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How to Store a Bird Suet When It Is Freezing

Drawing the widest variety of birds to your outdoor feeders often means providing an equal variety of foods, along with fresh water and safe perches nearby. This becomes a challenge in winter if you live in an area that experiences long stretches of below-zero weather. You can buy or build devices to keep your bird bath from icing over, but if you heat the suet you put out for the woodpeckers, flickers and nuthatches, it will melt. Store the suet inside until the weather warms or use a different method for serving it.

Things You'll Need

Plastic wrap or waxed paper
Refrigerator container
Hot water
Mild dish soap
Sponge or rag
Kitchen knife
Tray feeder

Instructions

Storing
- 1
  
  Multi-task feeders are convenient in winter.
  
  Remove the suet from the feeder. If the feeder is only for suet, take it down. If it's also for seed, continue to use it in that capacity.
- 2
  
  Refrigeration keeps the suet from melting.
  
  Wrap the suet in the plastic wrap or waxed paper. Place the wrapped suet in the refrigerator container. Store the container in the refrigerator until the weather is warm enough to put out the suet again.
- 3
  
  Keep a sponge exclusively for cleaning feeders.
  
  Clean the feeder if you've taken it down for storage. This prevents disease and mess. Soak a metal or plastic feeder in hot, soapy water and then scrub away loose seed, suet or bird droppings with a sponge or rag. Use a wet, soapy sponge or rag to scrub a wooden feeder. Rinse well, dry and store.
Serving
- 4
  
  Any kind of sharp kitchen knife is suitable for cutting suet.
  
  Remove the suet from the feeder and bring it inside. If it's frozen solid, let it thaw enough to cut with a knife. Use great care when testing this, in case the knife slips.
- 5
  
  Suet pieces can be larger than bird seed.
  
  Chop the suet with the knife. Make pieces small enough for birds to take.
- 6
  
  Feeders with a roof protect the food from weather.
  
  Put the chopped suet on a tray feeder or other surface for the birds to pick their favorite bits.

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