I was told that my chickens were bored and they need more entertainment so they will stop pecking each other so much. I give them treats to peck at occasionally, but how else can I keep them entertained?
Hang a heavy duty string from the ceiling - they pull and pull at it thinking it's a worm. Make sure it doesn't come untied otherwise I think they'd eat it. I also do this w/ my chicks - it's quite hilarious.
I bought mine a parrot toy at a pet store. Some of them liked it. It had a bell to ring, lots of shiny things to peck...
Quote:10 chickens: 200 squre feet + a hanging feeder that is never alowed to be empty + occasional treats like bushes with lots of leaves, other yard debree, and scraps. Is that what you are talking about, or should I be doing more as far as land and food go? By the way....Heidi I love the string idea, I cant wait to get home and try it
Yep, mostly stuff they can forage through works great. I buy bales of hay, and break a nice flake off and let the flock enjoy it. I also throw a couple cobs of corn in the coop for them to work on. Some folks hang a head of cabbage for them. bigzio
Spread some straw around in the chicken yard, throw out handfuls of scratch that they have to scratch through the straw to find.
I hung one of those "wild bird bells" -- wild bird food compressed into the shape of a bell, dangling at beak height in the coop -- they had a wonderful time pecking it and playing chicken tetherball ... I understand that the millet and sunflower seeds in that mix are fine for chickens, not "fast food junk"
I have a hanging planter, the wire type. I fill it with cabbage, or lettuce or parsley so they can pick at it during the day.
I took a piece of rope and hung it in the run. I hang a whole head of cabbage on it and they stand their and pick at it. When one pecks it, it swings it towards another hen, she pecks it and it pushes it to another hen who pecks it and they continue to do that. Its not hard to entertain them,lol. I also pick a bunch of grass and let them peck it out of my hands. The goats get jealous and want it all the time though.