Run Accessories ?

[BeemerBaz]

Is it acceptable to brighten the hens day up by laying an old branch or something similar within the pen ?

 

[Greenlintie]

Hi there

I'm a new chicken keeper but I'd have thought that would be great. The lady we bought the hens from had them roosting on branches & it's their natural habitat. Plus there would be wee insects that they will love to chase & eat - win/win for the birds & you

We will be including a few in our new run, so go for it, it all adds to their entertainment.

 

[Marigold]

Do they have a nice big deep dust bath? in a dry places, so the sand / soil mix never gets wet? They seem to go into a trance in there sometimes, mine even ignore me if I come in with treats when they are having the equivalent of a good soak (with added redmite powder instead of bath salts.)

 

[BeemerBaz]

Do you mean an artificial dust bath like a cat litter tray etc ??

That is a great way to get the dust mite powder on them

 

[bantiekeeper]

I have two perches across two corners of the run which are screwed into position. I have now decided to replace these with two ladder perches which just lean against the sides of the run. This means I can remove them from the run when cleaning the floor or replacing the woodchip giving good access to the whole area. The coop is on legs too so I can get underneath. Anything to make it a bit easier!

 

[foxy]

I know what some people have added with good effect is a cabbage or apples in the run to give them something to peck at. Also a little scatter corn in the run is helpful, this scratching and foraging encourages normal behaviours and thus reduces stress which can lead to bad habits such as feather pecking etc.

 

[Marigold]

Do you mean an artificial dust bath like a cat litter tray etc ??

That is a great way to get the dust mite powder on them

Yes, only you need a deeper and heavier container than a cat litter tray. I've got a spare plastic base for a large water butt, upended of course, but a plastic or wooden box would do if it was about 12 -18 inches deep. The half fill it with silver sand mixed with dry earth, and if you have any, add wood ash from a garden bonfire, as well as the mite powder. Or just get a bag of play sand from Homebase and use that. Or depending on whether your run has an earth floor and a dry corner, of course they may well dig their own hole.
Mine have a long perch about 15 ins off the ground, where they can all hang out and see what's going on in the garden, and they spend a lot of time on there. it goes across the corner of the run and doesn't get in the way when I'm working in there. Its made of planed 2X2 timber with the right angled edges smoothed off for comfort, just like the perches in their coop. Because its all one level there's never any competition for the highest or most comfortable part, which could perhaps happen with a perch made from a branch.

Foxys right about providing things which allow them to use natural behaviours, such as digging, dust bathing, perching etc. and also getting greens from a hanging string is fun to watch and gives a bit more exercise.

 

[karminski]

i have areas that are covered by those large garden plastic storage containers they make great dry places for dust baths the 2 holes under one of them is now over 8 inches deep :lol: , branches, tree stumps or even planks screwed firmly onto the side of the run help break down boredom and also cut the bottom of a marrow tie it up from the roof and then watch the girls heads dissappear they will send hours with thier heads up inside it trying to clear out all the middle .