Homemade Bird Snacks

[CarolsCritterCare]

Sweet Potato Balls

1 large sweet potato, microwaved till soft
1/2 cup raisins
1 mashed banana
1 cup mixed fresh or frozen mixed vegetables
1 cup diced apples
1-1/2 cup uncooked oatmeal
corn flakes or granola cereal

Mix all together and add enough fruit or vegetable juice to make it form small balls.

Freeze balls individually.

Defrost and serve.

[CarolsCritterCare]

Rice and Pellet Mix

2 cups cooked brown rice
1-1/2 cups mixed veggies
handful of walnuts
1 apple, cored


Put the apple, veggies and walnuts through the food processor until finely chopped.

Mix with the rest of the ingredients

Put the mix into ice cube trays and freeze, then put the cubes into zip-lock bags.

To use a cube, microwave it for 30 seconds.

[CarolsCritterCare]

Dried Apples for Pets or Wild birds

3 - 5 small Delicious apples, cored but unpeeled
3 T. lemon juice
2 c. water
1/4 tsp. salt

Cut apples into 1/8" thick pieces (keep the thickness at 1/8" but you can vary the size of the piece depending on the size of the bird).

Combine lemon juice and water.

Pour mixture over the apples.

Stir so all sides of the slices are well coated.

Drain the slices.

Lightly sprinkle salt on both sides of apple slices.

Place apple slices on wire racks that sit on cookie sheets or baking pans (to catch drips.)

Bake at 200 degrees F. for 3 1/2 - 4 hrs.

Start watching them after about 3 hrs. You want them leathery, not crispy.

Leaving the apples in the oven, turn off oven and leave overnight or about 8 hrs.

Store in ziplock bags until needed.

[CarolsCritterCare]

Bird Cake #1

1 pound Suet in small pieces
1 Cup Yellow Cornmeal
1 Cup Rolled Oats
1 Cup Chunk-style Peanut Butter
1 Cup mixed Wild Bird Seed
1 Cup Sunflower Seed

Melt suet over low flame.

Stir in rest of ingredients to blend.

Pour into paper-lined muffin tins.

Chill until hardened.

These may be frozen also.

[CarolsCritterCare]

Bird Cake #3

2 Cups Bread Crumbs
1 Handful Nuts (unsalted)
3 Chopped Apples (seeds too!)
2 Handfuls raisins
1 Cup sugar
1/4 Cup Cornmeal
1/2 Pound Ground Suet
1/2 Cup Flour
1 8 0z. Jar Peanut Butter
1 Cup Wild Bird Seed

Mix ingredients and add enough bacon drippings to hold it all together.

Shape into balls or press into pine cones.

Freeze leftovers

[CarolsCritterCare]

Cheese & Veggies Chews

1/2 cup grated cheese -- room temp.
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 teaspoons applesauce
1/2 cup vegetables -- what ever you like
1 cup whole wheat flour
nonfat milk

Mix cheese, oil and applesauce together. Add veggies, and flour. Combine thoroughly. Add just enough milk to help form a ball. Cover and chill for one hour.

Roll onto a floured surface and cut into shapes. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool.

[CarolsCritterCare]

Mummy Sticks

You will need sticks for inserting. Sesame seeds to roll in. Raisins, blueberries, cranberries or nut pieces for the eyes.

8 tbsp. sunflower oil
1/2 C molasses
2 eggs
3 large ripe bananas (mashed)
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 C raisins or cranberries
1 C whole wheat flour
1 C all purpose flour or 3/4 C oat flour (just put some oats in the food processor)
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt (may be omitted)
1/2 C chopped nuts (walnuts or almonds)
non stick spray

Mix first 5 ingredients in a large bowl. Add rest of ingredients. Lightly spray cookie sheet and your hands with non stick spray. Scoop up some batter and roll into elongated pieces. Roll in the sesame seeds and insert the sticks. Place on cookie sheet. Add your eyes, pressing them into the batter so they will not pop out while baking. If using blueberries for eyes, they will bleed while baking.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes until browned on the bottom. Cool and serve!

[dgridley]

Great thread.. thanks.. I'll try some of these!

[dgridley]

Just to mention our local dollar store currently has bags of granola cereal that might make a great snack for birds or squirrels.