[Talon 1]

My wife has been trying all sorts of recipees with beef Suet (brittania) for a couple of weeks, she has added flour,seed,peanuts, etc etc etc.
but as soon as she puts a shop bought suet ball in the netting they can't get enough.
She has tried everything to keep the costs down. Her last effort was to fill a suet bell with nuts raisins and jam + flour and sugar to thicken the melted suet fat just as reccommended in a bird book............Not a touch, not even from a Starling????
Suet ball goes out and its party time.

Has anyone got a sure way that a home made suet recipee actually WORKS?

I said i would ask on here for her like i have done many a time.

[wilder]

Hi Free and wife of Free!

I always make my own suet thingys, and they go down extremely well, much better than the shop-bought ones. I don't think I do anything radically different from what you say though, but here goes.

Melt a pack of beef suet and add any or all of:

Porridge oats
Bird seed
Sunflower hearts
Rasins
Sultanas
Chopped plain peanuts
Grated cheese

When mixed together I then either put it into those washing powder tablet nets in a cup until it is set, and then hang the nets out, or into any container lined with cling film til set and then tip out. I also have a hanging bird-table which I simply spoon the mixture onto and then leave to set and hang back out.

I am sure you will get loads of other suggestions. Good luck.

Chris

[CornishExile]

I'd second Chris's recipe - as for a delivery vehicle, when I lived in Kent I used to go and collect fallen pine cones (the long ones about 6 inches in length), let them dry out and open up, twist some thin wire around one end, then dip them into the semi-set mixture. It's messy work, but once they've set they can be hung in tree branches or from your bird table, look pretty smart, and the birds love them.

ce

[Talon 1]

Originally Posted by CornishExile

I'd second Chris's recipe - as for a delivery vehicle, when I lived in Kent I used to go and collect fallen pine cones (the long ones about 6 inches in length), let them dry out and open up, twist some thin wire around one end, then dip them into the semi-set mixture. It's messy work, but once they've set they can be hung in tree branches or from your bird table, look pretty smart, and the birds love them.

ce

Yes, The Mrs has thought about that one. What time of year is best to collect them.At a guess, Autumn?

Many thanks

[CornishExile]

Originally Posted by Free

Yes, The Mrs has thought about that one. What time of year is best to collect them.At a guess, Autumn?

Many thanks

I honestly can't recall - I seem to remember that there's often pine cones under the trees pretty much year round. Anyway, hope you try it and enjoy some success attracting those birds.

ce