chicken entertainment

[kelzey]

what are some things that i can add into their run for their entertainment? in total it’s around 70 square feet, and i only have three birds in there right now. i plan on adding another 70/80 square feet next spring and maybe taking in some already full grown birds. anyways- i let my girls free range for a couple hours a day when i’m outside with them, i’m not comfortable letting them out when i’m not outside because they like to wander and god knows where they would go- my property is not fenced in. they have lots of straw and leaf litter (mainly for how muddy it gets, but that also like to scratch in it) and they have a roost outside that they use quite a lot. but what more could i do? i’m open to all sorts of advice.

 

[Hei 20]

what are some things that i can add into their run for their entertainment? in total it’s around 70 square feet, and i only have three birds in there right now. i plan on adding another 70/80 square feet next spring and maybe taking in some already full grown birds. anyways- i let my girls free range for a couple hours a day when i’m outside with them, i’m not comfortable letting them out when i’m not outside because they like to wander and god knows where they would go- my property is not fenced in. they have lots of straw and leaf litter (mainly for how muddy it gets, but that also like to scratch in it) and they have a roost outside that they use quite a lot. but what more could i do? i’m open to all sorts of advice.

Mirrors or things for them to climb on or fly up to.

 

[Mrs. K]

Add ladders, sawhorses, platforms that they can get on top of or underneath. Throw scratch on top of the bedding, have outdoor wind blocks. The run IMO should not be an open rectangle where as every bird can see every other bird, but rather cluttered, where birds can use the vertical space of the run too.

Mrs K

 

[kelzey]

Add ladders, sawhorses, platforms that they can get on top of or underneath. Throw scratch on top of the bedding, have outdoor wind blocks. The run IMO should not be an open rectangle where as every bird can see every other bird, but rather cluttered, where birds can use the vertical space of the run too.

Mrs K

i’ll definitely try some of that! right now my run is an open rectangle, but they have a long piece of plywood on one side where they can jump up on it and walk the full length of the end of the run. they use it a lot. i found a pretty big stump that i think they will like, so i’m gonna try to get that in there

 

[SulkyBantam]

Climbing structures, definitely, ours loved them best.. also little boxes or exploring nooks!

 

[Aapomp831]

Chicken swings

 

[kelzey]

Chicken swings

i tried a swing before but they absolutely hated it! wouldn’t go near it

 

[Pghelp]

Ours like swinging on any open doors of the run. Some are good flyers and like high perches but we have low perches and stumps for the not so good flyers. Wooden boxes are great. They love hidey-hole corners where sometimes they can hang out alone. Favorite spot in our run is under a bush planted before the run was there.

 

[kelzey]

Ours like swinging on any open doors of the run. Some are good flyers and like high perches but we have low perches and stumps for the not so good flyers. Wooden boxes are great. They love hidey-hole corners where sometimes they can hang out alone. Favorite spot in our run is under a bush planted before the run was there.

i’m definitely gonna make some hide away spots like that! especially for when i get my new birds in the spring, after my run is expanded. i’m hoping to have lots more room for things like that- repurpose some old pallets and make some boxes and some higher roosts. i’m quite excited for the possibilities

 

[SulkyBantam]

Great! sounds fun...