Making honey treat sticks w/out killing someone

[Flyte]

How is this done?
Every recipe I've found was different but most just seem to come down to add different nuts/seeds/dried fruit/cereal. Mix with Honey or Honey & Sugar until the right consistency. Apply to stick. Bake.
Well. What the heck is the right consistency? I made the absolute biggest mess out of the kitchen trying to make these things. No matter what, they wouldn't stick to the stick! Only my hands, the spoon, my pants, my hair & the dog! I finally just put the stupid stick on the tray and tried to stick as much goey mess around it as I could before baking.
The monstrosities are still cooking now.
I'm assuming they are just going to crumble apart since I couldn't pack the stuff on tightly, any attempt to do that left me covered with the stuff and swearing.
I tried several different amounts of honey. Is the sugar that important? I didn't want them to be too sweet for the birds.
*arggghhhhhhhhhhh*

 

[birdcrazy]

let us know how it goes it would be soo cool to be able to make them.

 

[Peta]

O my you had me in stitches here I can just imagine you doing all of that.

Its gotta be kinda like a goo, so you can stick the stick in and it just sticks (well thats how mine are ) but then maybe I'm doing it really wrong.

 

[Flyte]

Ok so I was cooking them and cooking them and I was getting SO frustrated because they were still gooey. My boyfriend called and I complained and he said uhhhh.. it's honey and it's hot.. Of course it's gooey.
DUH! I feel.. extremely dumb.
So I took them out and they have been cooling and have hardened up quite a bit. Of course, I gave Tyler a tiny piece to taste and he spat it back at me and then went and ate a piece of pellet! lol. I can't win!

 

[Peta]

Sarah, I'm really in stitches now, didn't realise you were still cooking them.

 

[Flyte]

Well. They came out wonderful.. exactly what I wanted.
That is, if what I wanted was to arm my Macaw with a potato gun that shoots crazy glue encrusted potatoes extreme distances.

 

[Deanna]

Oh Sarah, I too am in stictches! Forgive me, I am not laughing at you, but at the gooey situation!! I've never tried to make those ... but I'm wondering can you very slightly butter or oil (or even wet with COLD water) your hands as you are handling the goo trying to get it on the stick?

Just a shot in the dark

 

[Flyte]

Deanna, go right ahead and laugh at me I must admit I try for humor in all that I do, posts included and If I have made someone laugh, I'm happy!
I will not ever be making these again for the rest of my life. Ever. I mean it.
My Grey doesn't even like his!
If I did though, I would probably try your suggestions or maybe put flour on my hands to make them less attractive to the honey. Maybe putting some honey on the stick would make it work better also. But, since I'm NEVER DOING THIS AGAIN, I guess I'll never know
I'll try making them some cookies, instead!

 

[TexDot33]

Not exactly sure that flour would work in this instance ... you aren't dealing with a DRY substance (like you would be in a dough situation) I think the flour would only absorb the honey, resulting in a bigger, messier, mess!

 

[Peta]

You could cut down on the honey, just add it little by little, until you get a thick consistency.

You really have given us all a laugh and I don't mean laughing at you, but with you. Then to find out that Tyler doesn't even like them.

 

[pheobus]

:18::18::18::18: Oh Sarah! Never mind !

You can still buy them!

 

[indigo]

What about using popsicle molds? They usually even have a plastic stick thing. Pack those with the mixture and then stuff the stick handle thingy in (or a wooden popsicle stick of course). Pop in the fridge and voila. Just a thought.

Edit: Maybe put a fine thin coating of peanut oil so they can slip out easier.

 

[Peta]

Oh doh, I have those, yet I make up some kind of tube and put them in that.

Heck if brains were dynamite I wouldn't have enough to blow me up, sometimes.

 

[indigo]

anytime.

 

[Deanna]

Oh doh, I have those, yet I make up some kind of tube and put them in that.

Heck if brains were dynamite I wouldn't have enough to blow me up, sometimes.

ROFL!!! Don't worry, hon, me neither, me neither!

 

[Christy]

This post is too funny I'm sorry that your experiment did not go well...and then they didn't really like them. Maybe you can buy them....less time and trouble....and frustration

 

[Keupi]

Year's ago I bought this great 'parrot food cook book' that came with an adorable cookie cutter (I think it's still available). Well, Keupi enjoys playing with cookie cutters but I have yet to make anything from that book he will eat.

Though... anything I eat... different story!

There is something, though, I make that involves those ingredients. I stopped with the molding into sticks/shapes and do them like you would make Rice Krispy Treats.

I use plain cooked Quaker Oats or Gerber's oatmeal, honey as a, um, sticker (sorry), and then add pureed veggies or fruits. Then, depending upon whether the veggie/fruit was more starchy or or normal, bake or freeze. With a starchier one, bake in a pan at 375 until crisp. Let cool, then flip and break into pieces. With less starchy ones, pour mixture into ice cube trays, freeze, and defrost in fridge the night before, then break.

I hate to say it, but after the pet food contamination, and the fact that Keupi will try anything once, I've started him back onto mostly natural, but people foods. It's just me, but I've been through a poisoning (zinc) with him already so I've become a bit creative in the kitchen regarding his food. And, I must admit... some of my concoctions are mighty tasty...

 

[Flyte]

Oh god, poor little Keupi. (how do you pronounce that?) I went through a really bad zinc poisoning with an umbrella cockatoo and nearly lost her.. thank god for the Cornell Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

I will try baking some treats for them.. as long as theres no seeds I don't mind using the honey! lol

 

[Keupi]

I say the same thing about my vet regarding Keupi and the zinc. We actually ruled out poisoning initially because the 'usual' suspects weren't there. It wasn't until I spoke with my old pet-sitter (I moved states and she wouldn't move with me - even with bribes), when she mentioned metals. The zinc sources were in front of us but the connection wasn't made. My vet, now, runs metals as part of any blood test.

Oh - point of note - metals tests, even as part of routine care, must be specifically asked for at the point of test! It doesn't require any additional blood to be taken in fids (not sure for other animals). It costs between $75 and $125 more, but anyone whose been through this knows it's money well spent. Metals accumulate in the liver, kidneys and pancreas of fids. If you can catch them before they reach toxic levels, you can save them from permanent effects.