Apple Treats FOR Chickens

I had a big bowl of apple peels leftover from making my Cheez-It Apple Pie and couldn’t bring myself to throw them away or compost perfectly good apple peels. So I chopped them up and made homemade treats for my chickens! Sometimes I bake FOR my chickens too.

This is a variation on my Donut Treats FOR Chickens recipe. It’s like a homemade Flock Block and it’s great during the wintertime to keep the chickens busy and entertained. During the summer I give the chickens frozen treats, but when the weather cools down into winter I’m more generous with the hearty, filling snacks. Too many snacks can result in obese or overweight chickens. Chubby chickens carry their weight on their undercarriage and it’s hard to see under all that feather-floof, which can lead to illness or death. Everything in moderation and balance! Just like people.

Treats - Feed This, Not That

Chickens like meat, fruit, and veggies. Corn and scratch is a great treat but don’t feed corn during hot summers, it increases their body temp and can have a higher likelihood of heatstroke if it’s too hot. Corn is great for winter months. Cooked eggs are a good source of protein. Dairy and bread should be given sparingly, they don’t digest dairy well but yogurt has beneficial probiotics to help treat runny poops and diarrhea. No processed sugar. Nightshade plants are not good for chickens (tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes). No chocolate, caffeine, onions, citrus, apple seeds, rhubarb, avocado, dry beans or uncooked rice.

Check out this comprehensive list of what is okay and not okay to feed to chickens on Heritage Acres Market.

This recipe is similar to my Peanut Butter Apple Dog Treat recipe. If you have a good pupper at home, maybe they would like some homemade dog treats too? 

Buy Stuff

When you buy using my Amazon Affiliate link I make a small commission. Please? Thank you!

Get the Recipe

Apple Treats for Chickens

Wholesome, homemade treats for your backyard chickens using apple peels and leftover fruit.

Time to Prepare: 1 hour

Makes 1 large loaf pan

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour

• 1/2 cup rolled oats

• 1/2 cup black oil sunflower seeds

• 1 cup scratch grains

• 1 tablespoon Well-Being Herbal Supplement Blend from Faith and Farms

• 2 eggs

• Approx. 2 cups chopped apple peels, remove core and seeds

• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

• 1/4 cup coconut oil

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Stir until everything is mixed well and incorporated.

3. Grease a loaf pan with coconut oil, fill the pan with the mixture and press to compact it down. You can fill all the way up to the top, the mixture will not rise during baking. The more compressed the mixture is, the longer it will take the chickens to eat it.

4. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until golden brown around the edges. Remove from the oven and cool.

5. Take the loaf out of the pan and cool completely on a cooling rack.

6. Store in an airtight container, or in the freezer.

---

Did you make this?? Tag @bakingwithchickens and hashag #bakingwithchickens on Instagram.

Subscribe to Baking with Chickens on YouTube for new episodes and more hilarious chicken content.

Amazon link where I buy so many of my ingredients & cookware: https://amzn.to/2HOrcym