5 Ways to Safeguard Birds in Winter

[Omaha Steve]

7. Yes but a regular PB feeder might work a little better, but yours would be easy to clean

If birds show up and eat it out of the bowl.... SUCCESS!

Not all birds though. Some species ignore peanut butter, and some can't get enough. Bird prepared peanut butter can save some mess. There is also a peanut butter based suet available.

Goggle peanut butter recipe for several choices.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/page.aspx?pid=1180

Peanut Butter

In winter, especially in cold climates, peanut butter is a nutritious food to offer birds. Peanut butter sold in grocery stores is certified safe for human consumption, and is safe to offer birds when cold or cool temperatures keep it fairly hard. In warmer weather it must not be kept outside long enough to become rancid or soft.

There is some concern that soft peanut butter can stick to birds’ mouths. To make it grittier, cornmeal can be added, but because both corn and peanuts provide excellent media for bacterial and fungal growth, make sure peanut butter feeders are cleaned out frequently. Peanut oils can separate in both pure peanut butter and in mixtures. If these oils adhere to a nesting bird’s feathers, they can be transferred to eggs, plugging the pores, so never provide peanut butter mixtures that become soft or oily.

Do not use "dough no melt suet" in the winter, it freezes up solid. Great for the heat of summer though.