chicken activities

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clucking chicks

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Please can anyone suggest some ideas to keep my chickens occupied and stop them getting bored in their run?
I have tried hanging CD's and cabbages / lettuces for them to peck at but they really are not interested. They love dust baths and scratching around but any other ideas would be gratefully received!

Thanks!
 
We built them a tower so they can get up high and put loads of branches coming off. Then we hang treats or put some at the top so they have to climb about. Mine seem to enjoy it :)
 
Something to climb on and additional perches. Some seem to be entertainable, others no. If they are not doing any harm to one another, they still will be having a much better life than in a battery cage.
 
I hung a red cabbage up once. When I went back an hour later they were all stood around the edge of the run just staring at it. Think they thought it was a dead something! I removed it and replaced it with a green cabbage which they ate. They won't touch lettuce or carrots.
Try feeding them mash sometimes instead of pellets. The little bits keep them occupied as it takes so much longer to peck up enough to fill them. Ours prefer mash to pellets but it is a bit time consuming to prepare.
 
I stuck a large mirror in with them, which is an idea i got from Chester zoo, they put the mirror in with the flamingos so they think they are a large flock, the chickens just could not work out where the others went when they looked around the side.
Pete
 
I too am looking for ways to keep my girls entertained as winter approaches and they are spending more time confined to the run, which is now standing on paving slabs and bark and they don't have grass to scratch around in anymore.

I tried a CD, they paid no attention to it whatsoever. I tried hanging broccoli. It didn't keep them amused for long, the heads had gone with in a couple of hours and then they got the stem off the string and finished that off in not very long! I am thinking about getting one of those peck block things, but don't know if it's worth the money, I guess the only way to find out how long it'll last my four, is to buy one and see! I saw one website selling chicken boredom buster packs that contains cuttlefish bone. I'd never of thought of giving that to chickens, I'd have thought it would contain too much salt unless pet shops remove the salt before they sell them. We are also in the process of covering part of the run so that we can make them a bigger dust bath.
 
you can give them layers mash dry, takes alot longer for them to get their fill so keeps them busy.
 
My very kind neighbour gave me 2 huge home grown lettuces that had bolted and my girls spent the morning pecking at them, tearing them to shreds and ripping them appart. Not much left tonight but 2 very happy girlies!!
 
They will have enjoyed this, but watch out for runny poos tomorrow! I find if i give mine more greenstuff than they are used to, it can have unfortunate effects on the bowels. Also, if they're filling up on loads of greens thery haven't got any room left for their nice nourishing pellets. They won't have come to any harm from their lettuce binge, but maybe next time, save some for the next day or two!
 
They should sleep well tonight as the old name for lettice was sleep wort !
 
The peck-a-blocks can contain insects as well which they might prefer... it does take time for them to get used to any new food though. I have used some of the insect treats scattered around in odd places to get them foraging.

Have a look at these: Chicken Treats
 
Could get a half pint of white maggots from a fishing shop. Ours absolutely love them. We gave them a lot last year when they were moulting as they are a big protein shot. But they are rather expensive as a regular and they haven't had any this year. They turn to casters in 3 days unless kept in the fridge and turn to slime unless well ventilated so best feed all to them same day.
 
My dad gets my hens a few "maggies" as my girls call them, as a treat when he Gird up the fishing shop. My hens watch them rolling and squirming....then go mad for them!
 
Hi, I've found a suspended garden bird feeder, with the perches removed, (the tower type with small half round holes) and filled with mixed corn really works, they can get their beaks into the holes ok, they also learned that by pecking at the tower body, the corn spills out. I can hear can them pecking as I write this
 
Bought some white maggots today as extra protein as they are slow feathering up and to see if it works for impacted crop -£2.50 a pint. The cockerels talk to them a lot, get very excited and pick them up, but won't eat them until they stop moving. The hens eat them as fast as they find them. Last time I bought some I made the mistake of not transfering them to a rigid container but left them in the clear plastic bag. Princess, our big (10lb) black Orpington saw them in the bag, jumped up and snatched the whole bag from my hand and ran off with it! Had to chase after her to get them back. £2.50 doesn't last very long.
 
chrismahon said:
Princess, our big (10lb) black Orpington saw them in the bag, jumped up and snatched the whole bag from my hand and ran off with it! Had to chase after her to get them back. £2.50 doesn't last very long.
Click to expand...

:lol: :lol:

That's great! It will keep you fit too then Chris!
 
We give our milworms dried they went nuts :)


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=50.898140,-1.357806
 
Just hanging a different variety of veg, either in their run or in there hut. Also what mine like is a couple of cheap plastic plant pots, the smaller hens ie Dutch, get inside them and the other "bigger" breeds jump on them, simple things! lol
Dan
 
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