Forage Cakes?

[gel2727]

I'm looking through the McMurray catalog online and they have something call a Forage Cake. This just looks like a big suet to me. Is it basically the same thing? Can chickens eat regular suet?

 

[ranchhand]

I give mine lard or beef fat cakes in the winter. I make them myself, so I can control what goes in them. Usually some scratch, grit, cornmeal, bird seed- just whatever I have on hand.
The chickens love them.

I don't do it in the warmer months, too fatty! And they melt here in SC.

 

[kingmt]

Sorry I can't answer your question but thank you for posting it because you tough me something. I had never heard of this.

 

[mechagrue]

Funny, I had the opposite question, "I've read about forage cakes, but where do I buy them?" I wondered if anyone had tried them.

I read about forage cakes in one of my chicken books ("How To Raise Chickens," Christine Henrichs). It has a FULL PAGE devoted to singing the praises of forage cakes. Seriously, I triple-checked the article looking for "paid advertisement."

"Forage Cakes are essentially giant granola bars, formulated as nutritional/behavioral supplements for chickens and other fowl. Used as directed, Forage Cakes will help captive birds better utilize their entire diet."

They are made with a higher quality set of ingredients compared to regular chicken feed, so they will digest better - so that the chickens need less food. They're also less messy, and give the birds something to peck. "Embedded treats such as nuts, seeds, grains and flower petals encourage natural foraging behaviors, which is highly stimulating for confined chickens."

My guess is that the forage cakes would be awesome for battery/commercial hen houses. But surely our backyard chickens get plenty of nutrition, treats, and entertainment. And without having run the numbers, I'm going to guess that forage cakes cost at least 10x more than regular chicken feed.

 

[gel2727]

I think they'd be nice for a treat once in a while. I saw them online at McMurray, and I also saw them in my local Agway. They are kind of expensive, which is why I was asking if they could eat suet (its so cheap). I have a few suets around, but when I put them out for the birds either the squirrels eat it all, or my cats are there waiting for the birds to come. So I figured, hey, maybe I can just give them to the chickens.

 

[johncampanelli]

I just got an email that these forage cakes are on sale at McMurray

http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/weeklyspecial.html

and was wondering if they might be nice for the girls during the brutal winter months when free ranging in two feet of snow is impossible.

What do you do when you make your own, Ranchhand? Do you bake them?

Do you have a recipe?

Thanks!

 

[Camelot Farms]

I sell 'forage' cakes on my website and mini-muffins for bantams and serama

My chickens adore them!!

www.camelot1999.webs.com

 

[fldiver97]

There was a recent thread on 'homemade purina flock blocks'here.
Folks discussing these blocks and some ideas on how to make your own:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=111647

 

[Sallyintucson]

My chickens love forage cakes. Since I only have three, I buy them in the smaller size so they'll last longer. Keep in mind that these are treats, so they do not replace a regular diet. (It says so on the package.) My girls love them!