suet as a treat in the coop

[shober]

So you melt the fat or lard in the crockpot? I'd like to see a recipe?!

 

[mobius]

For rendering fat or for the suet?

 

[shober]

For making the blocks with the rendered fat I guess. I never ever see suet for sale where I live. I've never had been of it!

 

[mobius]

Ok what is important is the ratio of fat to solids. Some say it is about 1 part fat to one part solid. YMMV. So play around with it. Mine is more like 1 to 4, but I am using flour and cornmeal as part of the dry ingredient.

I could describe it best as consistency. Cookie Dough...yes, that is what comes to mind.

So melt the fat over very low heat, in a crock pot or on the stove....then add the solids...flour, cornmeal, scratch, birdseed, herbs, raisins, oatmeal, cranberries...be inventive...i do this on the stove or in the crockpot while there is still some heat...there is no critical formula but seeds or scratch always help. Some even use their chickens' feed itself. Could use chopped alfalfa even! Peanut butter is nice too....

Others feel free to chime in! I am sure I am forgetting likely ingredients!

Once fat is melted, mix in ingredients, cup here, half a cup there. I am not sure the 1:1 ratio is correct, when I think about it I think I have more like a 1:4 ratio of fat to dry ingredients.

The key for me is the cookie dough consistency.

Then put it in a baking pan (is what I use) so it is at least 1-2 inches thick, pat it down, score it for easier chunks later, and freeze it. You are done!

 

[shober]

Thanks so much! I can't wait to make some! And clean out the cupboards! Lol

 

[mobius]

Thanks so much! I can't wait to make some! And clean out the cupboards! Lol

Let us know your results!! Including chicken excitement!

Oh just remembered...end of boxes of non-sugared cereal...perfect! I even add some homemade granola which I do with honey...cracker crumbs etc etc.

Might have to start a jar of suet additions in the pantry. Sure would be more room in there!

 

[shober]

I will let you know how they like it! They are crazy for their treats!

 

[mobius]

i will add the following for advanced suet making class...

Some think (and I would agree) that the boxes of pork lard at the grocery store are not really a good food source.

Course I am a bit radical, bear with me.

So I went to my grocery store butcher, and asked for beef suet. The younger butcher next to him said "What's that?" But the older guy knew, and wrapped me up a block of "beef tallow", which was beef fat, not rendered.

I came home and after some internet surfing, put the beef tallow in the crockpot on very low. It took about a day as I recall, but it all rendered down into a nice clear fat. That is what I used.

I could go it one better I suppose and get grass-fed organic beef tallow. This was my first foray into fat-rendering. I might get more purified as I go.

Chickens have been exposed to very cold temps this winter and I wanted something that would be good-enough for them. I think it was...and the beef tallow was not more expensive than the pork lard blocks on the shelves.

I have been making suet every winter for years BTW for the wild birds. So not my first rodeo, but have stopped feeding wild birds ATM for health of my flock.

 

[boskelli1571]

i will add the following for advanced suet making class...

Some think (and I would agree) that the boxes of pork lard at the grocery store are not really a good food source.

Course I am a bit radical, bear with me.

So I went to my grocery store butcher, and asked for beef suet. The younger butcher next to him said "What's that?" But the older guy knew, and wrapped me up a block of "beef tallow", which was beef fat, not rendered.

I came home and after some internet surfing, put the beef tallow in the crockpot on very low. It took about a day as I recall, but it all rendered down into a nice clear fat. That is what I used.

I could go it one better I suppose and get grass-fed organic beef tallow. This was my first foray into fat-rendering. I might get more purified as I go.

Chickens have been exposed to very cold temps this winter and I wanted something that would be good-enough for them. I think it was...and the beef tallow was not more expensive than the pork lard blocks on the shelves.

I have been making suet every winter for years BTW for the wild birds. So not my first rodeo, but have stopped feeding wild birds ATM for health of my flock.

I get grass fed beef tallow also. I don't render it the whole way to clear though - I do leave a few lumps in it. As you said add desired extras. The chickens love it and it lasts a really long time too!