suet cakes

[jesskoot]

I've been reading about flock blocks....can chickens have wild-bird suet cakes as a treat on especially frigid days or is there too much fat?
thanks in advance -

 

[jhm47]

No problem. The extra fat will do them good.

 

[iliamna]

I've talked to two people recently who have raised chickens and they're saying to give the chickens sprinkles of red chili peppers (dheydrated flakes) in the winter as it gives them some warmth? Does anyone have any experience with this? Iliamna

 

[eenie114]

I dont think it will hurt them, i heard you can feed wild birds suet, why not chickens?

 

[LynneP]

I use wild bird suet during the cold months and they will eat more on very cold days. They like it so much they will *sing* for it. You can hang it in a conventional wild bird suet holder...

 

[Scoop]

...now I gotta go see if DD will want to give her suet cake to the girls, I gave her one for Christmas.

 

[Tala]

Mine get about 1 a week. I don't over-do it, but yes they like 'em and it doesn't seem to hurt a thing!

 

[Cornychick]

I have one I bought for the wild birds a while back. Will have to let the girlies have it instead. Does anyone know how to make them?

 

[NewHobbyForMe]

I gave my girls one and they loved it. But, they were pooping white the next day. I would also like to know how to make it. I will look it up and get back on here with the directions.

Here is one I found:

Make seedy suet cakes easily and economically. Just combine one part peanut butter, two parts birdseed, and five parts cornmeal to each part melted beef suet (available in the meat section of your grocery store). Press the mixture into muffin tins. Let harden. Drop a suet cake into a net bag and hang from a tree branch

NOTE: Instead of birdseed we could add scratch.

The cornmeal would be great, my girls love cornbread when I make it with cornmeal and I like it better than the boxed Jiffy Mix.

 

[DonnaBelle]

BEST RECIPE FOR SUET CAKES FOR BIRDS:

1 cup lard
1 cup crunch peanut butter
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup whole wheat flour, or Cream of Wheat or Oatmeal
2 cups cornmeal

Optional: raisens, BOSS, dried fruit, or eggshells ground fine.

Mix, pour into 9 x 9 pan, or since I double this recipe, I use a 9 x 13 pan.

I have made this for several years, got the recipe from "Birds and Blooms" magazine

DonnaBelle