That’s what the farm crew had for breakfast one morning this week! The day dawned at zero degrees. While I know the chickens and guinea hens can survive this cold, I still feel bad for them! I decided to cook a big pan of oatmeal to help warm them up, and because oats are healthy for them. Luckily there is always a big bag of organic oats in our pantry since they are the basis for all of our homemade dog treats. I added some cinnamon and coconut oil to make it even better. Oats are full of protein, vitamins and nutrients, and cinnamon can benefit the birds’ respiratory and mucus membrane health. Coconut oil can boost their immune system, and it’s even said it can help increase egg production!
All of those ingredients can benefit farm dog Luke’s health as well, and while he’s not stuck out in the cold, he’s been stuck inside missing walks due to the bitter cold, so he deserved a special treat. He got the first few spoonfuls, once it had cooled some, while I took the rest outside and split it into four bowls for the birds. Unfortunately, the birds weren’t quite as excited about it as I’d hoped they’d be. They weren’t all interested; though many of them did pick at it throughout the day.
When I went out later, two bowls were about empty, and the other two had frozen solid oatmeal in them (the temperature never even reached 20 degrees that day)!
It was a much bigger hit with farm dog Luke, who had cleaned his bowl and then happily licked both the spoon and the pan when I came back in.
This farm girl didn’t partake herself, I’ve never liked oatmeal! I love the taste of oats, and anything else made with oats, but there’s something about the mushiness of oatmeal that does not appeal to me. 🙂
Who likes oatmeal on a cold winter’s morning in your household?
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Oatmeal is a great way to warm up.
I was thinking you’d end up with frozen oatmeal! I love oatmeal, after it’s been combined with brown sugar, butter, eggs, flour, maybe some raisins, and baked into small (or not so small) round disks. Hee hee. But I’m with you on disliking the mushy warm bowl of oatmeal glop.
Is that like a granola bar? I’ve been wanting to try to make homemade ones! 🙂
I like steel cut oats, with ginger, cinnamon and a touch of cloves and I add some coconut or MCT oil, and maybe some protein powder or collagen powder to boost the nutritional value…and the steel cut oats while needing a longer cooking time are not nearly as mushy, in fact they are a wee bit crunchy!
I sometimes get headaches when a storm is approaching, low pressure seems to trigger them. And wind too…there are good homeopathic remedies and herbal ones too, that help to mitigate migraines.
Oh, I might have to try the steel cut oats then! I think I even have some in the house. I had read the steel cut ones were better for dogs and for a while I did make those for Luke.
Yes, low pressure can trigger my headaches too, I haven’t really noticed that wind does but now I’ll pay attention to that too. I tried a lot of different things in the past, but not a lot of herbal remedies, I may have to look into some of that again.
So cleaver, would of never thought of warm oatmeal for the chickens. What a great idea for all!
Thank you! I try to come up with ideas to help them through the long winter here!
I LOVE oats. Even just plain (with salt). And I’m addicted to bath and body products that contain oats.
I haven’t tried a lot of those products myself, but I know oats are good for your skin too. I mostly prefer mine in cookie form though, LOL.
That is the sweetest thing I’ve heard all week! I used to eat Cream of Wheat but not a big oatmeal fan either.
Ha, my mother used to try to get us to eat Cream of Wheat too – that was definitely a no-go!! 🙂
All of your animals are so lucky to have you pampering them. I’m so glad that Luke loved his oatmeal so much!
Thank you! I’m sure other people’s birds get spoiled even more than ours, but I do try. 🙂
One thing I love so much about Luke is that he is pretty easy to please!
I would have thought the birds would have loved it too. The Dad has oatmeal at least 5 days a week!
Oh, your Dad must be really healthy then, it’s so good for everyone! In the end the birds did eat it all. I think they might have liked it better after it froze. LOL
Have never tried the dogs on oatmeal, although i have it for a warm supper sometimes.
Maybe you’ll try sharing some of that supper with them next time you have it!
Who knew chickens and hens could eat oatmeal? We didn’t!
You might be surprised at all the things they can eat!
Yum!! We love oatmeal. Matilda follows Mama around when her gets it all ready so she doesn’t furget her wants some. BOL Mama has also been making these oatmeal protein balls which her drops some crumbs sometimes and I gobble them up cause they are dewicious!!
xoxo,
Matt & Matilda
I would not have expected cats to like it either! Maybe your Mom puts milk in it? I need to look into those protein balls, that might be something I would like! I just printed out a basic recipe for granola that I want to try.
YUM YUM YUM YUM Love Oatmeal on a cold winter’s morn. Woo Hoo! We’re on our way to the store. Thanks for reminding me. Have a great day! hugs
We’re happy to give you a good idea!! 🙂
Mama enjoys oatmeal with fruit…apples, pears and even dates. Us…not so much BOL!
xoxo,
Rosy, Jakey & Arty
Oh, Luke probably would like some fruit in his now too! 🙂
Happy Wordless Wednesday. We had some oatmeal this morning for breakfast it was delicious. But Luke there is messing around with getting every last drop of goodness. Thanks for sharing the lovely photos. Have a wonderful rest of your day.
Luke does not believe in letting anything go to waste. 🙂
I made oatmeal for my supper twice last week. That is good that the hens like it.
That’s s nice simple supper and perfect for the cold winter evenings too!
The Dr. Harvey’s Canine Health base mix that I use to make Ducky’s meals has a consistency very similar to oatmeal. And she LOVES it. I like oatmeal, too, as long as I have dark brown sugar and fruit of some kind to mix in with it.
Interesting that the birds didn’t care much for the oatmeal. Oh well. At least Luke loves it. 😊 And Ducky and I love Luke. ❤️
Luke sends love right back to you and Ducky!! ♥
In the end the birds did finish all the oatmeal. I had set what was left that was frozen out in the sun to thaw it so I could throw it away, and when I went back, it was all gone! LOL. Guess they liked it better cold (so much for warming them up).
What a great idea. I think I’ll make some up for Elsa. Funny how the chickens were less enthusiastic than Luke.
I used to make it more often to add to Luke’s meals, but I had forgotten how much he loves it.
I eat oatmeal several times a week for breakfast. I like it with peanut or almond butter, cinnamon, and honey. My parrots like it too, and I absolutely must share with them. The dogs like to lick the bowl. It is a bit with everyone except my husband and the cats!
I don’t think my hubby would partake either. Someone in the comments above said their cat liked it too!
It’s so fun to make food that we can share with the animals.
I have two cookbooks for making food that both my parrots and I would like. The only cookbook I have that will yield food my cats, dogs, and I would like is the BBQ book!
That’s funny! It makes me picture you standing in front of your grill surrounded by dogs and cats watching. LOL
Oh, yes. I am quite popular when I grill! They drool and watch.
You and I feel the same way about oatmeal. Love oats in everything else, but not that mushy oatmeal.
Luke is such a handsome pup. Tell him that I love him.
Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday. Extra scritches to Luke. ♥
I do love a bowl of granola with milk in the morning, but I have to eat it quick before it gets too soft. LOL
Luke says he loves you too! ♥
our dad is a fan… but we say… nooo thanks LOL
Your Dad is probably happy there’s something that he gets all to himself. LOL
Mom will eat oatmeal made with water, some cinnamon and fruit, but not the cooked stuff with milk. We all eat the same thing no matter what the weather, and Mom has her ice water all the time. A cold family, I guess. Funny the birds didn’t finish their portion.
In the end they finished it – they seemed to like it better when it was frozen solid and they could peck at it. LOL. Maybe they like the cold like your family!
I have ice water all the time too, and we’ll even eat ice cream in the winter which some people think is weird!
I enjoy porridge in the winter which I assume is the same thing.
The chickens must have wondered what you were giving them. Ours would never eat something different until they had stared at it from every angle, and then waited to see who would be the first brave one to try it.
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Oh, you’re so right….that’s exactly what they did! But once one is brave enough to jump in, they all have to get involved! LOL
Oatmeal is so yummy with milk and brown sugar!
I’ve never heard of citrus leading to migraines before. You learn something new every single day.
You wouldn’t believe some of the odd things that can trigger migraines – and it’s really hard to figure out sometimes which is frustrating. It took me a long time to finally figure out that onions trigger it for me. I love onions and cook with the all the time. Now I try to use scallions more which they say are not as bad.
What makes it even more difficult is that it doesn’t always happen, just sometimes, or if a bunch of different triggers pile up (it can be weather and simply changes in routine). I don’t want to go on and on about migraines but sadly, I sure could!