Lard, can they get to much?

[FUDGEY]

I have half a dozen of these feeders at my hide along with the other usual feed we put out. Nuts, sunflower hearts, nyger and wild bird seed. I was just thinking yesterday is there a possibility a bird can eat to much of this and that it could suffer long term because of it?

[Wild-Woman]

Although I wouldn't know for certain I should think that birds have such a high energy burn that it wouldn't harm. Being on the go constantly, flying and keeping warm over-night takes a whole lot of calories.

[FUDGEY]

Good point WW, Thanks for that

[Kleftiwallah]

It's suet you (or the birds) want rather than lard. Cheers, Tony.

[FUDGEY]

I know Tony, but the cost difference is to much. I spend a fortune as it is. This is why Im asking the q. If it could be bad for them Id stop feeding it, but the Woodies especially love it and the Tits and Jays also like it at times.

[Kleftiwallah]

Every late Autumn, early Winter I get about 20 lbs of the stuff from a local butcher for about a fiver and render it down myself. I've learnt the hard way not to have the oven too high ! Cheers, Tony.

[RoyW]

Although I could't really back this opinion up with anything from scientific studies on birds diet/health, I would be surprised if birds living off a diet high in lard aren't suceptible to potential long term health problems (although most probably won't survive long enough for these to become an issue). A diet high in pure fats is not natural, and I would think that bird biology is similar enough to that of mammals for such a diet to have similar long term effects to humans.

[bobbarber]

Originally Posted by Kleftiwallah

Every late Autumn, early Winter I get about 20 lbs of the stuff from a local butcher for about a fiver and render it down myself. I've learnt the hard way not to have the oven too high ! Cheers, Tony.

Tony, have you tried rendering it twice? I have found that it sets much firmer the second time, making it ideal for pouring into home made moulds...Bob

[bobbarber]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Although I wouldn't know for certain I should think that birds have such a high energy burn that it wouldn't harm. Being on the go constantly, flying and keeping warm over-night takes a whole lot of calories.

I agree with Wild-Woman, I read somewhere that small birds can lose as much as a third of their body weight during a cold Winters night...Bob