Suet

[Danny]

The suet type diets are predominantly fed in those areas where the birds face a cold snowy winter (Europe/USA) and need additional energy just to survive. In tropical Australia all you would be providing is excess and quiet unnecessary fat.

[Zipman]

The suet type diets are predominantly fed in those areas where the birds face a cold snowy winter (Europe/USA) and need additional energy just to survive. In tropical Australia all you would be providing is excess and quiet unnecessary fat.

Thats true but Perth isn't in the tropics and with winter night time temps getting into the single digits and often zero and finches kept often coming from tropical zones they do it hard at times so perhaps extra body fat during this time may not be detrimental. I know that excess body fat can effect copulation in certain finches so perhaps as a supplement in winter only and in small amounts.

[Weaver]

I don't think it is a great idea. In England we used to hang some in the trees for the Robins when the snow made it impossible for them to find other food.
Once you put fat onto your birds it is very difficult to remove.
Our aviary populations are quite capable of handling the odd cold night as long as they have adequate food and shelter.

[Fincho162]

I "stole" this for you - a similar thing but with perhaps a cleaner pedigree!!!

1.Winter warmers -
I was given a recipe for a substance that was called "German Paste" by someone I once knew. His mother used to feed it to wild blue wrens when they were feeding young on her property. It varies from the 'original' German Paste much favoured by older canary breeders in the absence of hemp seeds from the recipe!! I feel sure he won't mind my sharing the recipe with you. You need:

· 1 container of dripping.
· 2 cups of brose meal (chick pea flour)
· 2 cups of rolled oats
· 2 tablespoons of honey

Method:
Melt the container of dripping in a saucepan on moderate heat and stir in your honey. When everything is liquid stir in your brose meal and rolled oats. Stir well and pour into desired containers - ice cube moulds make excellent and convenient sized portions. Make sure that you continue stirring until it begins to set then place it in the fridge - but don't put in fridge too early as all the oats will sink to the bottom. Can be stored in the freezer until needed. Probably not going to be a winner in warmer climes as it has a real tendency to run in hot weather. Cup nesters are quick to consume it with other finches learning from their example.

[djb78]

I have herd of people feeding suet to birds and also herd of German paste. My opinion for giving birds suet through winter would be melt it down and add a little bit to soft food, this is pure fat and also it covers the kidney area so giving it raw will mean that it may have a awful taste. I understand that you wish to give your finches a bit more cover over the colder periods but I would be careful of the amount in which you give because this could lead to other unforeseen problems in the future.