Suet vs. Lard

[Solomon]

At my local shop, lard is cheap, but suet is much more expensive (3-4 times the price!). Is lard an acceptable alternative to suet? Does it have a similar calorific/fat content? I read somewhere (I think it was the RSPB website) that birds actually need saturated fat, the ones that are bad for humans. I wonder if there is a bird "health food guru" going about trying to get birds to eat more leafy green vegetables? :D

The reason Im asking as a] that money is tight, and b] I want to have a go at making some treats for the birds. I can get fat balls off eBay very cheaply, so I figure Id rather spend the better portion on something to treat the birds with.

[Emma]

Lard is fine to use for fat cakes - and you're right, it's a lot cheaper!

I use both - depending on my mood :)

[Solomon]

Thanks for the advice. :)

I made my first suet cake today, and I can honestly say I will never eat a dumpling. Melted suet is one of the most revolting things Ive seen in a long time. :eek: I just hope the birds like it.

[Emma]

LOL It is pretty horrid stuff.

The birds will love it!

[storye_book]

Thanks for the advice. :)

I made my first suet cake today, and I can honestly say I will never eat a dumpling. Melted suet is one of the most revolting things Ive seen in a long time. :eek: I just hope the birds like it.

Don't know if this will help - I've heard that melting and hardening suet cake twice will harden it up for the garden, so it survives better e.g. in rain and heat. I melt the suet in a pan, harden it quickly by standing the pan in cold water, then putting it in the freezer - then melt it again and add the fancy bits (nuts etc). It seems to work so far.

Just one point though - I've been putting black sunflower seeds in with the other ingredients - and noticed today that the blue tits have been eating round the seeds - just taking the suet and chopped peanuts. Time for an ingredient rethink?

[Solomon]

Thanks for the tip, storye_book! Ill give it a go.

Try using sunflower hearts in the mixes. I think the birds have trouble getting the seed casings off the sunflower seeds when they have a mouthful of suet. :D To "kibble" them, put them in a food processor, and pulse blitz them.

[storye_book]

Thanks for the tip, storye_book! Ill give it a go.

Try using sunflower hearts in the mixes. I think the birds have trouble getting the seed casings off the sunflower seeds when they have a mouthful of suet. :D To "kibble" them, put them in a food processor, and pulse blitz them.

Good idea - will do. Currently I'm trying a mix of beef suet, kibbled peanuts and minced currants for robin/blackbirds. I've put it out in a lump on the high bird table for the robin, and don't know whether to break it up on the ground for blackbirds. Anyone tried anything similar?