Creative Options to Keep Girls Occupied

[KayStone]

Hello everyone,

I have three Ameraucanas and they are about 10 weeks old. I will not be able to allow them to free range as my next door neighbour is a very nasty lady and has three highly aggressive dogs. I would worry that my girls might get under (or over) the fencing and get killed.

What can I do to make sure I keep them happy? I hope to be expanding their run in the near future as they get bigger and older...but what else can I do to make sure they are contented and occupied? I don't want them getting bored.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Kay

 

[KrysPel]

This is an interesting question, and I'd like to see some more answers too! For mine I have multiple perches in their penning/run area, criss crossing over each other, slightly slanted e.t.c Almost like an elevated jungle gym and they love it so far! They like balancing across it and running over them like a tight rope walker Lol!!!

Funny story! I caught them playing 'musical perch' the other day! Five of my six chicklings rushed up to find a place on their perches, then when the last chick jumped up, ALL of them jumped down in a frenzy of peeping and flapping wings! Then they ran around for a second noisely chasing each other, all hurried to find their places on the perches, then the last one would leap up, and down they all went again!!!! They did this for nearly 10 minutes before they noticed a particularly 'un-clever' grasshopper that decided to pass through their pen...

Bug tag anyone?

 

[Sustained]

-Sandbox for dust bathing
-Hang a cd on string within reach, mine love to peck at the shiny thing
-hang lettuce in some netting just out of reach so they have to hop a little to get a nibble
-treat ball from mypetchicken.com, looks like a chicken soccer game
-fresh grass cuttings for them to nibble and scratch in
-if you have a leaf pile sitting around you can toss it in with them. They'll spend hours scratching through it for bugs
-if you have access to woods, transplant a chicken safe bush for them to hop into or hide under or peck at.
-created a chicken swing with rope and a branch
-frozen watermelon chunks when it's hot out
-I have wood rounds of different heights next to each other for them to hop around on

Basically if they can peck at it, scratch through it, or hop on it they'll love it

 

[KayStone]

Thank you both for your replies.

I loved your story, KrysPel so I immediately went outside and found some branches to set up a sort of mini-gym. You were right, the chickens loved it!

Sustained, many thanks for your awesome ideas and for taking the time to share them. I will certainly be using them.

 

[azygous]

Of all their "stuff" in the run, my chickens spend the most time scratching, clawing, and pecking at the scratch block. They are cheap, last a very long time, and will keep your chickens interested and occupied for hours. It's the first thing my chickens head for in the morning and the last thing they're still doing before roosting.

 

[KrysPel]

Thank you both for your replies.

I loved your story, KrysPel so I immediately went outside and found some branches to set up a sort of mini-gym. You were right, the chickens loved it!

Sustained, many thanks for your awesome ideas and for taking the time to share them. I will certainly be using them.

So glad you liked the idea, and your chickens loved it even more! I'm glad I could be of help!

 

[KayStone]

Of all their "stuff" in the run, my chickens spend the most time scratching, clawing, and pecking at the scratch block. They are cheap, last a very long time, and will keep your chickens interested and occupied for hours. It's the first thing my chickens head for in the morning and the last thing they're still doing before roosting.

Thank you so much for your suggestion, azygous. I have just started to give them a bit of scratch here and there as a treat, and they seem to love it already so I will definitely get them one. Thanks again.

 

[HighStreetCoop]

Mine also LOVE a flat of wheatgrass. I have several and swap them out so they have a chance to regrow (so they're not just single use, LOL!). They love live insects, too. If I toss some superworms into the bedding, it's GAME ON!

 

[KayStone]

Mine also LOVE a flat of wheatgrass. I have several and swap them out so they have a chance to regrow (so they're not just single use, LOL!). They love live insects, too. If I toss some superworms into the bedding, it's GAME ON!

What a great idea...I will try it! Thank you. By the way, I look your Chooksworth photos. That is such a lovely coop!

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

If mine need something to do....I get them a fresh head of cabbage and just toss it in the run. They love pecking it to bits, and will usually peck it all gone in 2 days.