Keeping chicks "busy"...

[Want Less]

I have 6 chicks that are nearly 3 weeks old (3 RIR and 3 black sex links). Their brooder is a 60 gallon aquarium with a light at one end (now turning off during the day when it's warm out, it was 90* today), a large waterer and their feeder. The bottom is newspaper covered with pine shavings (I just introduced them to shavings last week). They also have two roosts to perch on, one higher than the other. I fill their feed twice a day, and try to take them out to play in the backyard & gardens for an hour or two a day.

These little girls are no doubt getting bored and as of late have started pecking down to the newspaper, tearing it up, and playing keep away with it (quite funny, they do this with leaves and such in the gardens too). I'm worried they'll eat some of the newspaper and/or shavings if I'm not attentive enough (please tell me if I'm being silly by thinking this). My question is... is there anything safe I can give them in the brooder to keep them busy and less destructive? Treats to nibble on, etc? Or just let them be? We are still building our outdoor coop so we have another week or so before we can let them play outside a little longer at the time.

Thanks for any thoughts and suggestions!

 

[SunnyDawn]

give them some lettuce or cabbage to peck at. They will love it! If they do ingest a little newspaper it should be fine. Most newspapers use plant based inks these days and a little won't hurt them (that's why the inks come off on your hands).

 

[Want Less]

Quote:
Wow... really? I just chopped up a metric ton of red & green cabbage this afternoon for massive amounts of coleslaw. I can give them the scraps I was going to toss out!

Thanks!!

 

[SaltLakeSpice]

I gave mine leaf vegies like lettuce that I had cut up a bit until they were 5 weeks old. now i just throw it in without cutting it up. Be sure they have some grit if you are going to add anything other than chick starter to their diet. I have also put in a mirror and a couple of cat toys (balls with bells in them and the like). They seem to like to kik them around and make them jingle.

 

[teach1rusl]

I'd take mine out and let them play in my doggie corral (wire attached). Couldn't you make a big loop of chicken wire and take them out for playtime each day???

 

[Want Less]

Quote:
I do take them out for 1-3 hours at the time in an enclosed area daily (as weather permits). Our coop is under construction, so as soon as it is done they will have more outdoor play time. We live on a horse farm and I can't leave them unattended or in anything non-cat proof because we do have a good hunting barn cat on the prowl...

 

[Want Less]

Quote:
Thanks! I will be sure to pick up some grit the next time I'm at the feed store.