Lady Clucksley
Chirping
- Aug 30, 2017
- 32
- 64
- 54
I think the best thing you can do is spend time throughout the day interacting with your gals. They really do appreciate it, and it does the soul some good. I'll post some videos to YouTube and update on how I keep my run fun, but in these photos you'll see a Kong Ball, like for puppies, and I do actually just coat the inside in almond butter. They never get to it, but they kick that thing around all day! I have an apple tree and pick fruit to crunch up and stick in a suet feeder, they love it. Sand castles are fun, 3 or 4 mealworms in a tight pack of sand in a bowl of cup gets to be a fun pecking and scratching experience, and adds to the sand base I like to use to grind the clay my run is based on. East Tennessee red clay is amazing for hens! Minerals and dust baths happen here for sure! I do have a flock block, but with just four girls it gets moved a lot. A dust bath corner is a must, maple compost with sprouted birdseed gives a fun treat, and I try to keep treats tricky, like a pumpkin bowl with some oats and lavender/marigolds...I keep herb water in it to follow through with advised herb useage for health. Toys for pet birds are a big hit. My EE loves playing with blocks and ringing the bells! I think changing the landscape here and there, while keeping food, water, nesting, and bathing steady helps girls in a run stay happy.
A cheap setup that'll run you about $35 is to grab some temporary fencing and posts, and let your girls clear out overgrown beds or do lawn maintenance for you. I like letting them get out in the grass, but I've gotta keep and eye on them. My Maran is the only really trustworthy one! And my Buff Brahma, but she's molting so pitifully...she can't summon the energy for mischief. She's the one in the photos that looks like a purple pork rind.
A cheap setup that'll run you about $35 is to grab some temporary fencing and posts, and let your girls clear out overgrown beds or do lawn maintenance for you. I like letting them get out in the grass, but I've gotta keep and eye on them. My Maran is the only really trustworthy one! And my Buff Brahma, but she's molting so pitifully...she can't summon the energy for mischief. She's the one in the photos that looks like a purple pork rind.
