For many years, I've also been making fat-crumb-balls from old bread and fat from the meat. This seems to work and not cause dehydration. I also just put the fatty crumbs out sometimes if time's short for making into balls.
I began here in June 2000, there were no birds either as the place had nothing much for them then. By autumn they were coming well and haven't stopped since
. We get all sorts, including a regular sparrowhawk - so we must have a good population for her to hunt with us.
Keep going, don't give up
. The pond will attact more insects and so more birds. As your whole eco-system gets going they will come.