Take the suet challenge

I love to watch the birds up close but we have a mess on our porch because the woodpeckers flick the suet on the wood. Is there a plate I can put under the feeder? ~ Dewitt, MI

I enjoy the woodpeckers too and have a couple suggestions. First we have an Advanced Pole System that can swing your feeder away from the porch. Second, I would change your suet. The only reason your birds would be throwing stuff on the porch would be if they didn’t like something in it. Sometimes cheap suets are filled with milo or other filler seeds to take up space which forces the birds to pick around to find what they want.

When you come into Wild Birds Unlimited - East Lansing, MI you can choose from a variety of high quality seed and suet cakes that will attract a wide number of different bug eating birds like woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice and wrens.

What is suet?

Our Suet is made with only the highest quality processed beef kidney fat. It is the most concentrated source of energy you can offer wild birds. In spring, it meets the increased energy demands of nesting birds. In the summer months, it provides a good substitute for insect-eating birds, especially in years when insects are not very plentiful. In fall, suet helps wild birds store fat to prepare for migration or the coming winter. And of course, in winter, suet replenishes depleted stores of energy and nutrients, to help birds survive the long, cold months.

Is there really a difference in suet cakes?

Not all suets are created equal. When you are choosing your breakfast cereal, you might choose a less healthy, colorful, sugar loop and pay the price later with less energy and a blah afternoon. But birds must always be on alert and in top form, especially during times of stress like nesting season or long winters. You should always read the nutritional labels and strive to provide wild birds with food that is healthy and has the proper nutrition.

How do I read suet labels?

The first ingredient should always be rendered beef suet. Some people feed straight suet only. If you want to offer more protein the next ingredient should usually be peanuts or tree nuts. Never, never buy suet where milo, oats, wheat, processed grain by-products or artificial flavorings are in the ingredients. These filler ingredients are used to make a cheaper cake but the birds will toss it to the ground.

The Wild Birds Unlimited- East Lansing store’s best seller is the peanut butter suet cake, which has only three ingredients: rendered beef fat, chopped peanuts and peanut butter. Again, no milo, no wheat, and no millet - no filler ingredients! This is my favorite suet cake too (for my birds, I mean).

What is the Guaranteed Analysis?

Looking at the Guaranteed Analysis, you will see several lines of information: Crude Protein, Crude Fat, Crude Fiber, and Moisture. What does all that mean to a consumer? A good suet cake will have a minimum crude protein of around 6% and crude fat of 35% (the more the better). And it’s acceptable for suet to have a maximum crude fiber of 12% and moisture of 10%.

At Wild Birds Unlimitedwe are dedicated to the promotion of responsible feeding. Anything we sell in the East Lansing, Michigan store is good for the birds; no fillers, no by products, just top-quality food. I encourage you to take a suet challenge. Try our #1 selling quality Peanut Butter suet and see if your birds are happier.

I'll come right in! Thanks for your quick response and good suggestions.

Related Articles:

- What birds eat suet? http://bit.ly/q2Sfje

- Can I make my own suet? http://bit.ly/rsc1JT
- How do I Attract Woodpeckers? http://bit.ly/o4CLqI
- Filling Up on Fatty Foods: http://bit.ly/ob0NIq
- Michigan made suet feeders: http://bit.ly/rbKskX

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