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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
More Animal Treats
Flock Block | Treat for Chickens
Simple Living. Creative LearningIngredients
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Easy Chocolate Waffles
Hi Stacey! I also live in a warm climate year round so I am wondering how well these DIY Flock Blocks hold up. I especially like the ingredients you listed as they have beneficial properties. I don’t want to give my girls chicken junk food, lol. And I avoid corn products as it can warm them up.
I made a recipe similar to yours last night and this morning it is not holding together well, unfortunately.
I’m wondering if you (or anyone else reading this) has suggestions on adding something to this recipe that will help it bind together better in warm, humid weather?
As you say, I don’t want to give my chickens junk food either, so finding a healthy alternative can be difficult. On humid days, I have just laid this block on a plate or in a bowl as I haven’t tried anything else yet that would bind it together better yet.