A more interesting run?

[Chickenman MAN]

The two things I plan to do are:
dust bath and grazing frame
Maybe I'm just thinking too much but idk just seems a bit dull for the chickens

 

[black_cat]

I li

I love this idea! That'd be easy as heck... take out the top wood and put it in at an angle inbetween... ooooh! We have a large black water store we are going to make a dustbath with!

It will also free up some empty space on the floor for them to enjoy more scratching.

 

[Chickenman MAN]

I

It will also free up some empty space on the floor for them to enjoy more scratching.

I'll probably move the pallet then.

 

[DustyDivas]

I dig over the run with them, they love it
If I so much as touch the garden fork handle, I get surrounded and there are lots of excited noises from them
They also love flattening out a big pile of anything... dig a nice wide hole and pile up the soil, they spend the day scratching through it.
My girls spent today scratching & scattering a quarter of a straw bale after we forked over half the run. Next years raised bed soil

 

[aart]

but obvs I can't constantly feed them squash or treats :]

Moving pallet to an upright position is a very good idea.

I've made some posts about this before

You didn't get enough suggestions in the other threads?

you've probably seen this before

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[Chickenman MAN]

Moving pallet to an upright position is a very good idea.

You didn't get enough suggestions in the other threads?

you've probably seen this before

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

Since they never use the perch I moved the pallet to rest on the 3rd highest rung so the chickens can walk up it (I tested with some treat tempting). Yeah, I feel as though the run is already pretty cluttered, and there is plenty of leaf litter for them to scratch abut in... and no... the ideas I've been given in this threada are the same as in the other! Other than moving the pallet...and digging up earth for them to scratch...not sure what I was hoping for...maybe I just think chickens are more like dogs (need contstantly to be interested in something new), I suppose they are happy? I just don't want them to get bored in the small space :|

 

[aart]

maybe I just think chickens are more like dogs (need contstantly to be interested in something new), I suppose they are happy? I just don't want them to get bored in the small space

Depends on the dog, or the chicken.
Chickens are curious and like to scratch around, perch on stuff, go underneath things.
Providing things for them to investigate can be good.
I move stuff around once in awhile and it definitely sparks their interest.

 

[Sally PB]

Wow, do I feel like a bad chicken mom. To change things up, I just move the stuff around. I added some Christmas jingle bells, but they totally ignore them. Shiny, jingly, pretty colors, and they could not care less. Total waste of $5.49.

 

[paintedChix]

You didn't say why you couldn't expand what they have? The area underneath those trees looks wonderful!

A Xylaphone? Hang it up on something and see if they will peck at it. Or put it on the pallet - just high enough that it's at beak height when it's leaned up...

Edit to add - Looks like you have a lot of activities for them in your small area. I went back, I see now that the cover is a grommeted tarp; but I almost asked if it was an Army poncho liner, .

Merry Christmas!!

 

[Chickenman MAN]

You didn't say why you couldn't expand what they have? The area underneath those trees looks wonderful!

A Xylaphone? Hang it up on something and see if they will peck at it. Or put it on the pallet - just high enough that it's at beak height when it's leaned up...

Edit to add - Looks like you have a lot of activities for them in your small area. I went back, I see now that the cover is a grommeted tarp; but I almost asked if it was an Army poncho liner, .

Merry Christmas!!

LOL Yes, it is a camo tarp! I can't expand the area at the moment due to the avian flu lockdown, all domesticated birds must be kept inside. I like the xylophone idea!