Stumps, mirror, swing, Dust bath, Roosts at different levels.
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You’re absolutely right.Roosts, as was mentioned, for sure. Also they love to climb on things, little log chunks, branches, pieces of wood....I call it chicken furniture....make these roosting options higher and higher as they grow. These options help them develop coordination and balance as well as providing diversion.
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Chicks LOVE mirrors! And the adults do too. I have mirrors in all my brooders and coops.
Definitely where I get mine from...I'll see if my wife can donate a mirror to the chicks. Unfortunately, my wife likes mirrors too.... Maybe a trip to the Dollar Store would be a better option!
Be sure to give them some grit before you give them treats. A little canned cat food, and/or a few mealworms at 4 - 6 weeks is fine, just don't overdo it.
Roosts, as was mentioned, for sure. Also they love to climb on things, little log chunks, branches, pieces of wood....I call it chicken furniture....make these roosting options higher and higher as they grow. These options help them develop coordination and balance as well as providing diversion.
...Here's some enrichment ideas that I provide for my chicks:
I also raise the food and water containers on a platform or bricks to try and keep the water cleaner, and feed from being scratched out. I also added some chick-sized grit to the dust bath, they enjoy sorting through it. With grit available, 2 week old chicks can start having a very small amount of nutritious treats, like scrambled egg or mealworms.
- shallow container (or cake pan) filled with sand or untreated potting soil for dust baths
- mirror for chicks to admire themselves
- After chicks are 2 weeks old, I put in a chunk of sod from outside to help chicks start building immunities to their future environment. They love scratching a dirt clod and nibbling the grass.
- Short visits outside to the grass are also fun on sunny days.
- a sturdy perch made from scrap wood or branches
- A tunnel or something to hide under, maybe a box. My chicks are now off heat but they still like to nestle under the heating pad cave.
Stumps, mirror, swing, Dust bath, Roosts at different levels.
Only my chicks use the swing and never adults though. I just leave it hanging. I have stumps and a large rock too that my Birds use..my Birds hone their beak on the rock or bricks in the Coop that holds up my water containers.Thanks for the idea of the stump. I could make one easily as I live on 3 acres of wooded lot.
As to the swing, do the chickens really like those swings? I have seen the swings on YouTube videos, BUT never with a chicken on them! One guy said his hens never use the swings he made.