BIRD FOOD RECIPES
Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 1:12 pmI've just copied out and saved these two bird food recipes which, I'm sure, fellow bird lovers will find useful.
PINE CONE PLEASER
4½ cups suet (animal or vegetable)
1 cup shelled sunflower seeds
¼ cup millet seeds
¼ cup raisins
Pine cones fully opened
Melt suet in a saucepan over a low heat.
Vegetable suet is healthier for birds, but animal suet will give a massive energy boost in winter.
Once the suet has melted, leave it to one side to cool down a little.
While it is cooling, take a large mixing bowl and mix together the remaining ingredients (apart from the pine cones) stirring well.
When the cooking suet begins to thicken slightly, gradually stir into the remaining ingredients mixing them thoroughly.
Now it's time for the pine cones:
Stuff the mixture between the hard 'leaves' of each cone.
Once the cones are full to the brim, hang them in the garden and watch the birds fly in.
BIRD BALLS
½ kilo (1lb) lard
1 jar crunchy peanut butter (unsalted)
5 cups cornmeal (crushed cornflakes or rice crispies make a good substitute)
6 cups quick-cook porridge oats
2 cups sunflower seeds
2 cups raisins.
Cut the lard into smallish blocks, so that you can soften it sufficiently when mixing in the other ingredients.
Once soft enough, put the lard blocks into an old mixing bowl and add the peanut butter, cornmeal and porridge oats.
Using your hands, mix everything together.
When you are happy that all the ingredients are well mixed, divide the stodgy mess into half a dozen 'portions' and roll them into ball shapes.
Finally, roll these balls into the sunflower seeds and raisins.
Suspend the balls from your bird feeders inside some sturdy netting or place them inside a bird feeder.
Alternatively, form the balls around sturdy twine and tie them to nearby branches.
PINE CONE PLEASER
4½ cups suet (animal or vegetable)
1 cup shelled sunflower seeds
¼ cup millet seeds
¼ cup raisins
Pine cones fully opened
Melt suet in a saucepan over a low heat.
Vegetable suet is healthier for birds, but animal suet will give a massive energy boost in winter.
Once the suet has melted, leave it to one side to cool down a little.
While it is cooling, take a large mixing bowl and mix together the remaining ingredients (apart from the pine cones) stirring well.
When the cooking suet begins to thicken slightly, gradually stir into the remaining ingredients mixing them thoroughly.
Now it's time for the pine cones:
Stuff the mixture between the hard 'leaves' of each cone.
Once the cones are full to the brim, hang them in the garden and watch the birds fly in.
BIRD BALLS
½ kilo (1lb) lard
1 jar crunchy peanut butter (unsalted)
5 cups cornmeal (crushed cornflakes or rice crispies make a good substitute)
6 cups quick-cook porridge oats
2 cups sunflower seeds
2 cups raisins.
Cut the lard into smallish blocks, so that you can soften it sufficiently when mixing in the other ingredients.
Once soft enough, put the lard blocks into an old mixing bowl and add the peanut butter, cornmeal and porridge oats.
Using your hands, mix everything together.
When you are happy that all the ingredients are well mixed, divide the stodgy mess into half a dozen 'portions' and roll them into ball shapes.
Finally, roll these balls into the sunflower seeds and raisins.
Suspend the balls from your bird feeders inside some sturdy netting or place them inside a bird feeder.
Alternatively, form the balls around sturdy twine and tie them to nearby branches.
