Lifestyle Enrichment for Chicks

[CovenantCreek]

Any ideas on "toys" for chicks stuck in brooders? It's gonna be awhile before it's warm enough to let them run around outside (the oldest are about a week old). I gave them some small leafed greens today that disappeared. Is that the best direction to go -- small edibles? I am putting some grit in with their feed, so hopefully their little crops will be able to do their jobs.

 

[MissJames]

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They like shiny things ,so maybe some marbles? I put some blocks of wood in my brooder and they loved hoping up on them.

 

[Mahonri]

How about some tiny/small cardboard boxes. I put some of those in my brooder and they loved it.

 

[mythkat]

Mealworms!! It's a hoot to watch them and it gets them used to getting treats from you. Remember to give them chick grit.

 

[Iceblink]

There was another thread about this recently, and someone suggested a large clump of weeds with the dirt still on. I thought it sounded great! Depending on where you live good luck finding a large weed though.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

I've heard mirrors are fun, but I haven't gotten around to trying that out just yet. Next brood with be the guinie-pigs.

 

[CovenantCreek]

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I have plenty of weeds....... I gave them some yesterday, a variety with chick-sized leaves. Didn't get to see what happened, but there was barely a trace of greenery left when I went back.

I think I might make a run to Petsmart today to look for some mealworms. That sounds like fun.

 

[bayouchica]

I've put a frisbie filled with play sand so they can dust bathe.

Mealworms or crickets are a hoot!!!

Enjoy your babies

 

[TXmom]

These are great ideas! I put a small cardboard box in the brooder yesterday...it was actually for my little gimpy chick who I was worried about. Well, he didn't like the box and ended up jumping out of it, so I laid the box over on it's side and they all went crazy wanting to sleep in it, next to it, and jumping on top of it.

 

[beakkeeper]

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