I realize my chickens have no idea if it’s Valentine’s Day or not, but what chicken doesn’t love a special treat now and again? Really, we’re a lot like chickens! Ha! Valentine’s Day or not, getting a special treat is fun and makes us feel loved.
I was busy in the kitchen today preparing these heart-shaped treats for my girls when one of our kids walked in and made sure I was planning on making him a Valentine's treat, too! I offered him a scratch and mealworm-filled heart, but he declined. I guess I’ll have to make the kids and my wonderful husband something as well! Whatever your take on Valentine’s Day is, always look for a reason to celebrate. It makes life so much sweeter!
Annie’s Sweetheart Chicken Treats
Dry Ingredients
3 cups scratch grains
1 ½ cup flax seeds (I used ground and it worked fine)
½ cup flour
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup dried mealworms
A couple of shakes of cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
¾ cup blackstrap molasses
½ cup coconut oil
5 eggs (crush the shells and throw them in there, too)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x13 brownie pan with parchment paper. Mix the dry ingredients together. Then, mix in the wet ingredients. Press the mixture into the pan and bake for 45 minutes. Take it out, pull the whole thing with the parchment paper out and place it on a cutting board. Using a larger-sized heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out hearts. I also used a straw to poke a hole near the top. Carefully place them on a drying rack and let them cool completely. When completely cooled, thread a string through the hole and tie it up in your coop!
These little treats are healthy and also serve as a boredom buster for your flock!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
--The Wing Lady