Similar to Avi-Cake texture

[Ribbit21]

I'm looking for something similar in texture to Avi-Cakes. I don't normally feed them, but I had a sample left over from a fair. Marshall seemed to really like the texture--granola like, a bit sticky, and in stick form. I know there are recipes for stuff like that, but I'm looking for something I can just buy. I want something healthy my pet sitter can give him easily through the cage bars.

[Ribbit21]

hmmm...no ideas? Marshall says he won't eat the pet sitter, but I think Jasper might give him some bad ideas.

Ok, forget it being healthy. I can go with junk food. Just something yummy so they can associate good things with the pet sitter. I'll pick up some avi-cakes for this short weekend trip, but I have a 12 day long trip coming up in August and will need more variety.

[wonderb]

I'm quite sure the only thing that will give avicakes that texture is sugar, so there's a limit as to how healthy they could be. You could look up chewy granola bar recipes made with honey or brown rice syrup and make bird-appropriate substitutions for the dry ingredients.

[Mizzely]

I've made some "homemade nutriberries" before that, with honey, you can make them pliable and sticky I don't know of anything that you could buy (other than avicakes) that would have that texture. I will see if I can find the link when I am home

[wonderb]

What about going to a health food store or whole foods and looking at their powerbars and granola bars? He might like something like a larabar, which is sweet and sticky thanks to dates.

[Kathy N]

A warning about "honey" from China. There is a huge influx of this product. It is either coming in labeled as rice fructose syrup, or as "honey" from China. When it gets here the labels are being removed and replaced with labels stating HONEY made in the USA. So labeling is no way to be sure of what you are getting. Some large supermarkets have been shown to be carrying the chinese counterfeits. Testing has shown that Trader Joe's has consistently been selling real honey, and this is not an endorsement of that store, only what I have heard. The only way to be sure is to get it from a local beekeeper, or beekeepers association. When it comes to honey, buyer beware!

[wonderb]

A warning about "honey" from China. There is a huge influx of this product. It is either coming in labeled as rice fructose syrup, or as "honey" from China. When it gets here the labels are being removed and replaced with labels stating HONEY made in the USA. So labeling is no way to be sure of what you are getting. Some large supermarkets have been shown to be carrying the chinese counterfeits. Testing has shown that Trader Joe's has consistently been selling real honey, and this is not an endorsement of that store, only what I have heard. The only way to be sure is to get it from a local beekeeper, or beekeepers association. When it comes to honey, buyer beware!

Yep, that's why it's best to buy local raw honey. That's all I use, and it is delicious!

[Mizzely]

I also only use raw, local honey for the same reasons

[Ribbit21]

I think I'll try making my own for the trip in August. I should be able to pick up some local honey this weekend. For the short trip coming up I think I will check out whole foods for some granola bars. Thanks guys!