Will Birds Eat Bacon Grease? The Truth About This Controversial Suet Ingredient

This bird feeder made from bacon fat is a great way to use up the grease left over from cooking bacon.

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My family are SO enjoying our new back yard with all the woodland and wildlife. Avian friends really liked our cardboard tube feeders, and I’ve been looking for other cheap ways to make bird food. Now, aside from Craftulate I also write StepAwayFromTheCarbs (you knew that, right?). People who are low in carbs often eat a lot of bacon. I’ve found that one of these Makin’ Bacon Racks is the best way to cook bacon in the microwave. The bacon goes onto a little stand and the fat collects underneath. Wow, that’s cool! When I cook a whole pack of bacon at once, I get a lot of bacon fat. .

After the bacon had cooked, my son and I made some bird feeders from the fat. Also, if you don’t have bacon fat on hand, you can use any other type of meat fat, suet, lard, or vegetable shortening instead. The first thing we did was chill the fat by itself in the fridge in a bowl. We put a pipe cleaner through it and hung it up. It was very popular with the smaller birds – especially the downy woodpeckers and chickadees.

For our next version I decided to make it a bit more varied by incorporating some bird seed. In a bowl, I put the bacon fat. After it had cooled, I added some bird seed. F mixed it all together, and then we poured it into small bowls that I had lined with cling wrap so it would be easy to take out. I put them in the fridge to harden, and when the fat started to harden, I poked both ends of a pipe cleaner into it.

After taking the fat balls out, I used the cling wrap to help make a tighter ball around the pipe cleaner. I removed the wrap and then F and I hung them on the trees.

Note: If it’s too hot outside, the bacon fat will melt, so keep an eye on them! The worst thing that could happen is that they’ll fall to the ground and birds will eat them.

If you enjoy feeding backyard birds, you may have wondered if it’s okay to add bacon grease to homemade suet After all, bacon fat seems similar to beef suet, a common ingredient in bird food. However, the birding community is divided on whether bacon drippings are safe for our feathered friends

In this article we’ll explore the debate around using bacon grease in bird suet. You’ll learn why many experts advise against it while others say small amounts are fine. We’ll also cover healthier suet options to attract chickadees, woodpeckers, nuthatches, and other winter birds.

Understanding the Controversy Around Bacon Grease Suet

Walk into any birding forum and ask about bacon fat in suet, and you’re sure to spark a debate. There are reasonable arguments on both sides of this issue:

Against Using Bacon Grease:

The preservatives in bacon may be harmful to birds when concentrated in suet. Substances like sodium nitrite can be carcinogenic to humans in large doses. While the cancer risk for birds is unproven, it seems wise to avoid exposing them to preservatives.
Bacon grease is soft with a low melting point. This increases the risk of birds getting it on their feathers compared to hard beef suet. Oils can damage feathers’ insulating and waterproofing abilities.
Suet made with bacon fat often requires more filler ingredients like flour or cornmeal, displacing nutritious seeds and fruits.

In Favor of Bacon Grease:

In small amounts, bacon fat is unlikely to harm birds. Many couples report using it for years without issue.
Hardened and crumbled bacon grease may pose less feather contamination risk. It can be mixed with seeds and peanut butter to reduce spreading.
Bacon adds appealing flavor and crunchy bits that birds enjoy. If used moderately, it can supplement suet without replacing more nutritious ingredients.

So who’s right in this debate? As with many birding controversies, there are good points on both sides. Overall, most experts recommend against using bacon drippings in suet due to potential health and feather risks. But many backyard birders feel comfortable using small amounts with other precautions.

If you wish to err on the side of caution, there are many suet options that don’t involve bacon fat. Let’s look at some healthy recipes.

Nutritious Suet Recipes Without Bacon Grease

Making your own suet is easy and rewarding. Here are some great suet recipes from birding experts that avoid bacon drippings:

Classic Suet Cakes

1 cup rendered beef suet
1 cup peanut butter (no sugar added)
2 cups birdseed (black oil sunflower recommended)

Melt suet over low heat. Stir in peanut butter until blended, then mix in birdseed. Pour into molds or smear into mesh onion bags. Chill until hardened.

Fruit and Nut Suet Wreath

2 cups rendered beef suet
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup raisins, chopped dates, or dried cranberries
1 cup chopped unsalted nuts (peanuts, almonds, walnuts)
1 cup oatmeal

Melt suet over low heat. Remove from heat and mix in remaining ingredients. Pack into a mesh wreath form or cardboard tube and chill to harden.

No-Mess Seed Suet

2 cups rendered beef suet
2 cups birdseed (mix of types)
1⁄4 cup cornmeal

Melt suet in a pan over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in birdseed and cornmeal until fully coated. Pour mixture out onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover and chill in fridge or outside until hardened, then break into pieces.

Insect Suet for Woodpeckers

2 cups rendered beef suet
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 cup cornmeal
1⁄2 cup freeze-dried mealworms

Melt suet over low heat and stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into suet cage feeder and pack down before chilling to harden.

Adding nuts, seeds, fruit, oats, cornmeal, and freeze-dried insects gives birds important nutrition without bacon grease. Beef suet provides energy, while peanut butter offers protein. Using rendered suet also reduces melt risk compared to bacon fat.

Next let’s look at answers to some common questions about suet safety.

Suet Safety FAQs

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about choosing safe, healthy suet ingredients:

Is it okay to use lard in suet?

Yes, rendered pork lard is a safe substitute for beef suet with a similar melt point. Avoid hydrogenated lard.

Can I use butter or margarine in suet?

No. Butter and margarine have lower melt points and risk smearing on birds’ feathers. Stick with beef suet or lard instead.

Is peanut butter safe for suet?

Yes, 100% peanuts peanut butter makes an excellent suet binder. Look for no added sugar or oils.

Should I add mealworms, fruit, or seed?

Yes, these make nutritious suet mix-ins. Chopped fruit, birdseed, crumbled nuts, and freeze-dried mealworms give useful protein and nutrients.

Can I use bacon grease if I add cornmeal?

Adding fillers like cornmeal can firm up bacon fat, but doesn’t eliminate health concerns over preservatives. It’s better to avoid it.

Is unused fast food cooking oil safe for suet?

No, these oils often have additives and break down quickly causing rancidity. Stick with pure rendered suet or lard.

Can suet go bad or become unsafe?

Yes, suet can spoil and become rancid, especially in warm weather. Toss out old suet with mold, dark spots, bad smells, or sliminess. Make fresh batches often.

Following these suet tips will help you make nutritious bird treats without worrying about bacon grease. With some rendered beef suet, peanut butter, and birdie favorites like fruit, nuts, and seeds, you can whip up suet that’s both healthy and delicious!

Now let’s look at some tips for feeding suet safely.

Feeding Suet to Backyard Birds

Suet is a wonderful cool weather energy source for birds. Here are some tips to follow when serving it up:

Use suet feeders with cages or slots that prevent contact between birds and suet. Limit potential feather contamination.
Place suet feeders in partial shade to prevent melting in sun. Offer multiple feeders to reduce crowding.
Avoid suet in summer when temps exceed 80 degrees F. Switch to birdseed, fruit, and nectar.
Check suet regularly and replace if moldy, slimy, dried out, or showing signs of rancidity.
Clean feeders periodically with hot water and replace old suet. Discard any unused bacon fat suet.
Offer a water source like a bird bath, dripper, or fountain for birds to clean feathers.

Proper feeding helps backyard birds get the most from suet without risking their health and feathers.

The Bottom Line on Bacon Grease Suet

While the bacon grease debate continues, most bird experts recommend against using it in suet. Potential health risks from preservatives and the feather contamination issue convince many to avoid it. Small amounts may be safe, but it’s impossible to know for sure.

Fortunately, rendered beef suet makes an excellent alternative base for nutritious homemade suet cakes and treats. By combining suet with peanut butter, seeds, fruit, nuts, and mealworms, you can whip up suet that gives birds energy and nutrition without unnecessary risks.

If you wish to offer bacon suet, do so minimally and take steps to reduce contact with birds and rancidity. But for most backyard birders, it’s wisest to stick with suet recipes without bacon grease. Your feathered friends will get all the benefits of suet without potential downsides.

So be conscientious, stay informed, and have fun cooking up healthy suet for the birds this season! With an awareness of risks and some sound homemade recipes, you can help chickadees, woodpeckers, and other birds thrive this winter.

will birds eat bacon grease