After years of buying fat balls I thought I'd follow advice given here and make my own. So, I found the big mixing bowl at the back of a cupboard and got to work. (Note to self, wearing all black is NOT a good idea when mixing flour). Simple mix, 2 parts four to one part lard, water, dried raisins, the rest of the frozen cranberries from last Christmas and some sunflower hearts. Mixed, rolled and allowed to stiffen. The end result was a little pink (the cranberries), but otherwise looked fine.
In to the feeder and wait... For two days the birds not only didn't go near them, but avoided the other feeders too. Day three arrived and the flocks descended. First a jackdaw started tearing into them, then the local starling families had their usual squabbling feast, followed by everything else in the garden. I was very relieved, I've got a freezer draw full of pink fat balls to dole out!
"Let loose the Kraken!"
Well done, Stuart. It sounds good enough to eat yourself. I only started making pastry last year after reading about it here. 'My' birds did the same, ignored it for a few days before deciding that it actually wasn't so bad. Almost everything eats it now. Try putting it in a log style hanging feeder and wait for the fun when the Starlings arrive.
Paul
My bird photos HERE
Welcome to the 'pastry gang' SV!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
well done Stuart, its a good way to supplement the seeds and peanut supply and the homemade version is far healthier than shop bought - often the way lol !! All you need to do now is make a Christmas present for the birds like this roll of pastry ha ha !!! ...........
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Regards, Hazel
Funnily enough, I made a peanut pastry cake. The Jay was a bit wary at first and then tucked in.
These photos were taken in poor light through the window so I thought I'd get some better ones after I'd been to the supermarket for the weekend shopping.. When I returned in under an hour the whole thing had disappeared. Who consumed it I don't know.
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Thats brilliant TJ !!! what great photos and nice to see the Jay tucking in to the pastry cake but had to laugh that the whole thing disappeared in under an hour ! It would be the Magpies and Jackdaws here that would be able to demolish it in such quick fashion.
I cooked a small chicken today but after not being entirely happy seeing pink juice running through it after cooking I decided to turf the whole thing into the garden ! You should have seen the Corvids - they were in 7th Heaven each taking a share of the meat - the whole carass was picked clean until finally I had to remove the frame and throw it in the dustbin to stop them starting on the bones lol There must have been 20+ Magpies and 1 Crow all arguing over the spoils.
I've found out that starlings don't like Cranberry berries, the garden is now covered in them as they've picked them all out. This pastry lark is looking expensive, I've got a flock of 20 or so Starlings squabbling over the balls now. They're eating a full container a day.
I remember someone else trying cranberries and nothing would eat them. Maybe they are just too sour even for birds.
I roll my pastry into a cylinder shape and put it in a wire mesh feeder. It makes them work a bit harder to get at it.
Great recipe, Stuart! It sounds good enough to eat yourself.. I have been craving for something sweet and easy to make. I cant wait to try this.