Feather plucking

[Bickstead]

I'm not a fan of food as entertainment, as it's too temporary, too much of it can throw off their nutritional intake, and it doesn't really replace foraging as far as exercise and nutritional variety.

If you garden and have any dried grass clippings, pulled weeds / spent vegetable plants, dried leaves, straw, etc. you can throw a pile in the run and let them dig through that, it'll keep them busy for a good while.

You mentioned trying other items but not sure what exactly you've tried, so here's the big clutter thread for more ideas: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/page-6#post-25037140 Since your run isn't oversized you wouldn't want to use large scale items, but the idea is to give them variety and levels.

Thank you! I have a huge pile of pine needles, wasnt sure if that would work. Our leaves havent fallen yet, but when they do i plan on putting piles in for them to scratch through

 

[Bickstead]

I'm not a fan of food as entertainment, as it's too temporary, too much of it can throw off their nutritional intake, and it doesn't really replace foraging as far as exercise and nutritional variety.

If you garden and have any dried grass clippings, pulled weeds / spent vegetable plants, dried leaves, straw, etc. you can throw a pile in the run and let them dig through that, it'll keep them busy for a good while.

You mentioned trying other items but not sure what exactly you've tried, so here's the big clutter thread for more ideas: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/page-6#post-25037140 Since your run isn't oversized you wouldn't want to use large scale items, but the idea is to give them variety and levels.

Are the images somehwere else I can view them? When I click on them it says theyre not available