Lavenders_Blue Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 Does anyone have a tried and tested peck a block recipe? We have recently built a WIR in our garden, largely to contain our Houdini hen, Pearl. Pearl is, not unreasonably, quite cross about having her freedom curtailed (she used to hop in and out of our last pen as she wanted to take herself free ranging) and is now spending quite a lot of one tantruming Lettuces hung up seem to be doing a reasonable job of keeping her amused, but they don't last long. She has a few perches and so on too, but she's not really interested in them. I thought a peck a block might last a bit longer and reduce the boredom factor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 I don't make mine, but do find the FSF large one with a hole in fab. However have had to remove temporarily as it contains molasses and just in the last week has become a wasp pecking ball! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenthelibrarian Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 I had a go at making my own hen 'biscuits' and pecking blocks, but the results were not brilliant so I haven't bothered again. The recipe I was given by another Omleteer was: Beat one egg Stir in enough flour [pref. wholemeal] to make a thick sticky paste Into this mix your choice of treats [i used mixed corn 'scratch', some crushed egg shells, a little dried fruit] Shape as desired - you can form this around a stick [eg garden cane or wooden BBQ skewer], or make biscuit shapes with a hole in for hanging. Bake in a very low oven until dried out, hard and brittle. Timing will depend on thickness of shape you made. I also tried a recipe I found via google for home-made veggie dog biscuits, which were wholemeal and oat based with added veg puree. They shaped up and baked fairly well, I made them with a hanging hole. Unfortunately my chooks decided that carrot is a vile poison and neither of them will touch it I also found these 'treats' went soft fairly quickly, due to veg content I guess, and didn't freeze well If anyone knows the secret of whatever 'glue' the commercial manufacturers use for hen treats... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKMARCH Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 I've made some blocks similar to the one above but just use pellets mixed with corn and mealworms mixed with beaten egg and sometimes a little oil, I use wire in the middle and use greased foil around the outside and squeeze hard to form large sausage shapes the foil keeps it together otherwise I've found it just falls apart and bake for an hour or two until rock hard depending on the size. Sometimes the foil sticks but usually can get it off okay how much they enjoy it depends on how much treat is it in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted September 3, 2013 Author Share Posted September 3, 2013 Thanks Will get busy baking this weekend. I cooked liver cake for the dog yesterday and am now planning to bake for the hens. Can't even remember the last time I baked a cake for human consumption Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
