enrichment/enclosure for indoor setup (plants,toys, etc)

[fat brown hen]

Amen.

I know, right? Way too much moralizing for me, I'm out.

 

[TOMTE]

I know, right? Way too much moralizing for me, I'm out.

If by moralizing you mean caring/educating about animal welfare, then yes.

 

[Appalachickens]

I know, right? Way too much moralizing for me, I'm out.

That was a sincere amen. As in agreement.

 

[Frankie-n-little]

ever since I made this account I'm obsessed with the wisdom everyone has here haha, today's question!!

for a little bit of background, I'm thinking of keeping indoor bantam (specifically serama) chickens. BUT. I need ideas for

1. house/indoor plants safe for chickens
2. toys/enrichment opportunities
3. what should my setup look like ? does the placement of the stuff matter ?
4. flooring/surface for the “ chicken room”

so far these are the ideas I have (more suggestions or anything else welcome )

1. roosting areas
2. foraging trays
3. dust baths
4. hay
5. balls with treats in them
6. hiding places (im thinking of using cat/dog houses)
7. some extra stuff to add clutter
8. parrot toys ?? mainly those ones about destroying, perching on and foraging.

but I need to find roosting perches suitable for bantams/seramas, would pigeon ones be suitable ? plus what type of roosting areas would they most like (I saw some different type designs like just sticks. ones that have weird shapes. etc)


the room for them (see photos) ,, ignore the furniture they will be out!

im overall looking for advice on anything. thanks y'all for any help
View attachment 4141970View attachment 4141971View attachment 4141969

I too would love to know the answers to some of the questions asked. I’m a first timer with a chick and duck. Mine are outside but I still would like to know methods of enrichment, play, and any other things I can do to maximize their quality of life.

 

[Appalachickens]

I too would love to know the answers to some of the questions asked. I’m a first timer with a chick and duck. Mine are outside but I still would like to know methods of enrichment, play, and any other things I can do to maximize their quality of life.

I’ve recently started letting mine have free range time and they are having a blast running around and stretching their wings. When they are in the coop, their favorite thing (aside from fruit) is when I bring in a big bag of leaves and dump it and they get to spread it around for me. I also have plenty of things available for them to hop up on, which they enjoy, and a dust bath several can fit into at once.

 

[Frankie-n-little]

I’ve recently started letting mine have free range time and they are having a blast running around and stretching their wings. When they are in the coop, their favorite thing (aside from fruit) is when I bring in a big bag of leaves and dump it and they get to spread it around for me. I also have plenty of things available for them to hop up on, which they enjoy, and a dust bath several can fit into at once.

Lol. I have been placing random “functional objects” around their coop, and they’ve each found something they enjoy doing with it. It looks like a yard sale for random scraps and toys.

 

[PrettyChicky25]

You haven't gone away even for a day in three years? So definitely no such thing as a vacation or a night out with friends? I mean no offense, I'm just trying to wrap my mind around that.

Sorry I just saw this reply. No, I can't leave because no one can watch her. I have parrots too, and while my parents would be willing to watch them, asking someone to pick up chicken poop is a whole other story. I'm happy with my life though. I'm an introvert and spend most of my time at home anyway. I just wanted to let others know because chickens definitely weren't meant to be indoors (not that any birds are) but it's almost impossible to handle an indoor chicken properly. It's a lot of work and this work will go on for years!

 

[Bawkbok]

asking someone to pick up chicken poop is a whole other story.

Agreed. It's fortunate when one can find someone they can truly rely on to care for their chickens. We have no one available that I feel I can trust even if paid. Everyone else has their own responsibilities also. Other than errands or a trip to the grocery store, we haven't been away even for a day excursion in almost two years.

Our chickens like a set schedule. On a day when I'm not well and don't get out on scheduled time to let them out, clean, etc. they seem stressed with timing being off.

It's what I signed up for when we chose to have chickens; all a personal choice. I realize they would survive just fine if we chose to go on an overnight but I'd rather spend the money on chicken things or house projects.

 

[Appalachickens]

Sorry I just saw this reply. No, I can't leave because no one can watch her. I have parrots too, and while my parents would be willing to watch them, asking someone to pick up chicken poop is a whole other story. I'm happy with my life though. I'm an introvert and spend most of my time at home anyway. I just wanted to let others know because chickens definitely weren't meant to be indoors (not that any birds are) but it's almost impossible to handle an indoor chicken properly. It's a lot of work and this work will go on for years!

I agree about the indoor chickens. And I get what you’re saying - the Covid lockdown was a bit of a relief for this introvert! But my homebodyness is in competition with my wanderlust.

 

[Appalachickens]

Agreed. It's fortunate when one can find someone they can truly rely on to care for their chickens. We have no one available that I feel I can trust even if paid. Everyone else has their own responsibilities also. Other than errands or a trip to the grocery store, we haven't been away even for a day excursion in almost two years.

Our chickens like a set schedule. On a day when I'm not well and don't get out on scheduled time to let them out, clean, etc. they seem stressed with timing being off.

It's what I signed up for when we chose to have chickens; all a personal choice. I realize they would survive just fine if we chose to go on an overnight but I'd rather spend the money on chicken things or house projects.

Thanksgiving will be a mini trial run for my chickens being on their own. Just two nights, but I’ll fill the treadle feeder full, top off the two 10-gallon waterer and put a big bowl of wet mash and fruit out. I’m sure they won’t like the disruption in routine, but we live in a place that isn’t convenient for someone to stop by. The real finagling will come next fall when we take a long trip - I’m still working on he logistics of that! Fortunately, the coop is open to a secure run and deep bedding, so clean up is a non-issue.