My intention is to try to pull in the woodpeckers this year. I drilled holes into the top of the feeder and slid the brass rod into those holes and attached them to the sides. I used an exterior rated glue and brad nails.įor the top of the feeder I cut and bent the brass rod to the size I needed. You could just as easily use screws and finish nails.įor the feather rest I repeated the same thing that I did for the sides. I used wire snips for mine and it was pretty easy to make it fit.įor the assembly of the feeder I used glue and brad nails.

Next up was cutting the wire mesh to hold the Suet Cake. I used my quick corners to figure mark quick rounded edge. I followed the plan and cut mine to a length of 4″ x 6″.

The bottom of the feeder has a nice a feather rest feature. I cut a 1/8″ width(blade width) groove 1/4″ deep and inset on each side 1/4″. Cedar is a popular choice for wooden bird feeders since it can withstand a range of weather conditions without warping or decaying as many other wood products. Then I cut a small groove into the bottom and sides. I followed the plans for this and cut the sides to 2-1/2″ x 6-1/4″. The first step on the Suet Bird Feeder was to cut all of my boards to length.

(1) 1 x 6″ x 4′ (I started with a scrap board of this height and width and had enough left over to make more).

If you make one of these be sure to post it over on the WoodLogger Facebook Page. This really was a fun little project to make. I picked up the wire mesh from a big box store, and the metal rod hanger I actually found at a local craft store. Woodlink Large Premier Bird Feeder Best Multi-Purpose Suet Feeder. Birds Choice 2-Cake Pileated Suet Feeder - Best for Large Birds. Kettle Moraine Window Mount Suet Feeder Best Window Suet Feeder. Cedar holds up really well all by itself in the outdoors. Stokes Select Double Cake Suet Feeder Best Overall. Hamler, and if you’re interested in making backyard birdhouses and feeders it’s a book you should definitely check out! This feeder was made entirely out of cedar. It’s written by a very talented woodworker, A.J. A suet feeder can be made from a variety of materials, such as cedar, recycled plastic, metal, etc. I’ve made several bird houses / feeders over the past couple years based on some plans I got from a book entitled: Easy to Build Birdhouses A Natural Approach. They’re easy, quick, cheap and you get an almost instant gratification when you complete a simple project like this. Wash and disinfect your feeder or container each time you replace the suet.īe careful when heating fat! All fats are flammable at high temperatures, and superheated fats will melt your plastic containers! Gentle melting is all that is needed to make suet feeders, so use low heat or short bursts in the microwave.Self made suet bird feeders are simply fun. A suet feeder is typically a metal cage-like construction with a plastic coating that contains a cake or block of suet to feed woodpeckers, flickers, nuthatches, and many other species of insect eaters.Suet logs are also very common. Keep in a cool, shady spot since fatty feeders can go rancid in warmer temperatures. Suet Feeder Tips For a sucessful suet feeder:

Roll the “log” in bird seed or a mixture of seed and fruit.

Smear the pine cone, stick, or log with fat.

Tie a piece of string or twine to the top of the pine cone for hanging.

Softened fat such as unsalted peanut butter, shortening, or lard.

Pinecones, sticks, or small logs with holes drilled in them.

Pinecone feeders are great projects for kids! Rolled or Log Feeder To make a log or pinecone feeder, you will need: If you plan to reuse the container, line it with foil or plastic wrap for easy removal. To make a replacement suet cake for your metal feeder, use a disposable, square, plastic sandwich container.

Grapefruit or melon rinds, eggshells, coconut hulls, ice-cream cones, or taco shells.

Muffin tins lined with paper baking cups.

Raid your recycle bin for old yogurt cups, frozen food trays, or other plastic containers.

Get creative! You can make suet feeders out of most anything you can find around the house.

Seeds such as black sunflower, hemp, millet, or linseed It can be purchased from butcher shops or meat markets in block form, or you can make it yourself by heating and straining fat trimmings.

Pieces of bread, or cooked, unsalted rice.

Whole-wheat flour, oatmeal, cornmeal, or wheat berries.

Berries such as cranberries or blueberries.

Suet feeder