Treat Time
During the warmer growing season, my flock enjoys fresh greens and vegetables from the garden nearly every day, but in winter, when fresh greens aren’t available, I make my own chicken treats. Some of these recipes provide chickens with a healthy and delicious treat perfect for molting hens and cold winter days.
PUMPKIN SEED TREAT
This healthy treat includes pumpkin seeds, and the molasses and rolled oats help boost essential vitamins and minerals lost throughout the laying season.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 neck pumpkin
• 2 tablespoons blackstrap molasses
• ½ cup rolled oats
• 1 medium-sized apple, peeled and cut into small pieces to prevent choking
PREPARATION
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a jellyroll pan with parchment paper. Cut neck pumpkin in half lengthwise. Place pumpkin face-up on the pan. Bake for 1 hour or until tender. Cool completely.
Scrape out the pumpkin and seeds into a bowl, being careful not to rip the pumpkin shell. Combine the pumpkin, seeds, molasses, oats, and apple. Fill the empty pumpkin shell with the combined mixture and serve to your flock.
Remember to pick up any remaining treats at the end of the day to avoid attracting predators to your run. Serves a flock of 10.
APPLES & PEANUT BUTTER
The following recipe provides a perfect boost of energy and protein for molting hens and makes a fun treat to chase away the winter blues. Another great thing about this recipe is that if you or someone in your family has an allergy to peanuts, you can simply use a different type of unsweetened and unsalted nut or seed butter.
This easy and fun treat serves eight birds.
INGREDIENTS
• 2 medium-sized apples peeled, cored and cut into small pieces to avoid choking
• 1 cup unsweetened and unsalted peanut butter (or other nut or seed butter) • 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
PREPARATION
Combine ingredients in a bowl. Spoon mixture into two treat square hangers. Hang on the side of the run where your flock can easily reach it.
As always, remove uneaten portions before dusk.