Chick toys...

[Cetawin]

Oh yes....boiled rice was and is still my girls favorite. Boiled or baked a sweet potato (do not give them white potatoes) cut it in half and put it in there...Oh my goodness that and oatmeal is the food fight of the century. LOL

I caught moths for them, bought them meal worms every now and again, gave them pieces of steamed broccoli, carrots, peas but never overdo it because it is merely meant as a snack type thing.

My girls also loved having a mirror in the brooder when they were little. It was a hand held with long handle. I tied it to the side of the brooder and they got a kick out of looking at it and trying to play with the chick in the mirror.

When their feathers start coming in, you can get one of those plastic shoe boxes from walmart or somewhere and put some play sand and a little dirt from your yard in it...they will take dust baths in it...it also accustoms them to the micro organisms in your soil...I think.

 

[Chickens-246]

I put a piece of twine anchored from the top of the brooder and they went wild over it. They must think it's a big worm, but will last longer than a worm.

They get pieces off and play football.

Edit; Don't do the twine. Looks like one ate a large piece and looks to be dieing now.

 

[bturbo87]

orange ping pong ball... its like a mini live game of foosball. i went with orange because they seem to really like to peck at it to get it going, and i dont want them to get used to pecking white round things for when they start laying

 

[HerbiLady]

Quote:
Ah HA! Thanks for this idea...I'm avoiding low-protein treats and entertainments for my 2-week olds who are sprouting feathers like fiends. I had a raw tail-less rear end this past weekend so am extra paranoid. No more starchy treats for mine!!

I've got lots of shredded cheese and it's high-protein and looks like bugs. Awesome! Of course, I can go find some bugs too but that has to wait for weekends when I'm in the garden

 

[Chicks Galore3]

mine LOVE digging. One lays down and kicks shavings all over him self, while another stands by, 'cleaning' his friend of shavings. Vicious cycle.

I am going to try a cardboard box with various openings.

 

[linkedsilas]

I am a zookeeper and we have to think of and make up lots of enrichment. I have used for chickens....toilet paper rolls, shredded paper,food fed to them in something they have to figure out. First i go real simple and then I make it more complex. We make mealworm or cricket feeders so it dispenses little at a time,different textured perches, digging boxes with sand, soil or mulch. They make tiny KONGS for smaller animals,baby rattles,baby mirrors....the list goes on and on

 

[tpr430]

I put in a large piece of bark left over from my firewood. They love it. They peck at the tiny pieces of moss and lichens. I change it out with a new piece every couple of days

 

[Chicks Galore3]

I am a zookeeper and we have to think of and make up lots of enrichment. I have used for chickens....toilet paper rolls, shredded paper,food fed to them in something they have to figure out. First i go real simple and then I make it more complex. We make mealworm or cricket feeders so it dispenses little at a time,different textured perches, digging boxes with sand, soil or mulch. They make tiny KONGS for smaller animals,baby rattles,baby mirrors....the list goes on and on

cool ideas! Mine are getting bored...not pecking yet.

 

[JesikaD01]

Heres what my babies were doing on their first trip outside

 

[mondotomhead]

I love to feed mine roly-polys. We have them all over the place and they love them! One will grab the bug and all the others will chase it across the brooder. It's like watching some type of sport.

What the heck is a roly-poly