Do Chickens Get Bored?

[Chickaroo!]

Or do the chicken dance or play "cluck, cluck, goose!"

 

[jjthink]

In response to the original question, I believe they most certainly can get bored, as can any living breathing thinking being that is confined. Hen Annie goes stir crazy pacing at the enclosure gate waiting waiting to get out and explore. She gets bored senseless pretty fast cooped up in the run. When they have to be in the run, I try putting treats and new things to explore in there but it doesn't take them long to conquer that territory and want out! Today it is raining torrentially - and I mean torrentially - so they are stuck inside and are most unhappy. Soon I will bring them some warm butternut squash to break up the monotony. This will last 60 seconds.
JJ

 

[chicknmania]

Actually, any animal can get bored. It's not limited to humans. That's why you see animals pacing at the zoo, horses pacing their stalls, and yes, chickens pecking at each other. Just ask my cats if they're bored every morning, when they drive me nuts, wanting someone to play with them.

 

[Chickaroo!]

Well, as I said in a previous post, I did get a cute rooster shepards hook to hang some bells from to see if that will give them something to play with. I haven't been able to put it out yet though b/c its been raining like crazy (I'm in VA) since yesterday and today we also have strong winds.

 

[Ericasl]

Ok I have been reading this for a few days!!! Really you people are so funny you have me laughing all the time. So I went to Wal-mart and bought my chickens some bells and mirrors. They do not even look at them. Well I also but a pile of ashes from the fire place out for them and they will not touch it. I guess they are not bored. I thought they would be so happy for the toys and ashes. Well guess not. They are sure happy when I bring treats.

 

[jjthink]

Chickaroo, I know of the rain about which you speak! It's relentless! I think my chickens will need hip waders soon.

Erica, your feathered friends may or may not be bored but they just didn't see anything interesting about the toys you so kindly brought them with the best of intentions! If a well intentioned person gave me a football play book thinking it would be interesting to me, I would never end up reading it; while they might assume I had no need for any "toys" the reality would just be that what they thought was a 'toy' I interpret as more boring than reading the phone book!

JJ

p.s. Edited to say sorry to any football fans!

 

[airmom1c05]

Quote:
Please don't tell me that! LOL! I have a WalMart bag full of those mirrors with bells that I just bought tonight! I was going to traipse outside in the below freezing weather to hang them tonight after catching up on subscription topics here. Maybe at least Brandy will ring a bell. She generally leaves no stone unturned for fear some other chicken will "eat" something that most assuredly should be hers.

 

[doghamstyluv95]

I think chickens most certainly can get bored! It has been raining like crazy here and my chickens were locked inside all day and boy were they bored out of their minds! They did many laps around the coop.... I'm wondering, how big are the bells that you got?

 

[airmom1c05]

They are tiny; sold for parakeets most likely. The mirrors are about 2 1/2" round with a little bell dangling from the bottom. Frames around mirrors are bright orange plastic. Really cute. Parakeets flirt with themselves looking in the mirror. Probably need a larger version of the same thing for chickens! LOL!

 

[Ericasl]

HAHAHA!! We bought the same ones!!

Maybe yours will like them. Mine have a acre to roam so maybe they are not board. who knows