Fats are a highly concentrated source of energy for birds. Birds who primarily eat insects are more likely to eat fats than birds who primarily eat seeds. It is hard to provide insects to insect loving birds, but luckily we can provide these birds with various types of fats that they will enjoy! Here are some different fats you can provide your backyard birds:
Animal Fats: Animal fats contain the most energy out of all of the types of fats. You can provide wild birds with either bacon drippings, or fats that you cut off your meat after you cook it. However, do not give your birds anything that has been spiced. Since fats are soft, you will not be able to put them in a regular suet feeder. When you have fats, you can smear them into a hole style suet feeder. A great suet for this task is the Log Jammer Suet Bird Feeder, pictured to the right. It is a natural log with holes that are perfect for providing birds with the healthy fats they crave. The Log Jammer Suet Bird Feeder can be used year round, and will have no problem withstanding the elements. If you give your birds the fat trimmed off of a ham, you can put that in a regular suet feeder like the Premium Single Suet Feeder-Stainless Steel. Ham holds together very well, so it will not leak through this wire suet.
One important thing to keep in mind with animal fats is that you should not put them out on hot summer days. They can easily spoil. This smells bad and will make birds sick!
Beef Suet: Birds love the taste of beef suet. The tastiest beef suet comes from the inside of an animal, around the kidney area. This type of fat can be put out in the summer, as long as it is not above 70 degrees Fahrenheit, because it is thick and not likely to turn to liquid. You can buy it from a butcher, just be sure that it appears fresh. If the piece that your butcher gives you does not fit in a normal suet, like the Single Suet Feeder-Stainless Steel mentioned above, you can melt it and reshape it. Do not put it out for the birds until it is hard again.