Bird tip of the day

[Donna]

(NTK) GARDEN BIRD TIP OF THE DAY - Fatballs are a great food source for small insectivores such as Goldcrest & Wren. If buying fatballs from a shop, remember to take the plastic mesh off them as birds can get their toes tangled, causing infection. Why not try making your own & popping them, along with some apple slices into a fatball feeder?

[Bobbie Ireland]

(NTK) GARDEN BIRD TIP OF THE DAY - Fatballs are a great food source for small insectivores such as Goldcrest & Wren. If buying fatballs from a shop, remember to take the plastic mesh off them as birds can get their toes tangled, causing infection. Why not try making your own & popping them, along with some apple slices into a fatball feeder?

I make my own fat cakes and the birds seem to love them. I save the containers in which a store-bought suet feed comes in - these are rectangular in shape and fit into those hanging suet baskets. I melt lard along with lots of wildbird seed, raisins, apple chunks, leftover mashed potatoes - anything pretty much that is not salty! Melt the gunge. (It's hot, so mind if you are doing this with kids!) Let it cool a tad. Then pour into the containers to harden. It pops right out then.

If you want to do a few at a time, line them up on a cookie sheet so you don't get glop all over the countertop.

Hope you understand what I have been trying to describe!!!

[Donna]

(NTK) GARDEN BIRD TIP OF THE DAY - Fatballs are a great food source for small insectivores such as Goldcrest & Wren. If buying fatballs from a shop, remember to take the plastic mesh off them as birds can get their toes tangled, causing infection. Why not try making your own & popping them, along with some apple slices into a fatball feeder?

I make my own fat cakes and the birds seem to love them. I save the containers in which a store-bought suet feed comes in - these are rectangular in shape and fit into those hanging suet baskets. I melt lard along with lots of wildbird seed, raisins, apple chunks, leftover mashed potatoes - anything pretty much that is not salty! Melt the gunge. (It's hot, so mind if you are doing this with kids!) Let it cool a tad. Then pour into the containers to harden. It pops right out then.

If you want to do a few at a time, line them up on a cookie sheet so you don't get glop all over the countertop.

Hope you understand what I have been trying to describe!!!

Totally!  kidding...yes, good idea!

[MAK]

  Good tips ladies!  The birds will love it all!