Best DIY Flock Block Recipe: How to Make a Chicken Treat Block

Do want your chickens to love you forever? Or, offer them countless hours of wholesome entertainment? Come learn how to make healthy homemade chicken treats with our DIY flock block recipe. It’s easy to do, and gives you the ultimate control of the quality and ingredients used. The end result is far superior to any treat block you could buy! And the chickens absolutely love it.

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About Flock Block

We recently wanted to get a flock block to keep our 15 week old pullets occupied while we were away from home for a few days. However, all of the pre-made ones had added calcium for laying hens (not good for younger birds or mixed flocks) or other “supplements” and questionable ingredients we preferred to avoid. So we made our own flock block recipe, using natural ingredients we already had stocked at home.

• If you aren’t familiar, a “flock block” is like an extra large birdseed block for chickens. It’s made out of various grains and seeds, held together into a solid brick with the aid of natural binding ingredients.
  
  
• DIY flock blocks are awesome boredom busters, perfect for a slow winter day or times when your chickens can’t get out to play. They will long outlast other treats, keeping your chickens happy and entertained with something to peck at for many hours or even days.
  
  
• While all chicken treats should be offered in moderation, this flock block recipe is made primarily of chicken feed and other high-protein ingredients. Therefore, it doesn’t interfere with their nutritional needs like other treats can.

RELATED: Want to give your chickens the most nutritious food possible AND save money? Come learn how to ferment chicken feed! Plus see our comprehensive list of what can chickens eat for more safe and healthy treat ideas.

Ingredients and Supplies

Here is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to make a flock block, including some easy substitutions. These goodies are not only safe for chickens to eat, but provide some stellar health benefits as well! Our DIY flock block recipe was adapted from one shared by our friends at Scratch and Peck feeds.

To bake it, you’ll need a one-pound bread loaf pan or small glass baking dish lined with parchment paper. (We used a 1.5 pound loaf pan but it wasn’t completely full.) Or you can make a couple smaller blocks. The size doesn’t need to be exact.

• Chicken Feed. This DIY flock block recipe works really well using a whole grain feed or “mash” – like our favorite organic Scratch and Peck chicken feed. If you use a pellet or crumble chicken feed, simply swap the called-for amounts of feed and scratch in the recipe below (e.g. use 2 cups of scratch and only 1 cup of feed, instead of 2 cups feed and 1 cup scratch.)
  
  
• Scratch Grains. The addition of scratch gives your chickens some extra tempting goodies to peck at.
  
  
• Black Oil Sunflower Seeds. High in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, plain black oil sunflower seeds are a fantastic treat for chickens.
  
  
• Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats. Whole raw oats are high in antioxidants, fiber and protein, and help bulk up the chicken treat block with some healthy starch.
  
  
• Mealworms or grubs add a welcome pop of protein to the chicken treat block – and are sure to catch their eye!
  
  
• Flour (or cornmeal). Flour helps acts as a binding agent, helping to hold the block together in one solid brick. Since it’s more nutritious, we prefer to use whole wheat flour in our DIY flock block recipe – though you can use all purpose flour, bread flour, or even cornmeal.
  
  
• Unsulphured black strap molasses is a popular feed additive for chickens, and also helps bind the treat block together. Rich in antioxidants, iron, calcium and other minerals, it’s great for heart health and digestion. Yet be sure to get the right kind! Unsulphured black strap molasses is boiled down several times to become much thicker and lower in sugar compared to other types. We also use it in our ginger molasses sourdough cookies and to make compost tea.
  
  
• Coconut oil. Melted coconut oil helps to coat and bind the grains together. Coconut oil also is a great source of antioxidants, and can help aid in digestion and the utilization of nutrients in poultry. If you don’t have any coconut oil on hand, you could also use olive or vegetable oil.
  
  
• Eggs. If you have chickens, you’re likely aware that yes, they can eat eggs! In fact, they often do so in nature. They’re loaded with nutrients and protein after all. Eggs also serve as an important binding agent in this recipe.
  

Optional Spices

I’ve included a few extra healthy spices to our flock block recipe, including garlic, cinnamon, chili powder and oregano. Feel free to use just one, two, or all of them in yours!

• Garlic is excellent for chickens. It helps to boost their immune system, support healthy gut bacteria, and can even neutralize the odor of their poo.
  
• Cinnamon and chili powder also support the immune system, gut health, and overall growth in poultry. Studies show they can even serve as natural alternatives to antibiotics.
  
• Oregano is another popular natural chicken supplement. It has potent antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, and helps to improve respiratory, immune, and digestive health. Oregano even fights coccidiosis – a common chicken protozoal disease!

What about corn?

Chickens do love corn… but it also heats them up! As chickens digest corn, it raises their internal body temperature. Therefore, we purposefully avoided corn in this recipe because we often make flock blocks during the summer. Yet if you’re making one during colder conditions, feel free to use scratch that contains corn, swap the flour for cornmeal, or add a 1/2 cup of cracked corn instead of rolled oats.

RELATED: Learn 10 ways how to keep chickens cool in the summer or get tips on how to keep chickens warm in winter.

Flock Block Recipe

• 2 cups chicken feed*
• 1 cup scratch grains*
• 3/4 cup black oil sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 cup dried mealworms or grubs
• 1/2 cup flour (whole wheat preferred)
• 2/3 cup unsulphured black strap molasses
• 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
• 4 eggs, whisked

*Note: We use a whole grain mash feed. If you use pellets or crumble feed, only use 1 cup of feed and 2 cups of scratch grains instead.

Optional

• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
• 2 Tbsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper or chili powder, OR 1 tsp red chili flakes

Instructions

• Pre-heat the oven to 325°F.
  
  
• First, combine all of the called-for dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, including the chicken feed, scratch, mealworms, sunflower seeds, oatmeal, flour, dried herbs and seasonings. Mix well.
  
  
• Then thoroughly whisk together all of the wet ingredients in a separate small bowl, including the melted coconut oil, eggs, molasses, and fresh garlic.
  
  
• Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry bowl, mixing as you go. Keep in mind that the texture will be sticky and clumpy, but will not hold together in one solid mass like cookie dough (until after it bakes).
  
  
• Transfer the mixture to a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Use the back of a wide spoon or spatula to press the mixture down, packing it flat and level into the pan. It should be about 2 inches thick, though a tad thicker is okay too.
  
  
• Bake your homemade flock block on 325°F for about 35 minutes. Add 5 to 10 minutes for blocks that are 3 inches or thicker. If you break it up into two smaller pans/blocks, bake for 30 minutes instead.
  
  
• Allow the treat block to cool in the pan. It will stiffen up more as it dries.
  
  
• If you don’t give it to your chickens right away, store the flock block in the fridge and use within one week.
  

Feeding Chickens DIY Flock Block

Now for the best part! It’s time for your chickens to enjoy their new delicious homemade treat. Serve the DIY flock block on a tray or platter, or put it inside a hanging treat basket.

Our young chickens had never seen a flock block before, so they weren’t quite sure what to make of it at first. I crumbled some of the edges to show them the idea, and then they started pecking away! Since we have 14 chickens, I usually break ours into two halves (and put them on two different trays) to reduce crowding and competition.

Some treat block recipes say you can poke a hole in the block before baking, so you could theoretically hang up the block by a string. However, these things are fairly heavy! I’m not sure how well that would hold up – especially once the chickens start pecking at it. We’ve found these durable hanging treat nets work great instead.

Well friends (and feathered friends) – I hope you all enjoy this easy treat block recipe as much as our flock does. If so, it would be amazing and much appreciated if you leave a review below! Finally, please let us know if you have any questions, and have fun baking.

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Best DIY Flock Block Recipe: How to Make a Chicken Treat Block

Learn how to make healthy homemade chicken treats with our easy DIY flock block recipe. It will keep your chickens happy and entertained!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time35 minutes mins

Course: Chicken Feed

Keyword: chicken treat block, diy flock block, flock block, homemade chicken treats

Equipment

• bread loaf pan or shallow glass baking pan
• Parchment Paper

Ingredients

• 2 cups chicken feed (whole grain or mash feed) Use only 1 cup if using pellets or crumble
• 1 cup scratch grains (use 2 cups scratch if using pellet or crumble feed)
• 3/4 cup black oil sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup dried mealworms or grubs
• 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats (raw/dry)
• 1/2 cup flour (whole wheat preferred) or cornmeal
• 2/3 cup unsulphured black strap molasses
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
• 4 eggs, whisked

Optional spices

• 2 cloves raw garlic, chopped
• 2 Tbsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp dried chili powder or cayenne powder (or 1 tsp red chili flakes)

Instructions

• Pre-heat oven to 325°F.
• Combine all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl: chicken feed, scratch, mealworms, sunflower seeds, oatmeal, flour, dried herbs and seasonings. Mix well.
• Whisk together all wet ingredients in a separate small bowl: melted coconut oil, eggs, molasses, and fresh garlic.
• Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry bowl, mixing as you go.
• Transfer the mixture to a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Use the back of a wide spoon or spatula to press the mixture down, packing it flat and level into the pan. It should be about 2 inches thick, though a tad thicker is okay too.
• Bake on 325°F for about 35 minutes. Add 5 to 10 minutes for blocks that are 3 inches or thicker. If you break it up into two smaller pans/blocks, bake for 30 minutes instead.
• Allow the treat block to cool in the pan. It will stiffen up more as it dries.
• Serve to chickens on a platter, plate, or in a hanging treat basket.
• If made in advance, store in the fridge and use within one week.