Discover a simple and irresistible DIY bird feed recipe that your backyard birds will love
Wisconsin: I’ve got a soft spot for my backyard birds, and honestly, I spend a bit on their food. I’ve shared the best wild bird food before, but now I’m excited to share my secret: a homemade bark butter recipe that my birds absolutely love.
This recipe is super easy and only needs a few ingredients, most of which you can grab at your local store. It’s inspired by Julie Zickfoose’s “Zick Dough,” with a few tweaks from me. Since I live in Wisconsin, this bird food is perfect for winter when food is scarce. It’s packed with fat and protein, but be careful in hot weather—it can melt. I’m writing this in January, so it’s just right for the next few months! Plus, it’s a fun project for kids and adults alike.
So, what do you need? You’ll need seven ingredients, and you might already have some at home. Here’s the list: 1 cup of plain peanut butter, 1 cup of lard, 2 cups of unmedicated chick starter, 2 cups of quick oats, 1 cup of yellow cornmeal, 1 cup of flour, and a squirrel deterrent like Cole’s Flaming Squirrel Sauce.
The chick starter might be new to you, but it’s easy to find online. As for the squirrel deterrent, I’ve found that my birds prefer my homemade version over store-bought ones. If you can’t find the specific brand, just grab something like Cole’s sauce. You could even use cayenne pepper, but my squirrels are pretty determined in winter, so they might still go for it. You can skip the deterrent if you want, but just know that squirrels love this stuff too!
This recipe makes about 6 cups of bark butter, so you can adjust the amount based on your needs. I store mine in large yogurt containers. Once the birds find it, it disappears fast! You can spread it on trees or use special feeders. When I don’t have it out, I feel bad watching my nuthatches search for it.
Now, let’s get to the steps! First, gather your ingredients and a container for storage. I use empty yogurt containers. Even though everything is safe to eat, I keep my bird feed ingredients separate in my mudroom.
Next, melt the peanut butter and lard in a microwave-safe bowl for about 90 seconds, then stir until mixed. After that, add the dry ingredients: chick starter, oats, cornmeal, and flour. Mix until it’s like cookie dough but a bit wetter.
Then, add your squirrel deterrent. If you have the hot pepper bark butter, use 1 cup; if you’re using Cole’s sauce, about 1 tablespoon will do. Mix it all together until it’s well combined.
Finally, put it in containers, let it cool, and store it in a cool place. Once it’s cooled, spread it on a tree or feeder. It smells amazing, and even my ground-feeding juncos can’t resist it!
Just a heads up: only use this in winter since it’s high in fat and protein. Birds need a varied diet in summer, and it can melt in the heat. But in Wisconsin, it’s perfect from October to April. It’s a great way to save money on birdseed and a blast to watch the birds enjoy it!
Good luck!
