Candy Cones/Foraging Treats

Allee

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Parrots
U2-Poppy(Poppy lives with her new mommy, Misty now) CAG-Jack, YNA, Bingo, Budgie-Piper, Cockatiel-Sweet Pea Quakers-Harry, Sammy, Wilson ***Zeke (quaker) Twinkle (budgie) forever in our hearts
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.
 
I loved your process and pictorial. I think yours turned out great. My guys love those candy cones and I have some coming for them for Christmas, but I think yours are way better and more heavily coated from what it looks like. Great work.
 
Thank you so much! My birds haven't tried them yet, we'll see what they think.
 
Oh my gosh Allee! Look at that, wow.. You're amazing! :D
 
GAAASP! :11: Holy smoking pine cones, Allee!! :eek: <-- Yup, that's my face right now.

Those look absolutely scrumptious!!! What a fabulous recipe this is, how extra super thoughtful, and how lovingly you put those together - I'm floored! Also a whole lotta work, and reading your ingredient list, 'not so cheap' to make, but I'm willing to bet 100 times better and more nutritious than anything available online. :D

Please let us know what your gang thinks of them, ok? :smile015:
 
That is great !! I get off work early today. You can bet I will be picking up the pine cones in the yard. Or um Do you think a Mac will like these ?
 
These are incredible! I wish I had some pine cones!
 
Most impressive, Allee! I'm certain your flock will LOVE them! I'm looking forward to the progressive pics as your girls (and guy) proceed to utterly demolish those treats!

Curious, do they eat the pinecones themselves, as well?
 
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Awww, thanks Doc!

My flock loves pine cones. They don't eat them but Poppy will spend hours dissecting one. Even Harry enjoys pulling a pine cone apart. You should clean a few for Jolly and Maya to play with and see what they think.
 
That is great !! I get off work early today. You can bet I will be picking up the pine cones in the yard. Or um Do you think a Mac will like these ?


Yes, Christine, without a doubt! My big macs both go crazy over plain pine cones, so I know they'd go GA-GA over Allee's!!!

 
Allee, WOW! Those look amazing! Looks like I need to send Reg on a hunt for pine cones, I have GOT to try this!
 
Wendy, Sammy removed all the attached extras from his and used the candy cone for a punching bag. After he took the girl fluff off he realized it was a treat and nibbled it. Everyone else is still suspicious.

The wild birds went nuts over the leftovers.
 

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