Bored Chickens? Try this!

[bluie]

My chickens have been so bored lately, with rain and snow keeping them "cooped" up. And it gets dark so early that many days there's no time to let them out of the run for a little while before dark. So yesterday, we bought 25 feeder goldfish, put them in 2 inches of water in a large sturdy food dish, and called over the chickens. We hand fed them a couple to make sure they got the idea, but they were busy and occupied for the rest of the day! They got 'em all!

 

[Wildsky]

I would be a little worried in freezing temps that the chickens would get all wet and freeze up over night. But gosh darn I bet ducks would have a blast.

 

[ChickenDreamer]

That priceless! Chicken TV for sure!

 

[redhen]

heehe..it is fun to watch...i did this this summer with my ducks in their kiddie pool....never thought to try it with my chickens...

 

[mudhen]

I think I'll try it when the warm weather comes back around!

 

[bluie]

We are having a bit of a warm spell. (It was in the sixties today!) I agree it doesn't sound like a good idea when its going to freeze overnight.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

When the chicks used to get bored ( I had a lot less then) we would go to wally world and buy a couple boxes of bait worms.

We had a blast wathcing the chickies chasing each other with worms in their beaks. It was such a good time for the chickens that we did it often. Now of course I think there may be dravisty if I would try it now with over 100 chickies

 

[sussexgal]

Awesome idea! I was still mulling over the cricket idea from another thread.... the girls are going to be so excited!

 

[sunnydee]

Chickens will eat goldfish? Wow...I wouldn't of EVER thought of that. I got my girls some mealworms not too long ago....problem was...neither my daughter nor I would touch them to give to the girls! ARGH..I just hate bugs!

I have been thinking of getting them some crickets......I can just dump them in their run and won't have to pick them out.

 

[dftkarin]

Did you feel bad for the goldfish? As a sometimes-aquarium hobbyist, I don't think I could do that to goldfish (although I manage feeding them mealworms without too much guilt). I am looking for ways to entertain my 4 hens though!