Why Not Chicken Suet for Birds?

by Lilly
(Pr, USA )

Why would chicken fat suet be harmful to feed predatory wild birds? I have seen jays take baby birds from the nest as well as eggs and so forth--don't hawks kill chickens & eat them?

I put some hardened chicken fat out (ran out of beef) and the jays ate it up.

Also why wouldn't raw beef fat be okay to feed? BIRDS eat raw meat in nature? Thanks.



Comment

You ask very good questions, Lilly.

Question #1: As a point of caution, a wild bird nutritionist and wildlife manager responding to your question, discouraged the use of chick fat for the following reasons: lower melting temp & its tendency to soften.
Because it is softer than beef it can clog birds nostrils , and also wreak havoc on their feathers.

Question #2: Rendering fat is to prevent the fat from going bad.

Happy Birding,
Susan