Mealworm Munchies

This summer, make some mealworm morsels for your flock. These treats consist of two ingredients: beef suet and dried mealworms.

Purchase suet at your supermarket’s butcher counter. Find dried mealworms at wild-bird or farm-supply stores or in the classifieds of this issue.

For best results, use a silicon mold shaped like a rectangular bar, as you can release the treats by simply pushing up on the bottom of the mold.

Render the suet in a sauce pot over medium heat, stirring continually to ensure its creaminess. Once all the suet is melted, add the dried mealworms, blending carefully to keep the mealworms as intact as possible. Remove from heat and ladle into the molds.

Sprinkle several mealworms over the top of each bar, gently pressing them in. Allow the filled molds to cool completely at room temperature, then place the molds into your refrigerator and chill for 15 to 30 minutes. This brief chilling helps with the unmolding of the bars, since the suet will soften when handled.

Avoid placing the molds directly into the refrigerator, as this will give the suet a grainy consistency. Wrap each suet bar individually in plastic wrap and keep chilled in an airtight container until you’re ready to offer these chicken treats to your flock.