junebuggena
Crowing
A big pile of grass clippings can keep them occupied for days. I think of them as the border collies of the chicken world. They are very smart, very active, very assertive birds. While those traits make them a very fun pet, it can make them a challenge for keepers with space limitations. They do need their room, or they get very grouchy and irritable.Hm, I hadn't realized that Rocks in particular could get bored more easily but it makes sense because imo she's one of my smartest birds so not being able to use her brains must be frustrating. I guess I need to get the new run finished? But maybe I can give her something to do in the current run? I gotta think of something more long term though cause they get pretty bored of new dirt or veggies fast or they don't last long. Maybe some more perches or a swing or something? I had read they could be bullies but hadn't realized it could be boredom. So theoretically if I make them less bored they won't pick on each other?
A compost pile in the run, that you can give them access to when it needs turning over is a good idea. Stumps that can be turned over once a week to reveal all sorts of bugs adds interest as well. If you've got a tree dropping a ton of leaves, rake them up and dump in the run. A flake of hay is a good option, too. When my flock needs confining, I give them opportunities to forage in the run as much as possible by tossing scratch grains in a pile of litter or oyster shell scatter throughout.
They are fantastic foragers. If allowed to free range in a varied environment, they consume very little feed.