- Sep 3, 2010
- 33
- 5
- 79
What do you do to keep your chickens entertained in their coop?? I'm trying to improve their run so that they'll enjoy spending time in there. Pots of dirt, treat dispensers, ANY ideas are welcome! Desperate times.
Additional info: I have five hens (3 dom, 2 americana) that are all four years old. They have a giant enclosed run with, in my human opinion, a good assortment of things to do. They don't want to be in there at all and would understandably prefer to be out roaming freely. This has been ok as I'm typically around and can keep an eye on them and see that they are locked away safely each evening. When I travel, however, it's necessary for them to stay in the coop/run. I can usually "train" them to be content in there by starting a week or so ahead of a trip and bringing out the "big guns" of live mealworms, new veggies, pots of various dirt, radio, and melons. Then when I'm gone, my petsitter can keep up that routine. This year, they refuse to cooperate at all. They start their "barking" at 7:30AM and they are relentless until they get out. THEN they keep it up even when they have the whole 1/2 acre of privacy-fenced backyard to explore. I'm in a subdivision and my neighbors are cool, but this is ridiculous by any standard.
Additional info: I have five hens (3 dom, 2 americana) that are all four years old. They have a giant enclosed run with, in my human opinion, a good assortment of things to do. They don't want to be in there at all and would understandably prefer to be out roaming freely. This has been ok as I'm typically around and can keep an eye on them and see that they are locked away safely each evening. When I travel, however, it's necessary for them to stay in the coop/run. I can usually "train" them to be content in there by starting a week or so ahead of a trip and bringing out the "big guns" of live mealworms, new veggies, pots of various dirt, radio, and melons. Then when I'm gone, my petsitter can keep up that routine. This year, they refuse to cooperate at all. They start their "barking" at 7:30AM and they are relentless until they get out. THEN they keep it up even when they have the whole 1/2 acre of privacy-fenced backyard to explore. I'm in a subdivision and my neighbors are cool, but this is ridiculous by any standard.
