Chickens keep busy and relish the novelty of a treat cake.
Forage cakes are popular chicken treats. There are many recipes to making these treats and they can be bought ready-made. Adapt the base recipe to suit the time of year and the favorite snacks of your chickens. Health additions such as turmeric, flax seed, anise or a vitamin powder can be added as well. Adjust the recipe to suit the tastes and consistency desired by the birds. These treats help relieve boredom in winter and act as a draw to attract the flock together at other times of the year.
Instructions
1. Mix together the liquid ingredients. Prepare dry ingredients. Place chicken feed pellets or crumbles in a plastic or paper sandwich bag. Crush the pellets or crumbles into a coarse mash.
2. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet and mix well. Mix until it forms together into a dough. Add more chicken feed or a bit of water if needed for proper consistency. Form the dough into a large bar. Be sure the bar is even for proper baking. Place in preheated 350 degree oven, on a greased cookie sheet (or parchment lined sheet), for 12-15 minutes. Adjust cooking time for desired hardness and consistency. Watch that the bar does not burn as they are sensitive to cooking time.
3. Add other treats such as dried mealworms, sunflower seeds (shelled or hulled), millet, cracked corn, oats and other chicken favorites. Add herbs such as oregano or other healthful additions like sesame seeds.
Tags: chicken feed, cooking time, pellets crumbles, recipe suit