Raising Chicken

Well known for their health benefits, not all marigolds are equal. Which should chickens eat for health and egg quality?

Wow! This winter has been some kind of crazy! It's way too cold! Y'all bundle up out there! We're fighting a serious case of winter boredom around here - with our chickens that is. They are plucking each other's feathers out, just because it's something to do. Not a good thing when temperatures are dropping so. I thought I would try my hand at making a boredom buster 'Flock Block'. It is the perfect way to entertain your chickens while providing them with some wholesome winter nutrition. And it's super easy to do! No need to spend $15 or more. Make it yourself. Save money, and know exactly what your feeding to your flock. Printable Recipe Ingredients: 2 cups Scratch Grains (This helps boost their metabolism and keep them warm.) 1 cup Layer Feed (I used pellets.) 1 cup Old Fashioned or Quick Oats (I used Quick Oats.) 3/4 cup Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (High in protein - to help grow back those missing feathers) 1/2 cup Cornmeal 1/4 cup Flour 1/2 cup Raisins, Dried Cherries, etc. (This time, I used a mix of Raisins, Cherries, and Cranberries.) 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon (Multiple health benefits) 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper (De-worming properties) 4 Eggs, beaten and shells finely crushed 1/2 cup Blackstrap Molasses (High in calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium) 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted (Coconut oil is best, but you can use corn or vegetable oil if you don't have any.) Method: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly spray two 8 inch cake pans with cooking oil. Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix wet ingredients in a small bowl, then pour into the large bowl. Using a spoon, mix everything together until well coated. Press half of the mixture into each baking pan. Smooth it as flat as possible. Use the back of a wooden spoon to create a small hole near the edge of your 'cake', for hanging. (see picture) The hole is not necessary if using with a swinging treat holder. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, then remove to cool. Once completely cooled, remove the block by inverting the pan. It may be helpful to run a knife around the edges first. Placement is easy. Either run a piece of twine (or small rope) through the hole, and hang your 'better than Flock Block' in your run. Or, place it in a swinging treat holder for your chickens to enjoy! The convenient size of these blocks also make them easy to store. Just pop the second one in a gallon zipper bag until ready to use. Place it into the freezer for extended storage. Happy Chickens! The kitties seem to like it too... lol Related Posts you might enjoy: DIY Swinging Treat Holder for Chickens Chicken CRACK - They go CRAZY for it! Growing Grass Inside for Small Flock Winter Treat Feeding

Jan 28, 2016 - North 40 Outfitters is a family owned and operated retailer with locations in Montana, Idaho and Washington. We outfit work and play.

5 simple steps to prevent your chicken coop becoming a fast food outlet for rats and mice.

Learn how to keep your chicken coop cool, save money on feed, and make sure your chickens lay more eggs with this great list of hacks and tips for your backyard chicken coops!

Turmeric is popular and for good reason. It contains many health benefits--but what about turmeric for your hens? Here's what it's good for and how to use it.

So you have a batch of newly-hatched chicks, but don’t know whether they’ll become hens or roosters. While it’s easy to tell the difference between the two when mature chickens strut across your yard, it’s nearly impossible to identify the gender—otherwise known as sexing—of a young chick. You won’t be able to determine with certainty whether they are cockerels (male chickens under one year old) or pullets (female chickens under one year old) until they’re at least 16 weeks old. Here’s what to look for as your chicks mature. Egg Laying Of course, whether or not a chicken lays eggs

If you're like us and don't want to use electricity in the chicken coop, or can't, this has helped to keep our chicken water from freezing!