how do you entertain your chickens?

[popcornpuppy]

Try catching a few moths and put them in with the chickens. The chickens will get alot of exercise and excitement from trying to catch the moths. If that doesn't work, then try the song and dance rutine!

 

[Crazy4cochins]

I rake up small piles in their pen and then they all go at it,scratin
all my hard work in a scattered mess, keeps them busy and they are all talikn it's fun to watch how excited they get. My DH always asks me why I am wasting my time doing that if they mess it up and I just smile and tell him " Because they like it"

 

[Happy Chooks]

Mine mostly entertain themselves.....chasing butterflies, my RIR pullet charges at my German Shepherd dog even though she's separated by a fence, dust baths, etc.

But they do LOVE it when I bring them watermelons or a big pile of weeds. Cucumber rates pretty high too.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Oh and I'll roll a ripe plum from my tree on the ground, and they chase it, then play keep away.

 

[smileysal]

You gotta try plain cooked spaghetti, my lot have it every morning and it's the highlight of the day watching them steal it off each other, grab big beakfuls and run off where they think no-one can see them, flicking it over each other etc, it's useful for dosing the wormer too, just stir a bit in then I know they're all getting some!!!

We hang allsorts up in the run, they particularly like corn on the cob, potato tops, turnip tops, cabbage/cauli leaves, make sure you hang them just higher than the hens then watch them jump, it's good exercise for them and nutritious too, not to mention entertaining!!!

Ours also have a mirror, they love looking at themselves! But then again they are spoilt girls!!!

 

[Suziers]

I have a suet feeder cage filled with suet in their for them to peck at.

I also have a screw on a hanging chain that I hang cooked ear corn and apples on so they can peck at that. It is fun to watch. It looks like a a game of chicken (oh shoot now I can't think of that game with a ball tied to a pole) but it is fun.

I also toss in scratch and weeks from the yard.

 

[kentucky dixie]

Quote:
chicken tether ball? too funny!

 

[DDRanch]

I hang whole apples in the run, within reach of course. Also, I hang lettuce, swiss chard, and whatever other greens are in my garden.

When I clean the run out, I will toss a flake of straw in the middle and they love to scatter it around.

Also, like new2chooks, watermelon on a hot day (outside the run when they free range as it will attract bees and wasps) and ripe plums.

My girls don't like cabbage either, but a head of lettuce is gone pretty quickly.

 

[PoultryGirl14]

I love to entertain my chickens, here are some ways I do it...

1. when dropping by the grocery store I buy 1$ white bread, then I take it home and tear off little bites, then just throw one slice and they will all go chasing after it. but make sure that every chicken gets some

.

2. laser pointer... need I say more?

3.if your chickens are pinned up inside a lot, you can take them outside one-by-one and let them graze. they LOVE sun, grass, and room! just keep an eye out for hawks.

4. grab something to sit on, a book, or something to do, and go sit INSIDE your chicken coop minding your own business. your chickens will be very curious and they will investigate you the whole time. E.g of things to do...( reciting something, reading the bible, school or homework, reading, righting, drawing (pictures of your chickens of course) and so on).

5. and this one sound a little crazy, take your chicken on a bike ride. yes I do this, and I get my neighbors laughing and petting my chicken all the time. for this you need a small, obedient chicken, i use my most tame one, Andrew. just hold the chicken with one hand and the steering wheel with the other. A towel may come in handy.
you can take your chicken to an empty lot and have a picnic! it super fun but make sure that you get pictures!
P.s you can also do this but walking instead.

6. go around your yard and find crickets, worms, and so on, then put them in a container and one-by-one feed them to your chickens (chickens will only eat some thing if they are alive, so make sure your chickens know that).
Then you have a mini football game going on!
P.s its much funner if you narrate it, giving your little football players nick names like Boulder, browser, speed, flash, and ninja.

7. painting with chickens! (with, not on)
grab a small obedient chicken (bantams work great), some paint, paper, water in a cup, and a paper towel.
take the chicken, have him/her walk in the paint then on the paper, you will get awesome results! make sure the chickens feet are clean and the paint is toxic free. then frame and hang the picture. when someone asks about it, just say..." oh, yea, my chicken painted that" (said in normal voice).
P.s or you could paint the chicken coop, just make sure the chickens are out of the way!

8.have a photo shoot! (even more cute with chicks!)
set up a theme, flowers, colored sheet, brick wall, or small toy barn. place chicken and shoot away! with your camera of course!
use props like little hats or capes, little glasses and so on.
switch chickens every one in a wile, you don't want your babies to get sick or stressed.

9. grab a friend and a chicken and play a game with a chicken in your lap, wile your busy playing, the chicken will get used to you. a fun thing to do is ask your chicken what card to play or were to go, as if he could really hear you.

10. # 9. also works with movies.

11. if you have ducks, have a pool party! with snacks and towels and decorations!
take time to plan the party, and make sure your ducks look "Amazing" before and after the party.

12. teach your chicken or chickens an obstical course! place treats at the end of each obstical, and make sure to make videos!

13. speaking of videos, make a video! it doesn't have to be long, you can also make a commercial for a hair product or something funny like that.

14. take a family photo!

15. read to your chicken.

16. take your chicken to town. warning: if your chicken is flighty of disobedient, don't do this. make sure you always have a grip on your chicken. have a towel around him or her. and know where you can and cant go. for instance, you CAN go into places like tractor supply, feed stores, and pet co (careful, there may be dogs!) but you CANT go into places like burger king and Walmart.
going through drive throughs is an option or sitting outside at Sonic. have someone other than yourself driving like your mom or dad.

I hope this helps! just know that basically, you can do anything with your chicken! so make up some of your own ideas, and have fun!
p.s I have done and had success with everything on this list.

-PoultryGirl14

 

[One Chick Two]

I love to entertain my chickens, here are some ways I do it...

1. when dropping by the grocery store I buy 1$ white bread, then I take it home and tear off little bites, then just throw one slice and they will all go chasing after it. but make sure that every chicken gets some

.

2. laser pointer... need I say more?

3.if your chickens are pinned up inside a lot, you can take them outside one-by-one and let them graze. they LOVE sun, grass, and room! just keep an eye out for hawks.

4. grab something to sit on, a book, or something to do, and go sit INSIDE your chicken coop minding your own business. your chickens will be very curious and they will investigate you the whole time. E.g of things to do...( reciting something, reading the bible, school or homework, reading, righting, drawing (pictures of your chickens of course) and so on).

5. and this one sound a little crazy, take your chicken on a bike ride. yes I do this, and I get my neighbors laughing and petting my chicken all the time. for this you need a small, obedient chicken, i use my most tame one, Andrew. just hold the chicken with one hand and the steering wheel with the other. A towel may come in handy.
you can take your chicken to an empty lot and have a picnic! it super fun but make sure that you get pictures!
P.s you can also do this but walking instead.

6. go around your yard and find crickets, worms, and so on, then put them in a container and one-by-one feed them to your chickens (chickens will only eat some thing if they are alive, so make sure your chickens know that).
Then you have a mini football game going on!
P.s its much funner if you narrate it, giving your little football players nick names like Boulder, browser, speed, flash, and ninja.

7. painting with chickens! (with, not on)
grab a small obedient chicken (bantams work great), some paint, paper, water in a cup, and a paper towel.
take the chicken, have him/her walk in the paint then on the paper, you will get awesome results! make sure the chickens feet are clean and the paint is toxic free. then frame and hang the picture. when someone asks about it, just say..." oh, yea, my chicken painted that" (said in normal voice).
P.s or you could paint the chicken coop, just make sure the chickens are out of the way!

8.have a photo shoot! (even more cute with chicks!)
set up a theme, flowers, colored sheet, brick wall, or small toy barn. place chicken and shoot away! with your camera of course!
use props like little hats or capes, little glasses and so on.
switch chickens every one in a wile, you don't want your babies to get sick or stressed.

9. grab a friend and a chicken and play a game with a chicken in your lap, wile your busy playing, the chicken will get used to you. a fun thing to do is ask your chicken what card to play or were to go, as if he could really hear you.

10. # 9. also works with movies.

11. if you have ducks, have a pool party! with snacks and towels and decorations!
take time to plan the party, and make sure your ducks look "Amazing" before and after the party.

12. teach your chicken or chickens an obstical course! place treats at the end of each obstical, and make sure to make videos!

13. speaking of videos, make a video! it doesn't have to be long, you can also make a commercial for a hair product or something funny like that.

14. take a family photo!

15. read to your chicken.

16. take your chicken to town. warning: if your chicken is flighty of disobedient, don't do this. make sure you always have a grip on your chicken. have a towel around him or her. and know where you can and cant go. for instance, you CAN go into places like tractor supply, feed stores, and pet co (careful, there may be dogs!) but you CANT go into places like burger king and Walmart.
going through drive throughs is an option or sitting outside at Sonic. have someone other than yourself driving like your mom or dad.

I hope this helps! just know that basically, you can do anything with your chicken! so make up some of your own ideas, and have fun!
p.s I have done and had success with everything on this list.

-PoultryGirl14