The Poultry Keeper The Independent Forum for Poultry Keepers    FAQ   Search     Register   Log in  pecka block home made Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next          The Poultry Keeper Forum Index -> Feeding and Housing Author Message Bhindi Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 1507 Location: Rugby, Warwickshire Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 9:36 am    Post subject: pecka block home made Has anyone tried to make their own pecka block. I like the idea of these for times when you know your not able to input time with them, but as I feed organicly I would need to make it myself. What would I use to bind all my ingredients, do I bake it etc... Back to top George Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:02 am    Post subject: I've made my own fat block for wildbirds, where you just warm up suet and pour it over the seed and it sets into a solid block, But not sure a lot of suet would be good for chickens Back to top jaydee67 Moderator Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4903 Location: Shetland Islands Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:22 am    Post subject: I hang up cabbages - would that count? corn on the cob is good too. Back to top George Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:26 am    Post subject: jaydee67 wrote: corn on the cob is good too. It lasts less than a minute with my chicks, they go mad for it, Like Bhindi, I wonder if a peckablock would keep them entertained for longer Back to top Bhindi Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 1507 Location: Rugby, Warwickshire Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:37 am    Post subject: Corn on the cob, more like corn in the crop 2 seconds and its gone. I'm wanting as George says something that actually lasts, so much so thats at times that they will give up due to it being a bit like hard work. Back to top Lisa Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 3236 Location: Milton Keynes, Bucks Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 7:10 pm    Post subject: What a great idea - home made pecka blocks Can't find out what they use to stick them together though - Google turned up a blank when I looked Guess you've been there already I did notice at the pet shop today that they sell something simillar for wild birds and for rabbits (ie lots of grains stuck together) but none of these listed the ingredients either What about mixing various cereal grains and seeds with something like egg white (if you don't mind feeding it back to them) or (I'm not sure if this would work) flour and water paste - in the hope the gluten would stick the grains together like glue. A bit like papier mache with grains And them maybe drying it out in a low oven?.... I know you can do "dough art" (which you bake) and I think that gets really hard? And for hard, crunchy home made dog biscuits (which I might have made ) you bake them for 30-40 minutes or so, and then some recipes say to turn the oven off and leave the biscuits in the oven overnight to dry out further... Oooo, I can see some experimenting coming on here - I love the idea Back to top George Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 7:14 pm    Post subject: I tried the flour and water method, and although they stick together they break up very easily. (didn't try cooking it though) If you don't mind using suet then adding this would bind it together better, I wondered about adding egg but haven't tried that, Back to top Lisa Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 3236 Location: Milton Keynes, Bucks Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 7:38 pm    Post subject: Couldn't decide which would be better to try: egg white or flour. So indecision won and both went in the bowl. Plus whole wheat, safflower seed, mixed millet and flax seeds. Its in the oven!! Back to top Knobby Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 6707 Location: North Warwickshire Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 7:41 pm    Post subject: Blimey....you dont hang about......Pics please !!! Back to top Lisa Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 3236 Location: Milton Keynes, Bucks Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 7:43 pm    Post subject: No way!! You're not seeing the inside of my oven Back to top Lisa Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 3236 Location: Milton Keynes, Bucks Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 8:10 pm    Post subject: At Knobby's request, here is a pic of of my home made peckablock mark 1 (on a temporary diversion out of the oven ) I used the foil to mould it into a kind roundish large sausage shape, and stuck a skewer through the middle to give me something to hang it up with. Ten (or was it 20!? ) mins at gas 6 and its already hard! Turned it down to gas 1 (haven't decided how long for yet!?) to really dry it out all the way through - don't want it going mouldy at all. The girls will give it a thorough taste test and report back another day Last edited by Lisa on Tue Aug 09, 2005 8:41 pm; edited 1 time in total Back to top Knobby Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 6707 Location: North Warwickshire Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 8:20 pm    Post subject: Oh you are clever....when we get the results youll have to publish the finish recipe.........or make us pay for it !! Back to top AtomicRooster Joined: 20 May 2005 Posts: 989 Location: Hampshire Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 8:31 pm    Post subject: Beter than CPs DINNER Back to top Knobby Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 6707 Location: North Warwickshire Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 8:39 pm    Post subject: Ouch......thats gonna hurt when she comes online later.......when shes finished the washing up !!!!! Back to top George Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 8:50 pm    Post subject: CityChick wrote: here is a pic of of my home made peckablock mark 1 Wow, very impressive I wonder how solid it will stay? Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First         The Poultry Keeper Forum Index -> Feeding and Housing All times are GMT + 1 Hour Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next Page 1 of 3 Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group