Boredom Busters for a Small Coop

[Pine9]

Today I noticed Fry, who I joking call "The Queen of the Hen House", mercilessly tormenting Devil, the chicken at the bottom of the pecking order, as she tried to lay her egg. She would block the door and not allow Devil in, and if Devil was already in there, she'll peck her and drive her out. I have never seen this behavior before; I've seen one of the higher-ups take a swipe at Devil before, but it was more of a get-out-of-the-way peck than an aggressive one. But here Fry is, going after Devil even though she is not laying any egg of her own, just for fun. I can't tolerate any bullying in my flock. I had to guard the hen house door until Devil was done. I have been seeing scabs on the flock's (4 ancona hens, 1 mottled java named Sunny who is predictably high-ranking due to her size) combs for a little while now, but I think it's gotten worse since I had to go on a week-long trip and they didnt get to have their daily hour-long free range in the backyard. Add that to a small coop (ordered online and assembled with two separate runs attached, not easy to expand at this point), and boredom's got to be the culprit. I guess they've acculmulated some bad habits.

I've seen the article on here for chicken toys, but I can exactly make a jungle gym for them or stuff a tire full of dirt in there (the structure is pretty long, but not super wide. a tire could fit, but it would block the way). Right now, at the furthest end of the coop, there is a wooden plank that serves as a perch (they enjoy that) and a small toy piano for them to peck at. They take dust baths in the sand underneath the hen house. Are there smaller, more economical ways to alleviate boredom in the coop? We've tried lettuce, corn, leaves, banana on a string (separately of course), but they were scared of it and even when they got used to it, they showed little to no interest. I wish they had a bigger run and hen house but there's not much I can do about it because I'm a minor and I would need help from my parents/have to convince them. Plus, there's not much of a point since they will be going to a new home at a local poultry farm (lots of space!) in about a month or so (the new neighborhood where my family is moving does not allow chickens). I can't let them out all day because I can't watch them then and since we live in a suburban neighborhood I'm worried that they'll leave the yard (it's not fenced-in) and get lost, eat something bad, get hit by a car, or picked off by a hawk.

Since school is starting, I need a way to keep them entertained that isn't necessarily food (too temporary, they may lose interest and it could rot or attract rats/flies) and ideally not something I have to go out and buy. I will continue to let them out in the evening, but they need something until then. Any ideas?

 

[AlleysChicks]

I've honestly only had luck with a large flock block. But it is strictly a winter time thing.

Mine have a chicken swing that has never been used in the year that it's been up and they have several roosts in the run.

Mine do love logs and large tree branches.

 

[bobbi-j]

How big is your coop in feet by feet? The runs? How often do they get out to free range? I think over crowding is a bigger factor than boredom in a bullying situation. The more dominant birds expect the subordinate ones to get out of their space, and if the subordinate doesn't have anywhere to go, the top birds are going to peck at them because they think they're being challenged. Any room for hideouts in your run? Do you have multiple feeders and waterers? Can you make different levels for them to be up on?

 

[TalkALittle]

It doesn't sound like your problem is "boredom". It's "over crowding". Regardless of whether there is stuff to serve as temporary distraction, they are still going to be too crowded. It's treating the symptom but never getting to the root of the illness. I suggest just rehoming them now rather than in a month.

 

[aart]

I think over crowding is a bigger factor than boredom in a bullying situation. The more dominant birds expect the subordinate ones to get out of their space, and if the subordinate doesn't have anywhere to go, the top birds are going to peck at them because they think they're being challenged.

It doesn't sound like your problem is "boredom". It's "over crowding". Regardless of whether there is stuff to serve as temporary distraction, they are still going to be too crowded. It's treating the symptom but never getting to the root of the illness. I suggest just rehoming them now rather than in a month.

Ditto Both of Dos^^^^