Selfsufficientish.com

I know wild birds don't count as pets but I wasn't 100% sure where to put my post!

I've got some fat in a pan from when I cooked sausages getting on for a week now (the shame of not having washed it up yet!).

Anyway, can I melt it down and mix it with seeds for the birds or is it too old? - I wasn't sure if I ought to use similar rules to how long I'd leave food to eat myself and about keeping it in the fridge or not etc

Can anyone help?

I don't know, but I'm glad I'm not the only one who leaves the washing up that long

I'm fairly certain that it will be safe to use for the birds. I've never made any myself but my mum gives fat balls to her garden birds mixed in with seeds and just keeps them stored in a bucket in the utility room and the birds love them. Doesn't seem to have any ill effects from not refridgerating or not being fresh etc.

Gosh I,m having a deja vie moment here. I remember a post very similar to this one, when some poor innocent bloke tried to explain that it is NOT a good idea to give birds too much fat as they- Well they get fat . But the cracking faux pau was that he then stated " and who likes fat birds ?"

From the RSPB site ...

"Cooking fat

Fat from cooking is bad for birds. The problem with cooked fat from roasting tins and dishes is that the meat juices have blended with the fat and when allowed to set, this consistency makes it prone to smearing, not good for birds' feathers. It is a breeding ground for bacteria, so potentially bad for birds' health. Salt levels depend on what meat is used and if any salt is added during cooking.

Lard and beef suet on their own are fine as they re-solidify after warming and as they are pure fat, it is not as suitable for bacteria to breed on. "

Mike

What an idiot - I didn't think to check the RSPB site!

Thanks.

Perhaps I'll just stick to seeds on the table (when I get a bird table!) and nuts in the hanging feeder.

Any birdwatchers on here, or anyone want to chat about their birds-working birds or garden variety?