Some Recipes for Treating Your Birds
By Sherril Steele-Carlin
Dogs and cats get all the attention! However, there are some great recipes for homemade bird treats, too. Making your own bird treats is healthier for your pet, because they won't get any preservatives or other additives they don't need.
Bird Biscotti
- 1 cup commercial bird pellets or feed mix
- 1/2 cup cornmeal
- 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
- 1 cup almonds
- 2 Tbsp. wheat grass
- 2 Tbsp. powdered cuttlebone or eggshell
- 4 eggs
- 2 jars carrot baby food (2-4 ounces)
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Add commercially prepared bird pellets or food mix to blender container, along with almonds and wheat grass. Blend for several seconds until all ingredients have been reduced to crumbs or coarse powder. The almonds will supply a small amount of moisture. If necessary, stop and stir the mixture for a more even blend.
Pour bird pellet mixture into large mixing bowl. Add cornmeal, flour, and powdered cuttlebone or eggshell. Mix well by stirring until all ingredients are consistent and fully blended.
Add eggs and baby food to mixture and mix well, either by hand, or using an electric mixer on medium speed. Mix for several minutes, or until mixture begins to form a dough. Dough should be thick and easy to shape with your hands. If dough seems too sticky, gradually add more flour as needed.
Grease cookie sheet margarine, oil, or non-stick cooking spray. Form the dough into a "loaf" measuring 9-inches long, 2-inches wide, and about 1-inch high.
Place loaf on prepared cookie sheet. Bake for about 20-30 minutes, or until loaf is firm and slightly golden.
Remove from heat and allow to cool to the touch. Once loaf is cool to the touch use a sharp knife to cut diagonally into slices. Make these slightly smaller than human biscotti, about 1/2-inch wide is fine. You may also wish to cut each biscotti in half along the middle to make each biscotti only half as long.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Bird Gorp
- 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
- 4 1/2 cups cornmeal
- Raisins or sunflower seeds (hulled)
Mix first four ingredients well.
Add some raisins and sunflower seeds and pack the mixture into a suet holder or onto a pinecone, and then hang in the garden for the birds to enjoy.
Broccoli Bird Pop
- 1 or 2 stalks broccoli, fresh or frozen
- Honey
- Bird Seed
Spread the honey on the broccoli, and then sprinkle a little bird seed on it (not a lot).
Serve to your bird.