Chicken Treats: Oat Energy Balls

Learn how to make a treat that we make for our chickens in the colder months: Oat Energy Balls. These balls are super easy to make, and full of nutrient dense foods all for our sweet chickens. 

I just love being in the kitchen creating something all the time. I find myself constantly in the room, and it has pretty much become my sanctuary for my home. So when it comes to making treats for my animals for fun, I am all over that.

The winter months are not the best time here in Ohio. Do not get me wrong, I do love the winter months, especially for hunting, but I miss the spring, summer, and fall when it’s not too cold or too wet to be outside with the animals. The chickens are not the biggest fan of the really cold weather, and miss all the sunshine the other months have to bring.

Winter is a little less fun for everyone, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try to make the best of it.

During the winter months we need to be ensuring our animals are getting optimal nutrition since many weeds and bugs are no longer alive to help with this. Chicken treats for your chickens can definitely help with this!

WHY GIVE YOUR CHICKENS TREATS DURING THE WINTER?

In the summertime, the flock is out eating bugs and weeds they find on the ground. Everything is alive, and the chickens really benefit from the summer months outdoors. During the winter though, everything is pretty much “sleeping” where the chickens do not receive as much nutrients during this time. Blessing them with nutrient filled treats really helps them be at their best even if they are not getting it from the outside world.

Also, it’s a fun way to spend time with your chickens and they LOVE them!

PURPOSE OF TREATS DURING THE WINTER

Winter treats can be fun and all, but they should serve a purpose for your chickens. These treats should be jam packed with nutrients and energy so your flock can thrive during these months since they cannot consume the bugs and weeds at this time.

MEET ABBIE FROM “THE GAL DOWN THE ROAD”

I met Abbie on Instragram, and have truly gained a forever friend! She is so sweet, loves the Lord, and is definitely one I admire for homesteading and blogging advice. Abbie has a little farm with her husband and kids in Nebraska that is so adorable. I love Abbie’s blogs so much, so make sure to check her out for yourself as well!

When Abbie asked me to do this with her, I was all on it! How fun to be able to share our chicken treats with one another, and of course to all of you.

Abbie made Suet Cakes for her Chickens that are adorable and also jam-packed with nutrition for them!

Check out her Chicken treats here.

This post contains affiliate links which means I make a small commission at no cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED

KitchenAide Mixer

Measuring Cups

Measuring Spoons

Cookie Sheets

Parchment Paper

INGREDIENTS YOU WILL NEED

1/2 Cup Coconut Oil

1/4 Cup Honey

2 Eggs (Save the Eggshells!)

1/2 Cup flour

1/2 Cup Sunflower Seeds

1/4 Cup Pumpkin Seeds

1 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1 Teaspoon Cinnamon

1 Cup Raisins

3 Cups Oats

HOW TO MAKE OAT ENERGY BALLS FOR CHICKENS

1. Turn oven to 350 degrees.

2. Add coconut oil and honey to KitchenAide Mixer. Mix ingredients until they are creamed together evenly. Add in eggs and eggshells to the bowl (you can crumble the eggshells before if you prefer, but I have found that the KitchenAide will do that for me as I mix it.)

3. Mix together flour, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, baking soda, and cinnamon. Add it into the the wet ingredients.

4. Mix together well. then add in raisins and oats. Mix once more!

5. Scrape sides to make sure it is all evenly mixed together. Rip off a piece of parchment paper and place on a cookie sheet, then use an ice cream scooper to make balls with the dough.

6. Bake for 10 minutes in the oven.

7. Let them cool for a bit and they are done! Your chickens will LOVE them!

PIN FOR LATER