why is this fat not hard?

[bryan8]

Well I got 20+ pounds of pork fat from a friend that just butchered there hogs. I spent last night melting all the fat down and made a hudge block with bird seed and the fat.

Normally there hard as rocks the next moring, but ive only used deer fat. This fat feels like crisco veg shorting.

will it harded up? it 20 out at night so it deffently is chilled all the way

~Bryan

hope i didnt waste 3 hours work for nothing....

Bryan

 

[doubled]

you made lard...
buy lard at the store and its got the consistency of shortening.

i'm sure they'll still eat it though, just going to have to put it in something instead of using it as a block.

 

[al6517]

Pork fat lard is somewhat softer with better texture and can be used in many more ways than other fat. This pork fat lard is in my opinion the best there is.

AL

 

[bryan8]

how would i make it so the chickens can eat it?

 

[doubled]

i'd just put it a bowl or straight on the ground. either way, i wouldn't give them more than they can eat in ten minutes or so. i don't think it will go bad any more than a suet block will, but i imagine they will dirty it up scratching stuff into it.

 

[al6517]

Quote:
If you keep it warm and soft you can simply mix it into their feed, why do you want to feed it??.

AL

 

[Overeasyplz]

I didn't know you could give chickens suet. Is it good for them if it is cold out?

 

[ScoobyRoo]

Quote:
My chickens are spoiled

I take left over bacon grease, frydaddy lard (after frying fish) melt it in a big pot then I add anything I have left over such as veggies that are old, stale cereal, fruits such as apple peelings, grain, eggs and eggshells, etc. etc. During the summer when canning, if anything got too old before I could can it, it went into the freezer labled chicken food. Then I would cook it till it was all melted down good then I either froze it in aluminim pans or scooped out into a sled (Yea, I use one of those plastic toboggan sleds to feed my (30+)chickens out of. I do one pot every week or so. Whatever is left, my dog gets. It doesn't really 'set' up for me but enough to scoop. I think you have to use a lot of beef suet to get a hard cake.

 

[ScoobyRoo]

Quote:
If you keep it warm and soft you can simply mix it into their feed, why do you want to feed it??.

AL

Al, I feed it because I hate to see anything go to waste and it helps clean out the frig, freezer and cupboards. Since I do just one pot for 30+ chickens and 5 turkeys it cant hurt them. I think the 'extra' gets them geared for the winter. It is a treat for giving me eggs everyday!

 

[GardenWeasel]

OMG Save it to make the best tamales ever. Fry everything in it, potatoes cooked in fresh sort lard. I wish I had a source. Contrary to the Crisco Empire opinions, animal fat is healthy in realistic proportions.