderful, thanks so much! 🙏
No I didn't know that about salt, I will remember that in the future.
Thanks for sharing! I can't wait to try this!!!!! :D
Thank you. No sorry this is my only bird suet cake video. Actually I've never heard of a pepper cake.
is this only for winter or can u do it in the summer?
I only use it in winter I think it would spoil quickly in the summer heat.
that is I meant. The trays that come with the suet
Wild bird seed has many seeds that birds do not eat. Full of Milo and other weed seeds. Try straight White millet.
This mix that I buy at Costco is great the birds clean it up everyday.
it has been awhile since I have done this, but a guy or gal really should it sure is easy enough..:)
thanks for the video!!
Thank you .
Quality ASMR...
Thank you
How did the birds like the homemade cakes?
They love them unfortunately so do the raccoons. LOL
Dale Calder the raccoons love the ones I buy at the store to. They are very destructive
did just the cake disappear, or the suet cage also? could be a bear or raccoon. in the latter case, I have cruelty-free ideas of how to dissuade them.
When you said I have enough left over....I thought you were going to have it for your Lunch!!!!!!!!!
LOL
He said you could use LARD, doen't have to be suet. TY I will make some using lard as it is diffcult to find suet.
Lard will work but it makes a softer cake so best used in winter.
Thank you will make some up this Fall and keep in my freezer till Winter.
They do have a strange little song, don't they.
Yeah,you're right. They ask you to store bird food in a cool,dry place and yet most store bought foods are in heated supermarkets!? So how old is it when you buy it? Thank you. But be careful of adding peanut butter,I am a bit worred if it might contain salt or addatives,salt can be harmful to wild birds. But I am sure you know this and have checked it out..
I read somewhere that pork fat isn’t good for birds can some one help me?
Also that plain crisco is not good , I am learning to make diet for my feathered friends and just wanting to know .. 😊
I didn't realize U had made a suet vid after making a comment on Ur lastest vid...did U ever figure out what stole that one?
very helpful, thank you
Glad you found it useful.
Mark Beckert Really well the fat makes them water proof.
Hi Dale, Could you use Coconut Oil for the 'fat' element? It's a vegetable fat I guess, but is it bird safe? Thanks :-)
Very interesting!!!
Thank you.
I don't see why not it's just dried fresh fruit.
@selfreliantboy The birds agree. LOL
peanut butter is sooooo bad for birds it contains to much salt
Only if all you feed them is peanut butter. All complex organisms need some salt for electrolyte balance. So no, it is not "soooooo" bad for birds. It is if they eat nothing but salted feed. They're not idiots and they don't eat just what we put out. Putting out a mix of peanut butter, suet/lard, corn meal, quick oats, and then whatever else you like, means the cake is sufficiently diluted by the other ingredients. Many animals are attracted to peanut butter because it is a Super Food. It is for us and them. The relatively minor salt hit is well out weighed by the enormous benefit. Relax. Carry on Dale.
@@tazemebro9524 i know im a bird trainer / owner , using flutter butter sold on amazon would be much safer for the birds
Sorry but the shortening and peanut butter are not good for wild birds
:
Thank you I hope it works well for you.