Zick Dough

[tamsea]

Has anyone made it? I bought some chick starter to use in it and made a batch today. It doesn’t have any sugar in it and all the other suet recipes I’ve seen does. I went ahead and added a little. Any thoughts?

Tammy

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Never had any experience with this, Tammy – although I can’t think a little sugar would hurt. Is this used for baby chickens or what – I’m confused!

[dogsandbirds]

Ok what is this? Clueless here.

Gin
Atlanta, GA

[tamsea]

Sorry. I just figured everyone has heard of it. It’s been out there in the internet and talked about for awhile. Julie Zickefoose is a writer artist and naturalist. She created a suet recipe for her bluebirds similar to the ones that we’re familiar with. She started noticing that her bluebirds had stiff swollen toes and feet. She got feedback from a Me Lovelett “that pointed out that suet dough mixes are very low in calcium, high in phosphorus, and “contain proteins that are relatively low in biological value.”
Ms. Lovelett suggested basing suet dough on a “formulated diet that provides adequate calcium, high quality proteins and other essential nutrients.” And she mentions unmedicated chick starter as a base.”

Here’s the link.http://juliezickefoose.blogspot.com/2010/03/zick-dough-improved.html?m=1

• This reply was modified 4 years, 7 months ago by tamsea.

Tammy

[dogsandbirds]

Well, ok, I know who she is. I just never connected Zick dough. Sometimes, or most of the time, I’m not firing on all cylinders. I haven’t kept up with all the new recipes since I stopped making the stuff years ago. I read the link, though, and it makes perfect sense.

Gin
Atlanta, GA

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Very interesting – I have been making & serving the regular peanut butter suet for 12 years now – they love it and I have not noticed any problem. BUT that doesn’t mean there haven’t been any – just that I have not noticed any. I will ponder on this for the next winter season, as it will be time to order mealworms very soon! I have been having 6 & sometimes 7 bluebirds at my cage suet feeder. I’m sure these are my regular pair and 4-5 from the last nesting, as they hung around a VERY long time, left, and are now back.

[Sassy]

I will have to try this recipe next year. I made the original recipe but never saw a Bluebird eat any of it.
It does sound interesting.
Connie

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Connie, can’t get over your blues not eating this suet! It does take them a while (maybe a week) to get used to it, but, usually once they eat some they are back in a heartbeat. You didn’t try to feed it on a ground feeder or something, did you? Don’t give up it trying it, sure does give your pocketbook a rest for the winter months. Where I live the mealworms would freeze very quickly once outside. Just works out for me this way, feed the worms for about 7 months and the suet about 5. COME ON SPRING!!!

[Sassy]

Carol, no I did not try feeding on the ground, I put it in the mealworm feeder for weeks. The titmouse, chickadees, nuthatches and juncos ate it but I never saw a Bluebirds in the feeder, unless they snuck in when I wasn’t looking. I was very disappointed.
Like you I cannot do live mealworms in the winter, too cold here too.
I had what I call my pair of Bluebirds at my front box early this morning, both going in and staying for awhile one at a time, then sitting on top, leaving for a while, then returning for a few more checks of the box. I think they are as ready for spring as we are.
Bring it on.
Connie

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