Entertaining bored chicks

[wanda047]

I am using two large aquariums for brooders right now since I have 20 baby chicks (and more hatching tonight!). In the past my chicks have always seemed restless and bored, so I decided to try and find a way to entertain them... or at least let them entertain themselves.

I located an old aquarium ornament which resembles a stump, with holes in four sides, just the right size for my chicks to run in and out of. They spend a large portion of their day running in and out of this, climbing on top of it, and some even take a nap on top of it.

I also have a piece of petrified wood which they like to climb on and play "King of the Mountain." They are really fun to watch.

Nightly the children fetch moths from the outside lights to give the chicks for treats. Watching them chase each other and fight over the moth is not only good exercise for them... but entertaining for the family as well.

OH... and on another note, I also located an old heat rock I previously used for my son's pet lizard. The chicks love it!!

These are just some ideas I thought I'd pass along to others who have "bored" chicks .

 

[SeramaLife]

AAAAAWWWWWW!!!!!! thanks!

Love the snoozing chick on the stump!

 

[Becky_H]

I give my chicks 'parakeet' set ups, with perches and toys with bells and mirrors. They have a BLAST with them, and it definitely keeps them from just aimlessly milling about and peeping.

 

[Judy]

I think this is a great thread. I'm just not that creative, though I can comfort myself that I gave them a few things, little 1" high roosts, things to climb on....

I wonder how many pecking/attack sorts of problems could be prevented with a little more entertainment.... I even wonder if they sometimes get lethargic out of sheer boredom.

 

[cmom]

Great ideas and great pics!!!

 

[wanda047]

Quote:
I did consider a mirror, but since I already have 20 of the little monsters in there, decided it wasn't necessary. However... love the bell idea. I'll have to try that out.

If any of you spend much time in the wild or on a farm with livestock, you'll notice that all baby animals "play". That includes baby calves, fawns, squirrels, etc. Why not baby chicks?

 

[nwgirl]

Those photos are great and your chicks absolutely adorable!

I tried giving my chicks some parakeet toys once, but they weren't interested. However they made excellent photo props. They seem to enjoy my attention more than anything and often have me feeling like I am their own personal jungle jim/jill

The stump and heated rock are great ideas. I saw once where someone had used a Glad sandwich bag box for the chicks to nestle in, which might work well for someone who can't find an aquarium stump.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[LizzyJo]

I've seen baby chicks play. They fly up and attack like fighting cocks and then run away. This was at about 3 weeks of age when I would let them out of the dog crate innto the temporary play yard I made for them. This was before the graduated to the chicken mansion my son-in-law built. Now that they're older (3 months) they get their play by fighting over weeds and bugs I toss into their run. Come to think of it, this probably isn't play; to a chicken it's survival (they think). I guess it's my entertainment, not theirs.

 

[Chickn chick 46]

Great ideas! Adorable pics too!

Someone on another thread mentioned putting some crickets in the brooder. I thought that would be great fun for the chicks.

Keep em coming!