Fat balls

does anyone out there make their own fat balls for the birds?
does it work out any cheaper and how do you do it?
Just love to see loads of birds in my garden

 

All the time kathryn. We melt down lard blocks and mix in all sorts of scraps,even used up the dates from xmas.
First I cut a disc of plastic that fits the base of a small pudding bowl then fix wire through the centre of the disc this will support the ball,pour in the mixture,keeping the wire upright and allow to set.
Warm the bowl to release the lard and lift it out, hang it up well out of a cats reach and wait for the word to get out :D ...And we do think it's cheaper making our own.

 

Not sure I like the topic heading :D

 

I do too, but I just save any fat I have [usually skimmed from top of dog's mince], and when I have enough mix with bread crumbs [ I only use whole grain bread for me and birds], bird seed, peanuts, sunflower, poppy, pumpkin/ melon/ squash seeds, other food scraps as I have them and a bit of dry porridge if needed for bulk. Any shallow container seems to be acceptable, in winter a nice stodgy mixture will fill half a coconut and hang up when set. I buy the occasional bag of bird food and peanuts, but most of the seeds are saved from summer, so it must be cheaper.

 

Is giving them goose fat from the Christmas roast a bit like cannibalism :eek:

 

Good point!!

I haven't had any success with fat balls or the like - they just hang there and go rotten. Birds just totally ignore them! They must be too well fed round here!

 

Thanks everyone, i shall give it a go, sorry about the heading, wasnt thinking !!

 

Well i tried it and they love it, they definately prefer mine to the shop bought ones..thank you all