DIY Flock Block for Your Chickens

Making a flock block is one of those projects that takes about ten minutes and makes you feel like you’re really taking care of your chickens.

I started making these a few winters ago when I realized how much the store-bought ones cost, and how easy they are to replicate at home with things I already had on hand! Scratch grain, sunflower seeds, molasses, a few eggs from the coop. Mix it up, press it into a pan, bake it, and hang it. That’s basically it!!

The chickens go crazy for it. It keeps them busy pecking and foraging in the coop on cold days when they don’t want to be outside, which also means less boredom and less pecking at each other. Win all around.

If you’re just getting started with backyard chickens, I also have a full guide on how to incubate chicken eggs for beginners, a fun project once your flock is established.

A round, seed-covered treat hangs by a string in a coop with wood shavings on the floor. Two blurry chickens with tan feathers are visible in the background.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Saves Money: Store-bought flock blocks can be expensive, and making your own is a cost-effective way to provide a nutritious treat for your chickens.
Better Ingredients: You control what goes into it, no unnecessary fillers or preservatives, just wholesome, natural ingredients that support your flock’s health.
Fun & Easy to Make: It’s a simple recipe that doesn’t take much time, and it’s satisfying to mix up a homemade treat for your chickens.
Keeps Chickens Entertained: Hanging the block encourages natural foraging behavior, prevents boredom, and reduces pecking or aggression in the coop.
Supports Egg Production & Health: With protein, calcium, and beneficial spices, this block helps keep chickens strong, supports feather regrowth, and promotes strong eggshells.
Great for Cold Weather: The extra energy from molasses, coconut oil, and cayenne pepper can help keep chickens warm in the winter months.

A white bowl filled with a mixture of dry ingredients, including cinnamon powder, chia seeds, and oats, on a light surface with a green and white striped cloth in the background.

Recipe Tips

Pack the mixture tightly: Press the mixture firmly into the baking dish to help it hold its shape after baking. A loose pack may cause it to crumble.

Let it cool completely: Allow the block to cool for at least 2 hours before removing it from the pan. This ensures it hardens properly and won’t fall apart when hung.

Adjust the spice level in winter: Adding extra cayenne pepper in colder months can help improve circulation and keep chickens warm, as they don’t taste spice like humans do.

Make smaller, individual blocks: If you have a larger flock, consider making multiple smaller blocks instead of one big one to prevent pecking competition.

Store properly for freshness: Keep the flock block in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks or refrigerate for up to a month.

A round, homemade birdseed wreath with a string threaded through it lies on a marble surface next to a pair of black scissors, a spool of twine, and a green-and-white striped kitchen towel.

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

Chicken layer feed: The base of the block. Provides protein, vitamins, and minerals for everyday flock health.
Scratch grain: A mix of cracked corn, wheat, and barley. Gives your chickens energy and helps keep them warm in cold weather.
Sunflower seeds: High in protein and healthy fats. Good for feather condition and energy.
Dehydrated black soldier fly larvae: Rich in calcium and protein. Great for strong eggshells.
All-purpose flour: Acts as a binder to help the block hold its shape.
Ground cinnamon: Adds warmth and is a natural antioxidant. Chickens love it.
Cayenne pepper: Chickens can’t taste spice the way we do. A little cayenne helps with circulation in winter.
Crushed eggshells: A natural calcium boost. Save your shells, dry them out, and crush them finely before adding.

Wet Ingredients

Eggs: Help bind everything together. Use eggs from your own flock if you have them.
Molasses: The main binder. Holds the block together and adds trace minerals.
Coconut oil: Adds healthy fats and helps the mixture stick. Melt it before adding.

A large, round birdseed wreath with a small hole at the top for hanging, placed on a marble surface next to a green-striped cloth and a pair of scissors.

FAQ

Absolutely. The molasses and eggs are the main binders, keep those. Everything else can be adjusted based on what you have. Swap the black soldier fly larvae for dried mealworms, skip the scratch grain and use more layer feed, or add dried herbs like oregano or thyme.

Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, a flock block will keep for up to 2 weeks. Refrigerated, it’ll last up to a month. Once it’s hung in the coop, your flock will likely work through it within a few days depending on flock size.

Yes! Just bring it in or cover it if rain is expected. Moisture will cause it to soften and fall apart faster. It’s best hung somewhere sheltered, like inside the coop or under a covered area of the run.

They genuinely don’t. Chickens lack the receptors that make capsaicin (the compound in hot peppers) taste spicy to humans. It won’t bother them at all. Many chicken keepers use it in winter for the circulation benefits.

Before baking, press a greased metal straw or dowel into the top of the block to create a hole. Remove it once the block has cooled slightly but before it fully hardens. Thread twine or rope through the hole and hang it at a comfortable pecking height for your flock.

The oven is what hardens the block and gives it structure. Without baking, it won’t hold together well enough to hang. You could press the mixture into a suet cage as an alternative, no baking needed and your flock can still peck at it freely.

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C): Lightly grease a small baking dish or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Mix the dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chicken pellet feed, scratch grain, sunflower seeds, black soldier fly larvae, flour, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and crushed eggshells. Stir well to evenly distribute the ingredients.
Add the wet ingredients: Pour in the molasses and melted coconut oil. Stir until the mixture is fully coated and sticky, ensuring that the molasses binds everything together.
Shape and press into the pan: Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Use a spatula or your hands to firmly press it down into an even, compact layer.
Create a hole for hanging: Before baking, insert a greased metal straw, dowel, or the handle of a wooden spoon into the mixture near the top, ensuring it’s large enough for a rope or twine to pass through. This will create a hole for hanging the block later.
Bake for 30 minutes: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake until the mixture is firm and slightly darkened. The block should feel solid when gently pressed.
Cool and remove the hole insert: Let the flock block cool in the pan for about 30 minutes. Then, carefully remove the straw or dowel while it’s still slightly warm to keep the hole intact. Allow the block to fully cool and harden for at least 2 hours.
Add a rope and hang: Once fully hardened, thread a sturdy rope or twine through the hole and tie a secure knot. Hang it in the chicken run for your flock to enjoy!

2 Comments

Melanie says:

January 11, 2026 at 6:50 pm

Thebrecipe does not indicate how much scratch grain or the pellet feed. How much of each? Thank you.

1. Caitlin says:
  
  January 11, 2026 at 8:22 pm
  
  Thank you! It’s added! 2 cups scratch grain and 1 cup of layer feed 🙂