Have you ever had to eat the same thing day after day? Did you get tired of it? Of course you did, and if you keep chickens, you should know they feel the same about menu fatigue.
Your flock needs novel foods, including treats, to break boredom, reduce stress, and keep their energy levels up. One of my favorite spring and summertime treats that I serve to my birds are frozen corn muffins.
Theyre unbelievably easy to make, and I promise your birds will love them too. Keep reading, and I’ll tell you everything you need to know.
What You’ll Need
Whole Kernel Corn, appx. 2 cups: Fresh, frozen, or canned corn all works fine. If using frozen corn, thaw it for about 20 minutes. If canned, choose low-sodium if available and always rinse thoroughly to remove as much salt as you can.
Water: Clean, fresh water. Amount varies depending on the size of your treats. Plan on a cup or two.
Ice Cube Tray, Muffin Tin, or Other Mold: For forming the “muffins” themselves. Silicone ice trays or other molds are ideal since you can pop the treats out easily but any freezer-safe container will work fine. I do recommend smaller molds to make appropriately sized treats that your chickens will eat before they melt away. However, for larger flocks larger molds may be more appropriate
Doesn’t get any easier than this, eh? Now on to the instructions.
Instructions
Step 1: Wash corn, if necessary. If you’re using fresh corn, give it a quick rinse to remove any dirt or debris. Be sure to remove any silks or husks. For canned corn, wash thoroughly to remove excess salt and preservatives. You don’t need to wash frozen corn. Don’t skip this step; washing ensures your chickens get a healthy treat.
Step 2: Fill molds with corn. Spoon the corn kernels into your chosen molds, filling each section between ½ and ¾ full depending on the shape and size. This leaves room for water and ensures the treats hold together.
Step 3: Cover corn with water. Pour water over the corn until just over the top. Do not overfill. Expect to use anywhere from 1 to 2 Tbsp for common ice cube tray-size treats. Too little water means they treats won’t freeze solid. Jiggle or tap the mold gently to release any trapped air bubbles.
Step 4: Freeze solid. Pop the molds in the freezer. Small treats will need at least 4–6 hours, larger ones 8 or more. Freeze overnight for best results. Note that we want a hard-frozen, rock hard treat; they are more fun for chickens and hold up to vigorous pecking!
Step 5: Remove treats from molds. Pop the frozen corn muffins out of the molds. For silicone molds, just invert them. If they stick in another kind of mold, run the bottom of the tray under warm water for a few seconds to loosen them and they should pop right out.
And that’s a wrap! You’ve just made a batch of corn treats that’ll keep your flock happy, peppy and cool.
Give your flock a muffin or two on a tray or in a shallow bowl to keep it clean. Get ready to watch your birds go nuts! Store extras in a freezer-safe bag or any other container for up to 2 months.
Tips and Tricks
Change Up Your Treats: Rotate these corn muffins with other treats your birds will like. They can get tired of these too! For warm weather favorites try freezing watermelon or other melon slices or freezing peas.
Monitor Consumption and Adjust: These treats are just corn and water, but corn is very energy dense. It can be fattening! Too many too often can cause unwanted weight gain or upset your chickens’ digestion. If you want to feed more often to help them beat the heat, keep the individual treats small.
Clean Up Leftover Corn: It won’t happen often – chickens love corn – but make sure you remove any uneaten kernels after a few hours. They can spoil, grow harmful mold and attract pests like mice and rats, among other critters…
Tim is a farm boy with vast experience on homesteads, and with survival and prepping. He lives a self-reliant lifestyle along with his aging mother in a quiet and very conservative little town in Ohio. He teaches folks about security, prepping and self-sufficiency not just through his witty writing, but also in person.
Find out more about Tim and the rest of the crew here.