Building things for your chicken / coop

ladder in the coop for roosting
a seed treat block in the winter
lots of treats in the summer: vegetables galore, watermelon on hot days
I sprout sunflower seeds in the winter for both nutrition, orange yolks, and entertainment
various items in the run: old tire to perch on, cages and saw horses, etc
cabbage is a good one to combat boredom

 

I have snack stations to distract them from escaping to the neighbors. (that plus lots of fencing)
Extra roosts around the yard, dust bins, set up a dirt/straw zone under a snowmobile trailer, lots of healthy snacks before and after work, saw horses, and lilies...they entertain themselves by plucking each pedal off one by one.

 

Welcome to BYC!

Ladders
Roosts
Wheelbarrow with dirt
Leaves
Hanging treats
Mint
Marigolds
Mirrors
Stumps

 

Only thing I built was a box for a dust bath. A few times a week I give my flock a box with a prepared dust bath of sphagnum peat, sand, and DE. That usually keeps them entertained for at least an hour.

 

Thats a good one and something I think many people over look! I also have an black plastic tub that is aprox 4 ft by 1.5 by 2 ft deep that I keep a combination of dirt and wood ash in. During the winter, I bring this into the coop for dust baths-a faovrite past time for the nasty snowy cold days!!! (My coop is aprox 14 ft x 22 ft so plenty of space-if smaller, I would place a small rubber maid tub secured into place for the same purpose)

ETA: DE=Wood ash Sorry not sure whyI put that I no longer use DE except for light sprinkle in nest boxes due to it losing its effectiveness if damp/wet at all/

 

Here's a few ideas:

 

Welcome to BYC! Glad you decided to join our flock. You've been given some really good suggestions by the other members. For dust bathing, I recommend a flat box with wood ash in it. The chickens love it and the wood ash is more effective than dirt at keeping them free from lice, mites, and other pests. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your flock.

 

Welcome to BYC chickens also like swings, brightly colored small balls they can push or chase. Hanging cabbage balls. As a special treat around holidays they can clean off a turkey or chicken carcass in no time. I mention holiday, generally cold weather, so the turkey etc. won't get rancid.

You can also get Kong toys for small dogs and fill with peanut butter or other favorites and let the chickens work to get it out. They also love meal worms and crickets. Or if you shovel up a clump of sod and turn it dirt side up for them to explore.