Chicks need something to play with! What's safe?

[skatcatla]

my 8-day olds seem to be bored! They keep squabbling with each other and flapping around the brooder. I know its not a space issue..I think they are just bored. Every time I go over to say "hi" they keep running over to the front of the kennel like they want to get out.

I'm thinking about taking them out for a little while this evening so they can play on the grass, but while I'm gone all day, any suggestions for something fun to play with that is safe? How about a cardboard toilet-paper roll thing?

 

[CoyoteMagic]

give them a couple little stips of paper. THey will play chicken keep away until they are exhausted. Sleep and then get up and do it all over again!

 

[CutestChickenFarmer]

I had the same concerns when my girls were about a week old. Someone suggested digging up a clod of dirt from the yard with grass still attached and putting it in the brooder. Trim down the grass if it's really long, though. They had a blast digging and scratching and eating it all up. It'll keep them occupied for a long time.

Susan

 

[2mnypets]

I always caught a few moths or really really small bugs for them to play keep away with. Mine entertained themselves by playing leap frog with each other. You might try an empty toilet paper roll. They like to play hide and seek also.

 

[silkiechicken]

If they are running around and flapping It think they are already having fun . They just get excited when they see their "mom" coming!

 

[schmoo]

They say to use a mirror for single chicks, but mine loved it and there were 26 of them! I also put a small piece of 2x4 in and they played king (or queen) of the mountain.

 

[skatcatla]

Those are all such great ideas!! Thanks, all!

I did give them a flower to play with and they seem to have done a good job of pecking that apart. :-D

 

[Chickending]

When my chicks were young I put an empty paper towel roll in there. They had the most fun jumping up on it and balancing and roosting. It kept them occupied. I had two of them in there and they loved it.

 

[greyfields]

Hang a cabbage from a rope at chicken head height.

 

[Motherhenandflock]

Safety scissors, with all that paper and tp rolls.

Sorry, my mind is shot.