Kitchen Garden Forum

I'm going to make a batch on fat cake today and was reading the RSPB web site and wanted to share some information that they are giving out.

They have an article saying that cooked turkey fat should not be used when feeeding birds as:
"It remains soft even when cooled, meaning it could smear onto birds’ feathers and ruin their water-proofing and insulating qualities".

They also say that fat used after cooking meat may be harmful too and have lots of advice here:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-237136

Fortunately I use lard so haven't been doing anything harmful.

I thought it was amusing that the article was written by someone called Peck!

We use mostly lard but do also save chicken fat. Yes, it does stay soft but we mix in a very generous supply of jumbo oats until it has all been absorbed and we've never noticed any of our feeding birds having any problems grooming. I'll bear the advice in mind but when it's as cold as it is today (-3 here) with six inches of snow, I doubt whether the birds will fly down in the morning and turn their beaks up at chicken fatty oats if there's nothing else on the menu. In fact they're all lining up in the trees whilst it's still dark and are down on the bird table and the lawn before we're even back in the kitchen.

Thank you for that warning. I leave seedheads too, less tidy but I love to watch the brightly coloured goldfinch it attracts, there is a bonus of unexpected seedlings in spring. While it is freezing fresh water is also a life saver

RSPB Link for home made, kids can make it if not allergic to nuts

http://www.rspb.org.uk/youth/makeanddo/ ... ode=adults