chicken fun!!

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milbert

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Hello,

I have just made my girlies a big new walk in run, they are already enjoying this but I was wondering if anybody could share some ideas on things I could put in there to keep them occupied? I quite often put whole cabbages/sprouts in as I've read here before, they luurrvve that, but I wondered if there were things I could add that are not completely edible, something that may last that would keep them entertained?
Perhaps I'm going too far and simply mooching about in the (whats left of) grass and scratting about is entertainment enough? :-)05

Thanks!
 
We went for a long walk at the weekend and took a huge dustbin bag that we filled with autumn leaves and bark. My husband tipped the leaves into the girls run and they love scratching about in the leaf matter! It is about 4 inches deep.
 
Clucking Chicks, what a good idea!! I've been clearing up a bit and have a small dustbin full waiting to go into the leaf mould bin but will give them to the chooks instead. It might take their minds off the worming for a while.
 
I think the only problem I would have with clearing up leaves would be picking up parasites and mites! eek! sorry... not trying to be a party pooper. i worry too much.
 
Bertie & The Chooks said:
I think the only problem I would have with clearing up leaves would be picking up parasites and mites! eek! sorry... not trying to be a party pooper. i worry too much.
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Was just thinking the same thing, but on the other hand, if you turn your birds out to free range, this is exactly where you'll find them this time of year, under a big tree, scratching through all the leaves etc for bugs!! :lol: I think to help reduce the chances of any nasties, maybe remove all the bark and dead leaves after a few days and replace with fresh? Good idea though, gives them something new and exciting to do. Beats all the normal junk,unhealthy scraps etc. folks seem to be feeding and stuffing into their birds. ;) Much more natural. :-)17

JubesXX
 
jubilee said:
Bertie & The Chooks said:
I think the only problem I would have with clearing up leaves would be picking up parasites and mites! eek! sorry... not trying to be a party pooper. i worry too much.
Click to expand...
Was just thinking the same thing, but on the other hand, if you turn your birds out to free range, this is exactly where you'll find them this time of year, under a big tree, scratching through all the leaves etc for bugs!! :lol: I think to help reduce the chances of any nasties, maybe remove all the bark and dead leaves after a few days and replace with fresh? Good idea though, gives them something new and exciting to do. Beats all the normal junk,unhealthy scraps etc. folks seem to be feeding and stuffing into their birds. ;) Much more natural. :-)17

JubesXX
Click to expand...


OR find a lovely eucalyptus tree and get all the leaves out from under it! :D :lol:
 
Well I emptied the bin of leaves onto a bit of grassless ground they scratch around on and called them over.
When they ralised it wasn't anything to eat :-)06 they wandered off but kept an eye on the pile incase it moved I think. :roll:
Then when it looked like it wasn't going to rear-up and atack them they crept forward, had a bit of a wander round the pile and a sniff (do chooks sniff) and just stood there. :-)05
Up came Anis the resident Earth Mover General who attacked with both feet, shifting it all over the place, she was quickly followed by the rest who now think this is a wonderful new pass-time. :D

I've just been out to give them their scratch feed and the whole place is covered in bits of leaf. Looks like they've had a whale of a time. They should sleep well to-night. :lol:
 
Our bantams are in a greenhouse (Leghorn Winter quarters) full of leaves and love it. Poo helps with the composting process as well. Only worry is they are damp and at the moment are not drying out as there is no sun, so I hope they don't get respiratory problems. But mixed corn scattered into them gives them hours of digging and stops the boredom of a relatively small space -8' x 6' for 4 of them.
 
Thanks guys, will try the leaf thing then perhaps! I have also put in big scraggy log which they're having much fun finding resident bugs in! :-)17
 
Hi, have you seen those big pots of 'Extra' chewing gum (other chewing gums are available ;) )

I have kept loads of them because they seemed 'useful' - empty of course!!

I have now discovered they make good chicken 'kongs'!!

They unscrew at the top and I fill them with finely chopped cabbage/broccoli/cauli leaves/general greens add a few mealworms etc (keeping it as healthy and interesting as poss!) and if I have to leave them for a few hours (ie work!!) l open the small hole on the pot (you'll see what I mean) throw a couple of their 'kongs' in and they are entertained! As they kick and peck the pots small pieces fall out of the top!

They are very easy to keep clean too!

:-)17
 
milbert said:
Hello,

I have just made my girlies a big new walk in run, they are already enjoying this but I was wondering if anybody could share some ideas on things I could put in there to keep them occupied? I quite often put whole cabbages/sprouts in as I've read here before, they luurrvve that, but I wondered if there were things I could add that are not completely edible, something that may last that would keep them entertained?
Perhaps I'm going too far and simply mooching about in the (whats left of) grass and scratting about is entertainment enough? :-)05

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I think what chicken love most is you out in the pen with a garden fork! The minute I pick up fork or spade mine all come running. Pecking for worms etc in newly dug earth is their very favourite activity. Alternatively a pile of old long grass and composty bits dumped in their run for them to turn over, and sift through. And remember they do like to eat short fresh grass too.
 
Mine were sooooo bored last week when it was drizzly that I relented and put some straw in for them to kick around in. I know it was a probably a bit damp for it, but I did this last year when it was cold and snowy and they loved it. Only trouble was, this time Myrtle started eating really long bits of straw, and having just lost Flossie last week I didn't want another impacted crop, so had to clear it all out again....not that they're spoilt or anything...
 
Thanks for your ideas! Will be sure to try them out, will need to get chewing some gum! It seems a good pastime for Audrey today was a good ten minutes worth trying to intimidate the cat through the wire! Was most amusing to watch, safe to say the cat wasn't in the least bit bothered! Funny little people!
 
cuwiar said:
Hi, have you seen those big pots of 'Extra' chewing gum (other chewing gums are available ;) )

I have now discovered they make good chicken 'kongs'!!

They unscrew at the top and I fill them with finely chopped cabbage/broccoli/cauli leaves/general greens

:-)17 Hi Cuiwar, forgive my ignorance but what is a kong ? I can only picture a plastic sweety jar
You mentioned (you'll see what I mean) did you send a pic ?
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Hi Derculees,

Sorry, I meant - you'll see what I mean if you get a pot of the gum. I've attached a pic of what they are like.

A Kong is usually a toy for dogs - you stuff them full of treats and as the dogs roll them around with their nose little pieces of food fall out and it keeps them entertained for hours. The gum pot works in a similar way for the chooks!

All the packaging comes off the pot completely so you are left with a plain white pot - no wrapping to be pecked at and swallowed! The top screws off so you can fill it and then there is a small opening (meant for tipping the gum out into your hand) that the bits of chicken food drop out of.

It's not as hairbrained as it sounds! I have found that the girls soon figured out that if they kick it and scratch it treats fall out, they are easy to clean and means you don't need to leave food on the ground where it could be gobbled up straight away by the biggest and greediest! It just takes them a bit longer to get the treats out and keeps them occupied - they can even have one each :-)17
 

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I think a home made "kong" is a brilliant idea, chickens love to scratch around and forage, this a very simple way to ecourage natural behaviours, maybe one for the dragons den? :-)17 :D
 
foxy said:
I think a home made "kong" is a brilliant idea, chickens love to scratch around and forage, this a very simple way to ecourage natural behaviours, maybe one for the dragons den? :-)17 :D

I agree with Foxy brill, I'll have to try it, could this be the beginning of computers for chooks ? :)
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Thanks guys! :mrgreen:

Glad you like the idea, it's also fun to watch them figure it out. When they're in their pen during work hours I just want to try things that take up their time while still doing their favourite thing...EATING!! :geek:

PS Watching my dad's keyboard skills, I reckon a chicken could type as fast ;) :lol:
 
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