Festive Holiday Treats for your Chickens
Delight your chickens (or the wild birds!) this winter with these simple to make shaped seed treats. All you need is some cookie cutters and a few ingredients you probably have lying around the house.
Grab a bag of bird seed or a few different kinds of seeds and nuts and you're all set!
You can use any mix of seeds, grains and nuts you wish, but if you want really festive treats, be sure to include some green split peas or pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries! I like to include some cinnamon and cayenne pepper.
Both are beneficial in the winter - for their warming and respiratory health properties.
Cracked corn
Cookie cutters
Cookie sheet
Parchment or freezer paper
Metal skewer and ribbon or twine (optional)
Melt coconut oil over low heat until liquid then remove from the heat and whisk in the cornmeal. Stir in the other ingredients until well mixed.
Lightly spray your cookie cutters with cooking spray. Line a cookie sheet with parchment.
Lay the cookie cutters on the baking sheet. Pour in your seed mixture, reserving a bit of the liquid. Some of the liquid will ooze out the bottom but that's okay.
Freeze for a few minutes until the mixture hardens a bit, then pour the remaining liquid over the top to be sure all the seeds and nuts are covered.
If you plan on hanging the treats, using a metal skewer, poke a hole in each cutter treat so that a string or ribbon can be threaded through later. Return to the freezer and freeze until firm and completely hardened.
Carefully unmold the treats from the cutters. Tie the ribbons at the top, if desired. Let sit to warm to room temperature. Then hang in your run for your girls to enjoy or offer on the ground or from your hand - and don't forget to share a few with the wild birds.
