sarahjm Posted October 4, 2006 Share Posted October 4, 2006 Hi all, In the spirit of not wanting to throw anything in the landfill if we can help it - how can we recycle fat from the grill pan (solid fan from sausages, cheese on toast etc etc) I was thinking about making my own fat balls for the birds, adding seeds etc - has anyone else done this? Is that the right kind of fat for garden birds to have? I know it's the right season for them to be needing fat balls... Also, if I do make some / buy some can the chooks have them too? thanks! S xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Posted October 4, 2006 Share Posted October 4, 2006 I think there was a thread on this a while ago, I'll have a hunt in a second. There is a product called "fat trap" which you can use to make fat balls at home using solid fats and pressing nuts in. Craig. ----- found it: http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7171 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 4, 2006 Share Posted October 4, 2006 Best not to give it to your chooks - they can't tolerate the fat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahjm Posted October 4, 2006 Author Share Posted October 4, 2006 Thanks Craig, think I'll try yoghurt pots as moulds...! Thanks Clare - do you know why the birds can have fat and not the chooks? I was going to hang the bird feeders / fat balls etc in the chickens area so that the chickens would have tidy up any fallen seeds and bits of fat, should I re-think? S x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 4, 2006 Share Posted October 4, 2006 Sorry, I don't Sarah. James at Omlet mentioned once that it's not good for chooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowcloud Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 I have also used Fat Traps for over a year now and they do work well. You can buy them here... http://www.lessmess.co.uk/fattrap.asp ... I bought a set of four and gave 3 of them away as Christmas presents! Some of the family were happier than others ... I find that some oils are better than others. Any meat oils are best, followed by fowl. You can use a certain amount of vegetable oil, but too much will make the mix too liquid. I put in a mix of nuts and seeds in as well - the birds really like them. They are easy to clean too - but let the oil cool a little before pouring in otherwise you can melt the trap! Hope that helps... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted March 17, 2007 Share Posted March 17, 2007 Thanks for that link - I have just bought a couple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted March 18, 2007 Share Posted March 18, 2007 We made fat balls at Christmas as a new Christmas Eve tradition The birds wouldn't touch them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 18, 2007 Share Posted March 18, 2007 Would they attract rats? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime Posted March 18, 2007 Share Posted March 18, 2007 Would they attract rats? Why would you like us to send you a few chunky brown ones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowcloud Posted March 18, 2007 Share Posted March 18, 2007 We have used our home made fat balls for over a year and not had any problems. I find that the birds know that there is usually something to eat in my garden so they usually clear up a fat ball I have made in less than three days, so I guess the rats don't get a look in:cry:! We do have some interest from field mice and squirrels for the nuts and seeds in the middle of the fat ball, though, but I don't mind that so much. The fat trap allows you to have the fat ball on a string too, like the commercial ones, so hung from a light tree branch I would guess the rats can't get to the good stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...