• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

Subscribe for Email Updates

logo

Providing printables, encouragement, tips and resources to help busy mums balance homeschooling, homemaking and frugal living.

  • Craft
  • Faith
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
  • Homeschooling
    • Free Printables
    • Google Slides ~ How To | Distance Learning
    • Printables By Grade
    • Printables By Subject
  • Homemaking
    • DIY & Frugal Living
  • Wellness
    • Essential Oils

Mobile Menu

  • Craft
  • Faith
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
  • Homeschooling
    • Free Printables
    • Google Slides ~ How To | Distance Learning
    • Printables By Grade
    • Printables By Subject
  • Homemaking
    • DIY & Frugal Living
  • Wellness
    • Essential Oils

Flock Block | Homemade Treat for Chickens

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure policy.
  • Share
  • Tweet

Providing a flock block treat for your chickens is not only a great boredom buster, but also a great way to provide important nutrients. Making a lovely treat for your chickens yourself gives you control over the ingredients which can be a good way to keep costs down too. These satisfying chicken treats are an especially good addition to your flock during the winter days when bugs and weeds are not as plentiful.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Flock Block | Homemade Treat for Chickens

Flock Block

This homemade flock block makes a delicious treat for your chickens however, remember that they are a treat, and are not to be used as their main nutrition source.

Also known as a pecking block, they contain a variety of mixed grains, and can be hung or placed on a plate, ready for your chickens to enjoy. These blocks serve as a distraction from boredom while encouraging the natural pecking and foraging chickens do.

Keep in mind, this boredom buster chicken treat is held together with oil. This is great during the cooler months, as coconut oil turns to a liquid in warmer weather.

As we are is a hot, humid area, they do fall apart and crumble easily here. So, hanging is something that doesn’t last long at our place. 

This block will also dissolve when wet, so it is a good idea to keep it out of the rain.

Benefits of Flock Block Ingredients

Cinnamon is helpful for the respiratory system and has antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-infectious properties.

Adding in the cayenne and red pepper flakes is good for your flocks circulation, aids in breaking down bacteria, gives your yolks a richer color, and is thought to be a good natural wormer. It also helps keep other animals out of your chickens’ food.

Chickens (and other birds) do not have the taste receptors to be able to taste spicy foods so while it doesn’t affect them, squirrels, rats, raccoons and other pests can’t tolerate it.

Black oil sunflower seeds provide a boost of protein,  amino acids and vitamin e but they are also just a fun treat that they love.

The wide variety of grains and seeds in the recipe  are a great source of protein and help build your bird’s immune system.

Dried mealworms/ insects pack on the protein and  overall the treat encourages your chickens  hunting and pecking instincs.

You can make them exactly as I did or change up  some of the the dry ingredient to match what you have on hand or what is on sale to keep them.

How to Make a Chicken Treat

To make this treat, you will need:

  • 2 cups Layer Feed
  • 1 cup Sunflower Seeds
  • 1 cup Scratch feed or wild bird seed
  • ½ cup Ground Flax Seed
  • 1 cup Quick Cook Oats
  • ½ cup Dried mealworms/insect treats
  • 1 Tablespoon Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1 Tablespoon Cayenne Pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
  • ½ cup Coconut Oil
  • 3 Tablespoons Molasses
  • 3 eggs and shells, crushed

Supplies you will need are:

  • Nonstick  cooking spray
  • Muffin tin or other mould
  • Microwaveable jug
  • A wooden spoon
  • Large bowl

Making the Treat

Preheat the oven to 163˚C ( 325℉).

Spray the muffin tin or whatever you are using as a mould, with nonstick cooking spray.

Combine the dry ingredients (first nine ingredients) in a large bowl, stirring well to mix everything thoroughly.

Flock Block | Homemade Treat for Chickens ingredients
Carefully melt the coconut oil in a microwaveable jug using short increments.

Add the melted coconut oil to the dry ingredients along with the eggs, and  molasses, folding everything together well.

Pour the mixture into your mould.

If you are going to hang this treat, use the end of a wooden spoon to make a whole in the centre of the mixture all the way through.Bake  for 20-25 minutes.

Remove from the oven and cool completely.

Flock Block | Homemade Treat for Chickens removing from mould
Use a butter knife to run all around the edges to help remove the treat from the moulds.

These treats can be stored in the fridge or freezer until ready to use. They last up to 3 months in the refrigerator and 6 months in the freezer.

If hanging, place twine through the hole and tie inside your coop/run or you can simple place them on the ground.

Flock Block | Homemade Treat for Chickens hanging the treat
The amount you make and offer will vary depending on the size of your flock.  

Flock Block | Homemade Treat for Chickens - chicken eating treat

If you have a large flock you may want to make this recipe in round cake pans and offer one large block. You will need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.

Flock Block | Homemade Treat for Chickens cooking

More Animal Treats

  • Rockmelon and Yoghurt Dog Treats
  • Chicken Dog Treats
  • Vegetable Dog Biscuits
Flock Block | Homemade Treat for Chickens

Flock Block | Treat for Chickens

Providing a Flock Block treat for your chickens is not only a great boredom buster, but also a great way to provide important nutrients.
Print Pin
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 35 mins

Equipment

  • Nonstick  cooking spray
  • Muffin tin or other mould
  • A wooden spoon
  • A wooden spoon
  • Large bowl

Ingredients
  

  • 2 Cups Layer Feed
  • 1 Cup Sunflower Seeds
  • 1 Cup Scratch Feed or Wild Bird Seed
  • ½ Cup Ground Flax Seed
  • 1 Cup Quick Cook Oats
  • ½ Cup Dried Mealworms / Insect Treats
  • 1 TBSP Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1 TBSP Cayenne Pepper
  • 1 TBSP Ground Cinnamon
  • ½ Cup Coconut Oil
  • 3 TBSP Molasses
  • 3 Eggs with shells, crushed

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 163˚C ( 325℉).
  • Spray the muffin tin or whatever you are using as a mould, with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Combine the dry ingredients (first nine ingredients) in a large bowl, stirring well to mix everything thoroughly.
    Flock Block | Homemade Treat for Chickens ingredients
  • Carefully melt the coconut oil in a microwaveable jug using short increments.
  • Add the melted coconut oil to the dry ingredients along with the eggs, and  molasses, folding everything together well.
  • Pour the mixture into your mould.
  • If you are going to hang this treat, use the end of a wooden spoon to make a whole in the centre of the mixture all the way through.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and cool completely.
    Flock Block | Homemade Treat for Chickens removing from mould
  • Use a butter knife to run all around the edges to help remove the treat from the moulds.
  • These treats can be stored in the fridge or freezer until ready to use. They last up to 3 months in the refrigerator and 6 months in the freezer.
  • If hanging, place twine through the hole and tie inside your coop/run or you can simple place them on the ground.
    Flock Block | Homemade Treat for Chickens hanging the treat
  • The amount you make and offer will vary depending on the size of your flock.  If you have a large flock you may want to make this recipe in round cake pans and offer one large block. You will need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Keyword Chicken, Chicken Treat, Dog Treats, Flock Block
Tried this recipe? Share a pic on Instagram#simplelivingcreativelearning

 

  • Share
  • Tweet

Category: HomemakingTag: Homemade, Simple Living

Love Free Printables?

Subscribe to receive weekly emails!

Previous Post: «Chocolate Waffles Easy Chocolate Waffles
Next Post: Jesus the Good Shepherd Printables Jesus the Good Shepherd Printables four pages»

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Come and Join Us

Support My Work

Love Free Printables?

Subscribe to receive weekly emails!

Categories

AMAZON ASSOCIATES DISCLOSURE

Simple Living. Creative Learning is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • Cart
  • My Account

Return to top

Copyright © 2013-2020 · Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in