I, too feed suet and my birds are all over it year round. Is the bag too close? Although Downy Woodpeckers are quite tame, Hairy and Red-Bellied are not! I had for the first time last year a beautiful Pileated (male) Woodpecker in my back yard. I believe he came because of the other birds that frequent here. Make sure your suet container is stable and maybe add some fruit, nuts or sunflower seeds as an incentive. Happy birding!
May want to use web in search engine..Suet recipes.
If it is raw suet, must cook the suet, cool, cook cool 3 to 4 times. take any hard skin etc off. You can then as it is cool roll and put birdseed on. You can mix peanut butter in the last cook and again add birdseed as it cools.
I find it takes birds a day to come as our smell is on. Birders say that if this is first time try rubbing some on a couple trees or shrubs in area to let birds know. If you add some peanut butter or birdseed they will know.
I am going to attempt to make pine cone feeders. these are on web also.
Lots of recipes using things you have on hand. Lots of fun watching these beautiful critters. If you have children it is fun to do some of these pine cones with kids.
A simple no cook is to take peanut butter and rub on pine cones roll in birdseed in pie plate, hang. Add a 12 inch piece of ribbon or string before adding peanut butter for hanger. Nice gifts once you get the Hang of It!!!
Have a nice Holiday...
Just leave the suet bag hanging there. I had one up all winter long, and not one bird used it. As the spring came on, so did the birds. In no time the suet feeder was empty. I had a wonderful variety of birds at my suet bag. Even had woodpeckers enjoying it. When the weather cools a bit, I have another one to hang.
It took the birds 2 weeks to find my suet in its bag like an onion bag, but now they eat it all the time.
Could it be the onion smell they don't like?
I tried that once & found it to be the bag they don't like. I think their feet get tangled in the mesh & it scares them coming again. Suet holders of metal are great & cheap enough, or create one using old coat hangers, or large holed screen.
I've never heard of suet in an onion bag. But I have a metal suet holder that are available everywhere. My boyfriend mounted it on a piece of wood (2 pieces nailed together to look like an L) that's nailed to the tree. I go through tons in the winter. Even the chipmunks & little squirrels eat it.
Mix suet and peanut butter. Put on pinecones, then roll in bird seed. Hang on trees. They'll come.
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Getting Rid of Blackbirds
