Adding things inside the run

[TerryH]

We used assorted stumps for perches, landscape timber screwed onto 2 stumps for a roost, what we lovingly call the stripper pole which is a 4x4 buried in the ground and screwed to the roof rafters with 2x4's screwed around it from top to bottom. We also used some left over concrete tree rings to make a mac daddy dust bath. The pine chips themselves seem to give them hours of enjoyment just digging around in them.

 

[Teila]

Hi there wtrsfarm4

Great tips so far. Not the best picture because this was during construction, but the run is slightly split level with the area under the coop being a large dust path; the remaining, lower level is deep litter.

With your run being covered, you could put in a couple of sleepers and create a large dust bath.

Besides the platform at the bottom of the ramp which they like to sit on or under, there are now two tree branch roosts also.

Being in Aus, we do not have to worry about “the winter months” and the girls get a wander every day.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Love all the ideas! Definitely going to need to implement them myself

 

[donrae]

Once they've taken the grass out, you can lay down things like a small piece of plywood, etc.Let it set in one place for a few days, then flip it over. The hens will have a great time going after all the insects underneath! Just rotate it every few days and it will give them some entertainment and snacks--kind of like dinner and a movie

. Same for any stumps, etc you put in there, just move them every so often to expose the bugs underneath. Waterers, feeders, treat dishes, all those things get insects underneath.

 

[Jo Anne]

Chicken xylophone?

 

[Pats Poultry]

Chicken xylophone?

x2 ??? sounds interesting