Hints From Heloise

Dear Readers: Recently, we had a hint from a reader about making suet-like seed feeders. She saved the grease from frying hamburger, rolled pine cones in it and sprinkled birdseed over it, then hung it outside for birds that visit her yard.

Although many do this, our friends at the National Bird Feeding Society don’t recommend using hamburger grease. They say a bird feeder made that way might attract unwanted four-legged animals, like rodents or raccoons.

If you wish to make this type of feeder, you can get real suet (the hard fat of cattle and sheep) from the butcher and cook it down. Then mix it with some cornmeal or peanut butter, roll the pine cones in it and then sprinkle with birdseed. To make a pine cone feeder without using suet, substitute peanut butter Just roll the pine cone in peanut butter and then in birdseed. This works just as well and it is a great project for kids.- Heloise