One of the most effective ways to attract birds to your backyard is by offering suet. Whether you're hoping to draw in busy woodpeckers or curious chickadees, suet provides a unique source of energy that's vital for wild birds.
But did you know there are several different forms of suet, and each one has unique benefits depending on the birds you want to attract, the feeders you use, and your backyard setup?
We spoke with three leading bird experts to break down everything you need to know about suet and how to choose among all the various options.
Packed with nutrients, suet is a high-energy food source birds need year-round.
Technically speaking, suet is a raw, hard fat found in beef, lamb, and some other animals. But in bird feeding, "suet" refers to a high-energy food made from a specially processed suet that is usually combined with another type of food. Suet comes in a wide variety of flavors, like nut, seed, fruit, insects, plain suet, and even hot pepper (to deter critters like squirrels). Birds that may never visit your yard for birdseed alone might be enticed to stop by if you offer suet.
Birds love suet because it's packed with nutrients to keep their energy levels up during frigidly cold winters when food sources are scarce. And in the summertime, it gives them the calorie boost they need when baby birds are feeding.
"The most important thing is to choose suet made with premium ingredients from a reputable source," advised Chad Witko, National Audubon Society specialist on avian biology.
Look for suet products made of high-quality ingredients, like those offered by C&S Suet. Many of their products are made in the US using only the highest quality beef kidney fat and blended with a special variety of seeds, nuts, and fruits that birds love. And because C&S suet is made from high-quality beef tallow and rendered multiple times, it has fewer impurities and won't melt as easily.
Experimenting with different suet forms will help you learn what the birds that visit your yard prefer.
Suet comes in many different forms, like cakes, nuggets, no-melt suet, balls, logs, and plugs. Choosing which type to start with often comes down to your personal preference and the type of birds you want to attract.
"I'm an old-school suet cake guy," said Don Orkoskey, a wildlife photographer for more than 25 years, teacher, and owner of WDO Photography.
"I have a number of suet feeders that take the cakes, so I stick with them," he said. "That said, there is another local photographer who prefers nuggets. He squishes them into pre-drilled holes in old branches he has mounted in my local city park, on the edge of the forest in a large meadow."
Rebecca Lexa, a naturalist who offers guided nature tours in the Pacific Northwest, agreed.
"You won't know what's best for your yard until you experiment a bit," she suggested.
Suet comes in several different forms to attract a variety of birds.
How does each type of suet work? Below is a detailed look at the ins and outs of the most common forms of suet.
1. Suet Cakes
Suet cakes are the most traditional and widely used form of suet. They're also simple to set up and easy to find feeders for, Lexa said.
"I prefer suet cakes just because I find they're the easiest to handle and store, and getting cage feeders for them is easy. I found mine at a thrift store!" Lexa said. "The local birds seem to be happy with whatever treats are mixed in with the suet, so I like to rotate through a variety for them."
A few of our favorite suet cakes are:
2. Suet Pellets or Nuggets
Suet pellets (also called nuggets) are small, pellet-sized pieces of suet that are less messy and more versatile. They're good for warmer months because they're less messy, especially the no-melt versions. They work well with species like bluebirds and woodpeckers, and can be used alone or mixed with regular seed in a traditional bird feeder.
If you want to try this form, consider these flavor options:
3. No-Melt Dough
If you live in a climate where it gets hot in the summer, especially if the temperatures regularly reach above 100°F, then you might want a no-melt form of suet. These are designed to withstand the summer heat and retain their shape.
If you're interested in no-melt dough, check out these varieties:
4. Suet Plugs
Suet plugs are small, cylinder-shaped suet treats that you place in log-shaped feeders designed especially for suet plugs. These are made to mimic natural tree-feeding behaviors, often appealing to birds like woodpeckers, finches, or small songbirds.
If you want to attract these types of birds, consider:
5. Suet Balls
Suet balls are larger than suet nuggets and offer a simple way to start feeding suet to your backyard birds. You can use them on platform feeders, hang them from mesh bag feeders, or put them in feeders designed specifically for suet balls.
To check out this style, consider these flavors:
6. Suet Logs
Suet logs are another popular form of suet. These offer extra convenience because they come ready to use with no feeder required.
Try these flavors if you want to test out suet logs:
For every type of suet, there's a feeder to go with it.
Not every feeder works with every form of suet. In fact, your choice of feeder will be based on the form of suet you decide to buy. Below are examples of the most common types of feeders that may work best with different forms of suet.
Cage Feeders
Cage feeders are designed with a simple style that works great with suet cakes or no-melt doughs, depending on the size.
"Cage feeders are conveniently made to hold one or more suet cakes," Lexa said.
If you're just getting started in your suet-feeding adventure, then the C&S EZ Fill Suet Basket is a great one to start with. The convenient side opening makes replacing suet cakes a snap. When you're ready for an upgrade, the C&S EZ-Fill Deluxe Suet and Snak Feeder helps maximize bird activity by offering multiple perches and a platform bottom, allowing more birds to feed at the same time. It's weather-resistant, featuring a vinyl-coated wire construction and steel platform for long-lasting use.
Suet Nugget Feeders
If you're using nuggets, you may want a feeder designed specifically for them. The C&S Wild Bird Suet Nugget Feeder is made of durable, weather-resistant wires to last a long time outdoors, and it comes ready-to-use for a hassle-free setup. The feeder also has a convenient opening on top so you can refill it easily and without any mess.
Log Feeders
Log feeders provide an easy way to distribute suet that's not firmly packed, and often come ready-to-use for an easy setup.
"If you work with another sort of loosely packed suet, a log that has holes drilled in it to pack the suet into may be a better option," Lexa advised.
Upside-Down Feeders
Also called bottom feeders, these hold suet cakes and allow the birds to feed from the bottom (hence the name).
The EZ Fill Bottom Suet Feeder is a great option if you want to try an upside-down feeder. Because birds using the feeder need to cling from the bottom to eat the suet, it helps keep away bigger birds that might bully the smaller birds and chase them off. The vinyl coating also ensures that the bird's feet won't freeze to the basket in the winter or burn in the summer.
Tray Feeders
Tray feeders (also called platform feeders) offer an easy way to feed birds that can be great for beginners. The trays can hold a mix of suet nuggets, seed, and other bird food to let you create a true bird buffet.
"An open tray feeder may make it easier for birds to initially find the suet, but plan to put up a cage or other closed feeder nearby and then gradually phase out the open tray if you're having issues with squirrels or other mammals," Lexa advised. "Keep in mind that larger birds like crows may only be able to enjoy suet from a tray feeder."
Hopper Feeders
Also known as house feeders, these are traditional feeders that hold bird food and dispense it into a tray at the bottom of the feeder. The hopper refills the bottom tray via gravity as the birds eat. They're typically house-shaped and can be a great way to feed suet nuggets to your birds, whether by themselves or mixed with seed.
Where you place your suet feeders is important. Location is key!
While it may be tempting to put a lot of focus on the form of suet you buy, it's more important to consider how easy it is for birds to get to your feeder — and how hard it is for squirrels and other critters to get in their way.
"The form is less important than the accessibility," Lexa advised. "The feeder needs to be configured so that birds can easily access it, which makes cage feeders a great option. If you have a problem with squirrels getting onto the feeder, buy one that is closed on all sides except for a cage or screen on the bottom so birds can hang on and feed, but squirrels can't get to it."
But you might want to consider a different option if your backyard often has small birds that visit. Larger birds like grackles and starlings might bully small birds and chase them away from feeders that are out in the open or easier for large birds to access.
"If you have small birds that may be chased off by larger ones, sock-type feeders are a great option that accommodate smaller beaks," Lexa said.
Another great option to chase off bullying birds is the Hanging Suet Basket with Roof. The roof makes the feeder more challenging to cling to, making it tougher for larger nuisance birds to get to the suet.
You also want to place your suet feeders in locations where they're safe from weather.
"Place the suet in a secure feeder that keeps it in place and minimizes mess, and position it in a shaded, sheltered spot to protect it from sun and rain," Witko advised. "Clean your feeder regularly to prevent mold or disease, and monitor the suet so you can replace it if it spoils or isn't being eaten."
Carefully consider which suet flavors to use, like fruit, insect, nut, or pepper. You may want to experiment with different varieties to see which ones your birds prefer.
Some people use spicy pepper flavors to deter squirrels. But if you find that your squirrels will eat suet regardless of how spicy it is, you can try putting out seed they do like in a separate location to entice them away.
"I put out unsalted peanuts for crows and blue jays, and the squirrels, by default, eat those and my loose sunflower seeds. This helps them stay away from the suet," Orkoskey said.
You can also give the squirrels a snack of their own. The C&S Squirrel Snak is a tasty treat that can entice squirrels away from your bird feeders. It's made of nutritious corn, roasted peanuts, almonds, pecans, and walnuts — a mix that's specially made to attract squirrels.
Changing out suet before it goes rancid and cleaning the feeder is important to maintain wild bird health.
Of course, you'll have to change out your suet from time to time. How often isn't really based on the type of suet you choose. Instead, it's more about your birds' appetite and the time of year.
Some birdwatchers buy suet in bulk to keep the price lower. But Orkoskey suggested choosing how much you'll buy based on how quickly your birds eat it all up.
"I buy suet in bulk, but that's because I use it quickly," he said. "Suet does go bad, and it's never a good idea to feed rancid suet to birds. So, it makes a lot of sense to see how often you go through it and buy accordingly."
All suet eventually goes rancid and can make birds sick if they eat it. When it does, it will be slimy and smell bad, Orkoskey explained. That's why you should clean your feeders regularly, he said.
"If you've never added suet or any type of feeder to your yard, then it can take a while for birds to find it," he said. "As such, you might need to replace suet every week, especially during warm weather. Keep an eye on it, make sure it's not becoming runny or gross. If it does, toss it immediately. Once you've established a consistent source of food and the birds are visiting regularly, then you'll find most, if not all, of the suet will be gone within three to five days."
In general, it takes suet longer to spoil in the winter than it does in the summer.
"In cold weather, suet lasts a long time outdoors and usually doesn't need replacing before it's eaten (it's effectively in a deep freeze)," Witko said. "In warmer months, however, it can spoil, go rancid, or develop mold if birds don't consume it quickly enough."
If it gets extra warm where you live, consider buying a no-melt variety of suet. You can also freeze any extra suet you have to help it last longer. In fact, some suet treats are easier to get out of the package when they're frozen.
Perfection isn't the goal. Start small to attract birds to your yard.
You don't need a perfect backyard right away. Starting with just one suet cake is more than enough. As you get to know the birds in your area, you can gradually add different suet forms and feeder styles to see what they love the most. Each small step will bring you new discoveries, from unexpected visitors to bird behaviors you've never seen before.
Feeding wild birds isn't just a hobby. It's a simple act that supports the local ecosystem and can bring fun moments to your window every day. So if you've never used suet before — give it a try! Soon you'll be wondering how you ever went without it.
Learn more about suet and bringing birds to your yard in The Essential Guide to Creating a Backyard Bird Oasis, and how to feed the birds in extreme temperatures in Bird Feeding in Hot vs. Cold Weather.
Feeding birds suet throughout all four seasons can transform any backyard into a hub of avian activity.
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