Allee
Well-known member
Sometimes being cheap bites me in the behind. DrsFosterSmith has pine cone treats, I'm not great at math but their prices times six seemed pretty outrageous for a treat covered pine cone. I thought about it and decided, it can't be that tough, plus if I make my own, I can choose the ingredients. Cool, so I started looking for recipes. And pine cones.
My husband gathered the pine cones for me while biking. Only use pine cones that have not been sprayed with pesticides. There are several methods to prepare them. I poured boiling water over mine and let them soak for fifteen minutes, then drained them. They close tight when you pour water over them. I placed them in a greased glass baking pan, I used olive oil. I baked them at 200*F for half an hour, they were just starting to open back up. They will open when they are completely dry. A couple of days should do it. Bag them until you're ready to use them.
You can choose your ingredients according to your birds' taste. Oatmeal, chia seed, flax seed, the list is endless. This is what I used.
Unsalted human grade nuts
Pecans
Walnuts
Pistachios
Cashews
Almonds
Coconut, shredded, unsweetened
Pine nuts
Dehydrated fruit pieces
papaya
Pineapple
Dates
Mango
Cranberries
Mix your choice of fruits and nuts and put the mixture through a food processor until the pieces are the size you want. I used one cup of fruit and one cup of nuts.
Seeds are optional. I used seed because several of my birds are converted seed eaters, seed is a nice treat for them. You could use pellets if you prefer. I used a seed mix and added my birds' favorites. I used about 1 1/2 cups of seed to one cup fruit and nuts. Mix all the dry ingredients until well blended.
I used chamomile honey. One third cup honey to two and a half cups seed. These measurements are approximate, according to the moisture in your ingredients.
Boil honey until it reaches the soft ball stage or test with a candy thermometer 235*F -240*F.
Pour honey over your seed, fruit and nut mixture. Stir quickly and carefully, it's hot and sticky. I used a spoon to push the mixture into the pine cones. When all the cones were covered I rubbed my hands with coconut oil to mold the mixture to each cone. Back in a 250*F oven for twenty minutes to set the mixture.
I added hangers and muffin cups so I could hang them while my birds are out rather than putting them in their cages. Not a treat to have all at once. The batch I made covered six small to medium cones and one very large one. I froze the the extras in an airtight container. The hangers and decorations are not necessary, you could put the pine cone in a food dish.
I apologize for the poor photo quality. iPhones are great!
Somehow, DrsFosterSmith's prices look a lot more reasonable now.
My husband gathered the pine cones for me while biking. Only use pine cones that have not been sprayed with pesticides. There are several methods to prepare them. I poured boiling water over mine and let them soak for fifteen minutes, then drained them. They close tight when you pour water over them. I placed them in a greased glass baking pan, I used olive oil. I baked them at 200*F for half an hour, they were just starting to open back up. They will open when they are completely dry. A couple of days should do it. Bag them until you're ready to use them.
You can choose your ingredients according to your birds' taste. Oatmeal, chia seed, flax seed, the list is endless. This is what I used.
Unsalted human grade nuts
Pecans
Walnuts
Pistachios
Cashews
Almonds
Coconut, shredded, unsweetened
Pine nuts
Dehydrated fruit pieces
papaya
Pineapple
Dates
Mango
Cranberries
Mix your choice of fruits and nuts and put the mixture through a food processor until the pieces are the size you want. I used one cup of fruit and one cup of nuts.
Seeds are optional. I used seed because several of my birds are converted seed eaters, seed is a nice treat for them. You could use pellets if you prefer. I used a seed mix and added my birds' favorites. I used about 1 1/2 cups of seed to one cup fruit and nuts. Mix all the dry ingredients until well blended.
I used chamomile honey. One third cup honey to two and a half cups seed. These measurements are approximate, according to the moisture in your ingredients.
Boil honey until it reaches the soft ball stage or test with a candy thermometer 235*F -240*F.
Pour honey over your seed, fruit and nut mixture. Stir quickly and carefully, it's hot and sticky. I used a spoon to push the mixture into the pine cones. When all the cones were covered I rubbed my hands with coconut oil to mold the mixture to each cone. Back in a 250*F oven for twenty minutes to set the mixture.
I added hangers and muffin cups so I could hang them while my birds are out rather than putting them in their cages. Not a treat to have all at once. The batch I made covered six small to medium cones and one very large one. I froze the the extras in an airtight container. The hangers and decorations are not necessary, you could put the pine cone in a food dish.
I apologize for the poor photo quality. iPhones are great!
Somehow, DrsFosterSmith's prices look a lot more reasonable now.
