Jenthelibrarian Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Does anyone know how to kind of 'glue' together seeds and nuts and so on to make your own chicken pecking treats? I have made seed balls for wild birds by using suet or lard, but I don't think chooks should have this much fat. And my girls are vegetarians Honey might be another possibility, but again probably not good for their teeth The shop-bought treats are expensive, considering there's just a handful of 'scratch' in them. Their ingredients seem to include something called 'cereal starch' which I assume is what sticks them together! Anyone know what this is, or how to make it? I have also seen a pecking bar treat made with molasses, but the seller warns theses are sticky and melty in the sunshine. My chooks love those treats and I do think they are good boredom busters, especially if we are away and there is no FR-ing for the weekend. I'd love to make my own, to save the pennies and to know just what went into them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amys garden Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Hi Jen Ill be really interested to read any recipes that other Hen keepers post I saw a recipie on a erican blog not so long ago if I find it I'll post it Have you tried googling homemade hen/chicken treats? Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Hi, this recipe has appeared a few times on here: You will need a stick of some sort, garden cane works well, cut a piece of cane and drill a hole near one end for hanging it up. Next collect the ingredients you want to add, mixed corn, pellets etc. Crack a fresh egg into a bowl, mix the egg with a few dessert spoons of flour & a drop of water. So that it forms a runny paste. Cut a long wide piece of kitchen tin foil. Then in the bowl that you have the mixed egg & flour, add the mixed corn etc, mix it all up so the mixed corn & pellets start to stick together. Give it a good mix so that everything is coated. Spoon the mix onto the tin foil to make a long sausage shape, you can add the stick through the middle at this stage. Then wrap the foil around the ingredients and press firmly so it sticks together to form a sausage like shape. Then put it in the oven at 120 degrees for an hour to let it dry out slowly. Check it's hard, if not leave a bit longer then let it cool and let the birds test it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 This I must try . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenthelibrarian Posted September 12, 2012 Author Share Posted September 12, 2012 Ooooh! Thanks! Will try this out asap Jen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amys garden Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Sounds good I'm gonna try that one out with the kids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Sounds great Will try it out at winter time when they are in the run more so they have something to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Brilliant, Redwing. Many thanks. I do my own doggy biscuits and now I'll be doing my own chicky biscuits too even if people think I'm going mad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
