Homemade fat ball recipe for garden birds

As the nights draw in and temperatures plummet, the birds in your garden will thank you for putting out bird food and water on a regular basis. Birds need high-energy (high-fat) foods during the winter months to maintain their fat reserves to survive frosty nights. Fat balls are an ideal food source because of their high energy content. Try making these bird-friendly treats so that you can enjoy aerial displays of birds visiting your chosen feeder.

Ingredients

One part solid vegetable oil, beef suet or lard

Two parts bird seed mix

Method

1. Mix one part suet to two parts seed in a saucepan and gently heat, stirring until the fat melts.

2. Mould the mixture into balls using an ice-cream scoop or your hands. 

3. Space apart in a plastic container or on a tray and place in the freezer to set firm.

4. Once the fat balls are solid, put in the garden in a fat-ball feeder.