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Toys for Chicks

post #1 of 14
1/29/12 at 5:57pm
Thread Starter 

So I am looking for any suggestions for something to keep my chicks entertained. I have three silkies in their temporary Rubbermaid home but I think they are getting bored. They are almost 8 weeks old and I try to take them out for a while every day so they can get some exercise, but I still think they are bored.

 

Can anyone suggest anything, I do not want them to start picking at one another.

 

Thank you!

1 husband, 2 sons and 2 silkies, 2 buff orpingtons

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1 husband, 2 sons and 2 silkies, 2 buff orpingtons

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post #2 of 14
1/29/12 at 6:59pm

lol only thing i can add is put some live mealworms in that should add some entertainment to their lifes

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post #3 of 14
1/29/12 at 7:19pm

I go nuts with the "playground equipment"!  I give them blocks of wood to climb on. I give them a 2" x 2" perch to teach them to roost. I add a small tub of sand so they can dirt bathe. 

 

I hang an apple from a string and they play "tether ball" with it while eating it. (Screw a two-inch eye-screw into the apple to hang it from a stick placed over the top of your brooder.)

 

They get a fresh lettuce leave from time to time, as well as wiggly earth worms. 

 

Never a bored chick in my brooder.

One matronly, yet regal, Light Brahma hen, two Silver-laced Wyandotte hens, two Gold-laced Wyandotte hens, one Black Cochin hen, three Ameraucana hens, one Buff Brahma hen, four sassy Speckled Sussex hens, one Buff Brahma roo, and one nineteen-year old cat who's scared of all of them, especially the roo.

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One matronly, yet regal, Light Brahma hen, two Silver-laced Wyandotte hens, two Gold-laced Wyandotte hens, one Black Cochin hen, three Ameraucana hens, one Buff Brahma hen, four sassy Speckled Sussex hens, one Buff Brahma roo, and one nineteen-year old cat who's scared of all of them, especially the roo.

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post #4 of 14
1/29/12 at 7:32pm
How should I entertain my week old chicks? They still spend a lot of time sleeping, but when they are awake, they get really active and are starting to figure out how their wings work. wink.png I think I might make a mini-perch for them soon.
A positive attitude won't solve all of your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
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A positive attitude won't solve all of your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
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post #5 of 14
1/29/12 at 7:50pm

I know it sounds silly, but at 1 week I add a couple of those little cat ball toys with a bell inside. If one of them figures it out, they all will play with it. My first two hatches didn't use them at all. But my last hatch...they went nuts for it. Constantly picking them up and kicking them around. Was hilarious to watch.

2 years ago, a flat-lander, in FL, hiding in the house due to 8 months of heat and humidity every year. Now, living in the Smoky Mountains, gardening, keeping chickens, and loving life. You CAN teach an old dog new tricks. I used to list here the breeds of chickens I owned. There is not enough room to do that anymore. I have lots of chickens....

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2 years ago, a flat-lander, in FL, hiding in the house due to 8 months of heat and humidity every year. Now, living in the Smoky Mountains, gardening, keeping chickens, and loving life. You CAN teach an old dog new tricks. I used to list here the breeds of chickens I owned. There is not enough room to do that anymore. I have lots of chickens....

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post #6 of 14
1/29/12 at 8:23pm

Well, for really bang-up, awesome entertainment, for both you and the chicks (seriously, this is super fun to watch) give week-olds a few squares of toilet paper to shred. 

 

Yeah, yeah, they'll eat some of it, but it won't hurt them. Trust me. It's hilarious.

One matronly, yet regal, Light Brahma hen, two Silver-laced Wyandotte hens, two Gold-laced Wyandotte hens, one Black Cochin hen, three Ameraucana hens, one Buff Brahma hen, four sassy Speckled Sussex hens, one Buff Brahma roo, and one nineteen-year old cat who's scared of all of them, especially the roo.

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One matronly, yet regal, Light Brahma hen, two Silver-laced Wyandotte hens, two Gold-laced Wyandotte hens, one Black Cochin hen, three Ameraucana hens, one Buff Brahma hen, four sassy Speckled Sussex hens, one Buff Brahma roo, and one nineteen-year old cat who's scared of all of them, especially the roo.

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post #7 of 14
1/30/12 at 1:04pm


I was thinking of trying the same thing!wink.png

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeffross1968 View Post

I know it sounds silly, but at 1 week I add a couple of those little cat ball toys with a bell inside. If one of them figures it out, they all will play with it. My first two hatches didn't use them at all. But my last hatch...they went nuts for it. Constantly picking them up and kicking them around. Was hilarious to watch.



 

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post #8 of 14
1/30/12 at 1:17pm

I've been reading through all the old threads about this.  There are tons of ideas.  If you search "chick toys" you'll get a lot of threads to go through.  

One of the most popular items to give your chicks seemed to be a mirror.  But go check out those other threads, lots of good advice!

♫ "I don't wanna go through the motions.  I don't wanna go one more day.  Without Your all consuming passion inside of me.

I don't want to spend my whole life asking, 'What if I had given everything'? Instead of going through the motions." ♫

 

 

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♫ "I don't wanna go through the motions.  I don't wanna go one more day.  Without Your all consuming passion inside of me.

I don't want to spend my whole life asking, 'What if I had given everything'? Instead of going through the motions." ♫

 

 

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post #9 of 14
1/30/12 at 6:49pm
Today they decided to shred some of their newspaper bedding, and were chasing each other around trying to get it, the way the adults go after treats! I can only imagine them with a cat toy, but I'm afraid that my cat will want to play with them more. I have one bantam frizzle cochin with 9 standard mixes (Brahma/RIR) and that bantam has enough personality for all of them. He could probably scare the cat and keep the toys to himself if he felt like it. roll.png His parents are characters too, first then hen hated me and the rooster was just loud, but now he hates me and she acts fine! I just can't win with these bantams. wink.png
A positive attitude won't solve all of your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
Reply
A positive attitude won't solve all of your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
Reply
post #10 of 14
3/9/12 at 11:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by azygous View Post

I go nuts with the "playground equipment"!  I give them blocks of wood to climb on. I give them a 2" x 2" perch to teach them to roost. I add a small tub of sand so they can dirt bathe. 

 

I hang an apple from a string and they play "tether ball" with it while eating it. (Screw a two-inch eye-screw into the apple to hang it from a stick placed over the top of your brooder.)

 

They get a fresh lettuce leave from time to time, as well as wiggly earth worms. 

 

Never a bored chick in my brooder.


wow that sounds like an awesome playground. How old do chicks have to be to do this fun stuff??
 

 

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