How to keep my chicks happy

[janie's silkies]

I have one roo and 7 hens who have a nice size hen house and screened run, I use to let my chicks free range in my garden off the chicken house but we have our house on the market and I need to keep my garden looking sale ready. What is a good treat to put in their outdoor run to keep them busy? I thought about alfalfa cubes watered down over night? Any suggestions appreciated

 

[chickensamazing]

Do you mean like stuff for your chickens to play with our stuffed to make your garden look better?

 

[janie's silkies]

What are your thoughts on alfalfa cubes soaked in water the night before to give to my chickens to replace the greenery they usually eat in my garden?

 

[GitaBooks]

That could probably work, though I personally have never tried it. I know my chickens love to eat squash (like butternut squash), melons, watermelon (a favorite. They even eat some of the rind). They also like grass clippings (without chemicals on them), and others have said they love to eat greens.

My chickens spend the winter mostly inside of the barn. While it is large, there are a lot of them and they can get bored. Dust bathing, fun new perches (bark covered branches, stumps, ect), treats spread out on the ground (bits of bread, millet, corn or bugs), and sun bathing are all favorites among my chickens.

Good luck with your chickens!

 

[WYNot]

Buy lettuce or cabbage heads at the store and hang them in the run. Let them play tetherball while they eat.

 

[Mrs. K]

If you have a feed elevator, you can buy some wheat seed and germinate it. I did it most of the winter, 1/2 cup of wheat in a tin pie pan with drainage holes. I started a pan each day, and by day 7 there was a pan ready to be fed.

Mine ate it, but to be honest, they were not as impressed as I thought they would be in the dead of winter to get something green.

MRs K