Corn is an easy and cost-effective food to feed chickens during summer months, providing essential nutrition as well as cooling benefits.
Frozen treats can provide chickens with something fun to occupy their time when confined in their coop or run, and prevent boredom from leading to unruly behaviors like pecking and picking at others.
Contents
1. Watermelon Slushies
Refresh and cool down this summer with this easy frozen watermeon slushies recipe! Only three ingredients are needed and it will keep your body hydrated all summer long – making this ideal for children as well as adults alike.
This delectable slushy is the perfect treat to sip at any pool party or just on hot summer days! Feel free to adapt the recipe as desired; add additional flavors such as lemonade or vodka (rum, tequila and vodka work well!) for extra flair.
To make a slushy, you will require two items – a large blender and baking sheet. To achieve an ideal consistency, it is key to use a powerful blender in mixing fruit with ice; otherwise you risk an uneven mix and may add sweetener as desired or herbs like mint or basil for an added zest!
2. Frozen Corn-on-the-Cob Popsicles
Corn is a favorite food among backyard chickens and they will love frozen corn treats too! However, your chicks may need to wait some time before enjoying this frozen treat as sweet corn contains lots of phytate that is difficult for baby chicks to digest. Aiming for week 4 or later is ideal when introducing this tasty treat to them.
This refreshing treat is easy and quick to prepare, providing hours of fun-filled entertainment while adding deliciously cool nutrition. Feel free to customize it according to your own tastes with cinnamon, brown butter or even Mexican-elote-inspired lime and chili powder! For extra flavour and health benefits you could even throw in some berries or herbs like mint.
Place treats in an ice cube tray or small molds and freeze overnight. Serve these frozen delights to your chicks at their coop or designated feeding area and watch as they eagerly peck away at these refreshing frozen delights! Keep their water levels up while staying hydrated as well!
3. Frozen Corn Treats
Corn is an enjoyable treat for chickens, making them feel refreshed in summer months. But too much corn can overheat them during hotter spells; as its oil- and fat-rich content can create excess body fat in birds. Therefore, its consumption should be done sparingly.
Frozen treats can come in handy here. You can create them using an assortment of fruits and veggies, grains or meats; for instance a healthy casserole could include both sweet and savory ingredients like corn and bacon; while another option would be Southern succotash which features vegetables such as tomatoes and okra to keep your chickens cool.
Making frozen mealworms, a treat beloved by chickens, is another fun snack option. Simply combine mealworms with water and freeze in ice cube trays or small molds before offering to your flock as a delicious treat! When offering them outdoors in direct sunlight they may overheat quickly so be careful.
4. Frozen Chicken Pops
Frozen popcorn chicken shares many characteristics with nuggets, and Sporked managing editor Gwynedd Stuart thinks Foster Farms’ version “tastes closest” to what would be found at a restaurant. These bite-sized pieces don’t quite measure up to popcorn size but do feature breading that resembles Buffalo sauce flavor – perfect for quick meals on the go or adding an appetizer platter for parties – simply heat carefully so they remain crunchy!
