Bored Chickens! Any Fun Ideas?

[DaisyBuff]

I have 6 chickens. 5 Rhode Island Reds, and 1 golden fluffy buff Orpington named Daisy. I also have 1 Coturnix pet quail named Alice. Daisy my buff Orpington is a little sick right now but she is recovering. My chickens are bored, witch you know what bored chickens make, trouble. Bored chickens can cause pecking, and picking on the other chickens. In rare cases even cannibalize their kin. My chickens are starting to pick on each other and fight a little to much, so I need some fun play ideas for my chickens! My little quail Alice lives by herself in a tiny coop I built just for her. ( attached to the side of the chicken pen) Alice right now is hurt, ( you can find out in my other thread Hurt Quail), but she needs some fun to help her heal. Can you think of any fun playground equipment for chickens and quails? I would like some DIY ideas to! Chicken coop size( above run) is 5 by 10. Chicken run ( below coop) is 50 square ft. Quail coop is 3 square ft. Rhode Islands age 1 year. Daisy 1 year 8 months. Quail- 3 months.

Thank you! No idea is turned down!

 

[sourland]

Tree branches as outside perches, flock block, hanging vegetables ----------

 

[Freie Family Farm]

Hang up little mirrors or baby toys. Maybe throw a hanging net with treats in it. Ours like to search for treats so I hide corn and other goodies around the run before I let them out

 

[HappyDuckie]

I read you like DIYs, making flock blocks is really easy and your chickens will love it! I'm not sure about quail, as I've never owned any, but they may. Also, like said above hanging vegetables is a good idea. Good luck!

 

[DaisyBuff]

Hang up little mirrors or baby toys. Maybe throw a hanging net with treats in it. Ours like to search for treats so I hide corn and other goodies around the run before I let them out

Thanks for the info will try!

 

[DaisyBuff]

I read you like DIYs, making flock blocks is really easy and your chickens will love it! I'm not sure about quail, as I've never owned any, but they may. Also, like said above hanging vegetables is a good idea. Good luck!

Thanks a lot! I will try that!

 

[DaisyBuff]

Tree branches as outside perches, flock block, hanging vegetables ----------

Thanks for your info!

 

[NatJ]

Compost pile on the floor of their run. It will soon be flat layers instead of a pile, but they can happily spend hours scratching through it, finding the occasional bug or worm to keep them motivated.

If you've got some amount of bedding or litter on the floor of the run, you could also sprinkle a little bit of scratch grains and mix it in with a rake--that way they also have to scratch for it.

Chickens seem to enjoy scratching and scratching to get bits of food, and it keeps them busy longer. Of course they should always have their regular food available in a feeder of some sort too.

 

[DaisyBuff]

Compost pile on the floor of their run. It will soon be flat layers instead of a pile, but they can happily spend hours scratching through it, finding the occasional bug or worm to keep them motivated.

If you've got some amount of bedding or litter on the floor of the run, you could also sprinkle a little bit of scratch grains and mix it in with a rake--that way they also have to scratch for it.

Chickens seem to enjoy scratching and scratching to get bits of food, and it keeps them busy longer. Of course they should always have their regular food available in a feeder of some sort too.

Thank you!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Quail seem to be more wild than chickens in my experience. They also won't roost normally. Give her a hide and a small morrow and she should be fine