Maybe the dumbest question I have ever had to ask.

[jessierose]

Should I provide some sort of play things or entertainment for my chicks? They seem...bored in their brooders.
Do you guys give them anything to do? Can they be bored or are they just busy growing up?
Sorry to ask such a silly question.

 

[wjallen05]

too funny!! I just cut down branches and put them in there, they love to hop and jump all over them. It is also quite entertaining to put a cricket, or a piece of bread, etc in there and watch them chase each other around fighting over it.

 

[Judy]

In nature, they would be out pecking for food with Mama, exploring their world, so it only makes sense to me that they would be bored in a brooder.

 

[Ashmeade]

My kids growing up used to play "chicken football" with our chicks.

You get your team, works best if you have something like yellow chicks and black chicks (something to easily tell the difference between the teams).

Then you get a little ball of paper and toss it in the "field" and watch...

It is a HOOT! My kids never tired of it and the chicks had fun with it also.

 

[sred98]

I put in sticks and branches, too. Also big piles of greens (grass, clover, dandelions, etc). Larger rocks for them to climb on, and things like that.

Shelly

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Try giving them a big cricket, spider, etc. THAT will entertain them and you!

 

[chickerdoodle]

I plan on using toys to keep them from getting into trouble. My little parrot is a toy fiend and I bet the chickies would like toys too but perhaps not so elaborate. Maybe something dangling to peck at whether it be food or some shiny object like an old CD or pie pan. We are even going to put a swing for them in our run! A solid ball for them to peck around the brooder might be fun too.

 

[LarryPQ]

I put ina six-pack carboard divider (from bottled soda/beer) or a drink carrier from the gas station.

It is like a little chick tunnel/jungle gym.

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

I had a flat topped rock near one of the heat lamps that held heat that they loved to sit on or play king of the rock.

Shinny red cat ball that had a bell in it.

Different things for them to climb or roost on. I had an apple tree branch when they were itty, then swapped that out for a 2 x 4 that they would hunker down on and sleep. I had a plate holder that had dowels running along that I leaned up against the side of the brooder that they liked to climb up on.

And then chucks of sod and occasionally I'd sprinkle a little scratch and crumbles.

I think they do need something in there to keep them busy so they don't pick on each other.

So far, I've only raised two sets this spring and none of them ever picked on each other and to this day, I can't tell who is the leader. They all get along.

 

[ranchhand]

I steal "bizzy balls" from the cats! The downside is hearing jingle, jingle, jingle 24/7.