How to Make Your Own Bird Suet Wreath

Make birds flock to your yard this winter with this easy to make suet wreath. It takes about an hour to transform these ingredients into a veritable buffet for birds. Start with:

• 5 pounds of beef suet or fat*
• 1 to 2 cups of cranberries or dried fruit
• 2 lbs of mixed bird seed.
• Roll of craft wire
• Breadcrumbs

Directions

• Preheat your over to 375 degrees.
• Chop suet into chunks, place in roasting pan and bake until fat is rendered (melted). While fat renders, put fruit or cranberries into channels of a bundt pan.
• Mix cooled suet with birdseed. If mixture is too thin, add breadcrumbs to thicken.
• Pour mixture over fruit in bundt pan.
• Place in refrigerator to cool and harden.
• Unmold and wrap wire around wreath.
• You can reinforce the wreath with a cardboard form made in the shape of the bundt pan.
• Hang outside in a cool place with no direct sunlight, as suet will melt.

Suet Bells

For suet bells, mold the mixture in empty yogurt or cottage cheese containers. Before adding mixture, poke a hole in bottom of container. Tie a knot mid way in a 6-8 inch length of string. Pull the string through the hole, leaving know and several inches of string inside the container. Add mixture, cool, and remove container. This recipe will make several bells that you can hang throughout your yard.

Notes

*You can substitute a package of clear gelatin for beef suet. Make as directed on package.

photo by Anna Hunter