Winter is a great time to feed wild birds suet, although suet can be a year-round food source. Suet is animal or vegetable fat and is usually bought commercially as rendered suet with added seeds, nuts, or other bits of food. Rendered suet doesn't spoil as quickly and is more easily handled.

You can also buy suet that isn't rendered for easy spreading on tree trunks or other surfaces, or you can make your own.

Quick Tip

Most suet will melt in warm temperatures, so remove the suet and store it in a cool place. Rendered suet will tolerate warmer temperatures better, and no-melt formulas are available.

Commercial Suet Formulas

You can buy many different kinds of suet. Here are a few:

• Plain
• Added seeds
• Added peanut butter
• Nuts
• Fruit
• Squirrel-deterring

Suet Forms

Suet typically comes in cakes in square and rectangular shapes, but other suet are shaped like plugs, balls, and cones.