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Suet feeders needed to be handled with special care
If you are fond of keeping birds happy, then you should go and buy a nice wild bird feeder. You will find that there are a lot of feeders out there to choose from such as platform feeders, tube feeders and special-type feeders. One such common special type is the suet feeders.
Unlike traditional wild bird feeders, suet bird feeders normally do not hold ordinary bird seeds and nuts. Typical suet feeders are made of wire mesh with big spaces in between the wires to allow small birds to feed. Likewise, suet feeders cannot hold liquid nectars or small pieces of fruit to offer for humming bird and orioles.
As the name implies, this type of feeder can only hold suet. This type bird food is one of the most favored by insect-eating birds such as woodpeckers and jays. It provides calories which are needed by perennial migratory birds.
However, suet has its limits. It was determined that suet, which comes from cooked animal fat, does not stay long under warm weather much like any ordinary food for humans. This is the reason why suet bird feeders are commonly thought to be ideal only during cold or winter episodes.
Normally, suet can last about two months if the temperature is around zero or negative degrees. Homemade suet may last a bit shorter than commercially available ones but is much cheaper to produce. When the normal surrounding temperatures reaches around 21 degrees, fats in suet will begin to melt.
As such, suet feeders require special handling in contrast with other feeders. Since suet easily spoils under warm temperatures, it is necessary to disinfect suet feeders at regular intervals in order to prevent contamination from bacteria. Normal washing may not remove the minute particles from spoiled suet and other dirt that it collected under the weather.
Another special handling needed for this type of feeder is its maintenance. Wire mesh, like any other metal is susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion, a by-product of oxygen and water can eat away the metal and this will result to a damaged feeder.
As such, you need to ensure that the feeder is well protected from corrosion by keeping it dry and fresh. After cleaning, make certain that you completely rub excess water off prior to refilling the feeders with suet. You can also minimize the possibility of corrosion by applying some lacquer paint on the wires.
In case that your feeder has wooden assemblies, take note that wood is also subject to deterioration under extreme weather temperatures. As such, you can significantly lengthen the life of your feeder by applying a fresh coat of paint at least once every year. Remember not to paint the interior side as the smell of paint may affect the suet.
Suet feeders are ideal to have since it provides benefits not only for wandering birds but also for bird feeding hobbyist such as you. It is a very nice opportunity to watch several birds feeding off and seeing them up close. Feeders may require a bit of your time to maintain but it is sure a lot worth it.
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