How to stop chicken boredom

[miss jay's mama]

What do you all do to keep your chickies from getting bored?? I won't let them free range because too many stray dogs and other predators in the area.They don't go out in their run that much now that the temps have dropped. I only have six so I'm afraid to over feed them with treats. Any suggestions

 

[glowworm]

If you have any Fall leaves, you can put a layer on the ground in their run. It gives them something to scratch around in, and they will end up mulching the leaves. You can even save some of the leaves to put in next month.

I have read that some people here will make cabbage/lettuce hanging balls. If you do a search you could probably find more info.

Sorry...its not that cold here and I let my chickens free range so I can't help much. Hope other people answer

 

[Buff Hooligans]

This is a common concern. Here's a thread about chicken entertainment that went on for several pages:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=17784

 

[miss jay's mama]

Thanks for the ideas. That thread had ALOT of good ones.

 

[scooter147]

I hang cabbage from the ceiling, I hang just far enough off the ground they kind of have to jump to get to it (exercise to try to avoid the winter fat

)
I throw scratch or black sunflower into their litter in the coop, you don't need much just a few handfulls. They will spend quite a bit of time scratching for the pieces of grain.
The leaves in the run is a great idea as well, it's kind of like giving a cat a empty box or bag they spend hours entertaining themselves.