Suet Block for Backyard Chickens

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Making homemade suet blocks for our backyard chickens has been on my to-do list for a while. When I opened this last bag of layer crumbles, I was so disappointed. It had so much powder in it. Instead of throwing it out, I thought this will go great in a suet block. So I got busy.  

With the cooler weather approaching, these are great treats for winter. I added all my girls’ favorites. 

• Hen scratch
• Mealworms
• Oatmeal
• Flax seed
• BOSS

I used coconut oil as the base. I always have this around for first aid or soap making. Coconut oil has many great health benefits including immune system support, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, increased blood flow and is also good for digestion.

The only downside is coconut oil melts at 77 degrees Fahrenheit (and today we reached 80 degrees). 

You can use lard or tallow which will maintain a solid state. Lard starts to melt at 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Some people also use bacon grease. We don’t eat bacon that often and when we do our dogs get the fat as a treat on their dog food. 

Why Give Suet as a Treat? 

During the winter months, your birds are burning extra calories trying to stay warm. The fat in the suet will help provide some additional calories. You can also add herbs or crushed eggshells for medicinal benefits.  

Suet is a great boredom buster. Hang it in a suet basket and your birds will enjoy it for hours. 

What ingredients did I use when making homemade suet? 

• Hen scratch – corn raises body temperature when being digested 
• Flax seeds – high in Omega 3’s
• Oatmeal – extra fiber 
• BOSS – (black oil sunflower seeds) high in protein
• Mealworms – a favorite. Once they see the mealworms, they don’t hesitate to dig in. 

After mixing the dry ingredients together, I added 2 cups of melted coconut oil. I placed it in an 8×8 pan lined with aluminum foil and then put it in the refrigerator to cool. The next time I may use a mold or muffin tins.

You can put anything in your suet block for your backyard chickens but avoid fresh fruit. The fresh fruit will spoil and become rancid. Dried fruit is a great alternative. You can also add your favorite herbs or garlic powder. Some people swear by cayenne pepper (although I haven’t tried it). 

Only put out what your chickens will eat. If you can place it where wild birds can’t get to it, that’s even better since they tend to carry diseases that can be transferred to your chickens Pick up any remaining suet so you don’t attract rodents or predators.

Although a suet block is great as a treat just remember your birds still need their layer feed.