Many people offer suet to the birds through feeders. However, some love to provide seeds, fruits, and nectar. So, giving suet feeders to birds can be confusing for bird lovers. When is the best time to use suet feeders? If such a concern troubles you, it’s perfect resource to end your doubts.
Which birds are attracted to suet feeders?
Although most types of beef fat are commonly referred to as suet and are suitable to feed birds, suet is the healthy fat surrounding the kidneys and loins in cattle and mutton.
In particular, woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, starlings, and jays are drawn to suet. Suet feeders are frequently visited by creepers, wrens, kinglets, cardinals, and certain warblers. Many birds can easily digest and metabolize animal fat; it is a high-energy diet that is particularly useful in cold weather.
Suet is also enjoyed by various tanager, bunting, sparrow, and bluebird species. If a suet feeder is within their reach, even little hawks like the red-shouldered, cooper’s, and sharp-shinned hawk could try to get at it. The type of suet given, the feeder design, the birds’ range, the season, and the other available meals, both at feeders and naturally, all affect which specific birds will eat suet.
When to use suet feeders?
Although you can provide suet to birds all year long, using suet feeders during some time is the best. Are you wondering when you should use suet feeders? This section will give you the answer.
Use suet feeders during winters
Lots of birds arrive at feeders in winter. During winters, birds require more energy to survive the harsh weather. However, since suet has high fat and calorie content, it gives the birds sufficient power.
You can provide your backyard birds with suet feeders during winters. They can even arrive in flocks to your feeders during the cold season to get a fair share of energy from food.
During spring
Woodpeckers enjoy suet all year long, but tanagers, warblers, bluebirds, and kinglets also enjoy this energizing delicacy in the spring. Feeding suet to newly-arrived birds that want bugs, such as bluebirds, robins, wrens, and mockingbirds, will provide them with a diet high in protein and energy in the spring.
Use a suet feeder when woodpeckers, chickadees, and starlings arrive
The suet feeding birds will appreciate it if you offer them the delightful meal of suet. So, it’s best to hang suet feeders on your property if you have woodpeckers, chickadees, and starlings as visitors to your backyard. These birds love suet and will continue visiting your feeder if you give them high-quality suet.
You can keep an eye on what birds visit your garden to see if you get any suet feeding birds. If you find any of them, you can hang the suet feeders on your property for the birds to thrive.
You are in a region where suet feeding birds flock
In the south of the USA, you can get numerous suet feeding birds during autumn. So, people living in Texas, California, Arizona, etc., can hang suet feeders in their gardens to attract those birds. In the fall, you might even get warblers and kinglets in your suet feeder. In contrast, these birds will move to the other parts in spring.
Since birds need more energy during migration, they seek high-energy food in autumn and spring. You can give them suet in feeders and invite more birds to your property without hassles.
Now, you know when to use a suet feeder for birds. Furthermore, you might be thinking about the time when not to use suet feeders. So don’t worry; we’ll discuss it shortly.
Let’s examine the precautions you should consider when using a suet feeder.
Precautions when using suet feeder
Suet is a nutrient-rich diet for birds. But, should you consider something when using suet feeders? Yes, it’s better to learn the precautions to use a suet feeder before it’s too late.
Don’t hang suet feeders under sunlight
Suet is a processed item. It is given the shape of blocks for better management and use. However, it can hey sticky if you expose suet to heat and direct sunlight. Your birds won’t be interested in eating molten suet and go away from your feeder to find another one with intact suet.
Don’t hang only one suet feeder
Many birds show authority on your suet feeders. They chase away small and timid birds keeping them hungry. So, it’s better to hang multiple suet feeders in your garden. It will help you provide a fair share of food to every bird visiting your property, even if some species dominate one-two feeders.
Use a good-quality suet feeder
Suet feeders have multiple types. You can start with an inexpensive and sub-standard feeder but let it evolve into better feeders over time. Good quality feeders won’t let small birds enter the cage and snatch away the food from other birds. Also, you can ensure that the suet block won’t fall out when using a top-tier feeder. A squirrel-proof suet feeder would help feeders from attacks by squirrels.
Don’t forget about invaders and thieves
Invaders and thieves are common when using suet feeders. Suet is a delicious meal for squirrels, raccoons, and opossums. You must keep them away from eating your suet or stealing the feeder. It’s better to use long poles to hang suet feeders or keep the appropriate spacing between branches and feeders to avoid squirrels.
When to put down suet feeders?
Although some birds like woodpeckers will visit your suet feeder throughout the year, it’s better to keep off the feeder in summer. Suet is a heavy meal for the birds. They might face digestive issues when eating suet in the harsh summer season. So, you can use suet in all seasons except summer.
Conclusion
A suet feeder is an attractive meal for birds. It’s better to know when to use these feeders. Now that you have an idea, you can buy suet and feeders to offer your birds a healthy and nutritious diet at the best time.
