AndreaT Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 I have a peck block for my chickens, which they love My question is can I keep it hanging in the run all time or should I think of it as a treat and only hang it up in there late in the afternoon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimmyCustard Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 Mine used to love peck bloks and it lasted about 2 days. I hung one in their WIR about 3 weeks ago and now they sniff at it and leave it! You can leave it in there all the time but I left mine till the afternoons to make sure they ate their mash first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 mine took the corners off and then forgot about them..they are still there 4 weeks later!!! I wouldn't worry too much about taking them in...just don't give them too often Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaT Posted September 8, 2011 Author Share Posted September 8, 2011 Thanks for your replies. I've hung it a bit higher so the girl who was heading straight for it in the morning now has to jump to get at it. Hopefully she'll go for the easy option of feed first! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 Mine ignored theirs - how ungrateful? ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 The first one I gave to my lot was ignored completely. The second one was eaten completely within about 2 hours - haven't bothered since ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 Mine prefer them a bit soggy and softened from the rain the silkies are taking their time getting through theirs, so the big chookies keep sneaking bits of it when they can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henergy Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 Mine go no where near it. I bought one & tried a long time ago & was unsuccessful. Then I was given one so hung it up - no takers. MInd you, they are equally unimpressed with the hanging cabbage ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaT Posted September 9, 2011 Author Share Posted September 9, 2011 Mine all seem to like the block, which is a good job as it's a huge 1.5kg! Hopefully it'll last them a while. Tried them with lettuce today and they were not impressed, they'd much rather have the random leaves that manage to make their way into the run. They were chasing each other round today trying to snatch a bit from whoever the lucky girl was that had managed to grab it, very funny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melbourne12 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 When I made some Peck-a-Blocks for my daughter's chickens, they were a great success. Each one lasted several days. Now that we've got our own chickens, I made some more. The greediest chicken demolished the entire thing in a couple of hours, leaving only the fragments for the others. That's too much treat in her diet, so I won't be making them too frequently! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peachachecha Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Melbourne 12, could you please share how you made your peck block? I would like to make some for my three girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouldercroft Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Melbourne 12, could you please share how you made your peck block? I would like to make some for my three girls. I make my own peck blocks for my girls in the winter - I keep it mostly pellets to stop them from getting too fat I make a whole bunch and freeze them for long term storage. I make them in tupperware that makes them fit inside the suet holders. 1.5 cups water 4 pkgs unflavored gelatin (0.25oz each) 8 cups pellets/nuts/birdseed/corn Boil 1.5 cups water. Empty the 4 packages of gelatin into 8 tablespoons of cold water in a large bowl. Let the gelatin sit for 1 minute. Add the boiling water and stir for 2 to 3 minutes or until the gelatin has dissolved. Stir 8 cups of birdseed into the gelatin, mixing thoroughly. Let the mixture set for a few minutes, then stir again. Repeat this process a few times allowing the seed to absorb the liquid. Spoon the mixture into containers and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Apologies for the american dry cup measurements - they drive me completely crazy but a necessary evil of living in the states... 1 U.S. "legal" cup = 240 millilitres = 16 international tablespoons = 12 Australian tablespoons ≈ 8.12 U.S. customary fluid ounces ≈ 8.45 imperial fluid ounces Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peachachecha Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Bouldercroft, Thanks for sharing your recipe for the peck blocks. I will make them to fit in a suet cage too, good idea to freeze them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouldercroft Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I collected up all sorts of things from my cupboard that were just past sell-by and throw them in the blocks - this include dried coconuts, pecans, walnuts, dried out sultanas and currants. First time I made them hubby thought I was making muesli bars - thankfully he saw the pellets going in too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melbourne12 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Melbourne 12, could you please share how you made your peck block? I would like to make some for my three girls. We used heavy gauge garden wire for the hanger. An old wire coat-hanger would also do. Start by coiling it into a spiral, starting outside and working in, then twist the wire at right angles from the base to form the central spine. Finally cut the wire and turn the top over to make a hook. The recipe was fairly rough and ready, and there are clearly any number of variations on the theme. Put half a dozen tablespoons of plain flour into a mixer. You can add an egg if you wish, but it's not necessary. Turn the mixer on and add water a little at a time until you get a consistency stiffer than a cake mix, but slightly stickier than pastry. We added a scoop of wild bird seed, a handful of crushed peanuts, a good handful of raisins, and a small tin of sweetcorn. The major added ingredient was the seed. Don't add too many dry ingredients, or it won't hold together. We rolled it up in oiled foil, around the wire hanger, to make a sausage, and baked it at 120C in a fan oven, After an hour, we removed the foil, and left it in the low oven for another hour to dry out further. You can also use empty tin cans with both ends removed as moulds, to get a more beautiful cylindrical shape, but the slightly lumpy sausage shape is obviously effective! Mind the sharp edges if you use the tin can mould. There are any number of variations. You can use mixed corn instead of birdseed, you can add mealworms if you're feeling generous. This is much cheaper than a commercial peck a block, and very easy to make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peachachecha Posted September 14, 2011 Share Posted September 14, 2011 Thank you Melbourne 12 for your recipe, will give both a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
