Official BYC Poll: How Do You Keep Your Chickens Happy?

[SueT]

I like to think I spend quality time with my chickens....talking to them, handling them, taming the skittish ones, teaching them various behaviors.

They seem to like being with me, or is it just about the sunflower seeds?

 

[3KillerBs]

My "other" is twofold.

First: I try to set up the conditions where they can be chickens and do chicken things. Foraging, digging, dustbathing, sunbathing, working out their flock dynamics, etc. I try to give them options -- to go in or out in whatever weather they find suitable, to dustbathe in the moist, shady section in the composted pine straw or the dry, sandy section under the pallet-on-blocks, to perch in the shade or perch in the sun. And so on.

Second: I give them things to do inside their pen/run. I do not consider this "toys" because to me a toy for an animal is something extra and maybe a bit gimmicky. I give them things to shelter under, things to sit on top of, things to dig through, etc.

I didn't know about the "forest floor" concept of run design when I formed my practices but that's what I'm aiming for. I try to keep in mind that chickens know how to be chickens better than I know how to be a chicken.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

everything but free range. they have the fenced in yard and anything else requires a harness and their tags on just in case (ducks not chickens)

 

[Sally PB]

I bet my chickens would be happier if they could free range, until a hawk or other predator got them. I try to give them treats that a good for them that they like; I hunted Japanese Beetles for hours a couple months ago. They aren't lap chickens and don't like to be petted, but they do come up to me and eat from my hand. I talk to them, clean up after them, and do my best to keep them healthy and calm. I think healthy, calm chickens are probably happy chickens.

 

[little blue coop]

My husband sings to them while they perch on his arm. And they love the swing we put in the run.

 

[BDutch]

My "other" is twofold.

First: I try to set up the conditions where they can be chickens and do chicken things. Foraging, digging, dustbathing, sunbathing, working out their flock dynamics, etc. I try to give them options -- to go in or out in whatever weather they find suitable, to dustbathe in the moist, shady section in the composted pine straw or the dry, sandy section under the pallet-on-blocks, to perch in the shade or perch in the sun. And so on.

Second: I give them things to do inside their pen/run. I do not consider this "toys" because to me a toy for an animal is something extra and maybe a bit gimmicky. I give them things to shelter under, things to sit on top of, things to dig through, etc.

I didn't know about the "forest floor" concept of run design when I formed my practices but that's what I'm aiming for. I try to keep in mind that chickens know how to be chickens better than I know how to be a chicken.

Totally agree on letting chickens be chickens and provide plenty of space to keep them healthy and happy.

Good food is not to keep them happy but to keep them healthy. That and bc I like healthy eggs is why I give my chickens organic food.

With treats you can make chickens happy. Eg. mine love boiled rice. This makes them super happy. But its not a healthy food.

Many (especially flighty) chickens don’t like to be picked up or cuddled. This doesn’t make them happy.

 

[Chicken_loverXx]

My other would definitely be cuddling with them (well with the ones that Like to be picked up that is) and feeding them their favourite treat dried meal worms. And lots of other things but these are the main things

 

[kikiruru]

When I raised chickens (they were my boss’s) they were more like pets to me

most would let me hold and cuddle them and would sit on my arms and would eat out of my hands

a couple were too scared to be picked up and would peck my hands and arms when I did pick them up so I stopped picking them up

 

[shineandrise]

I talk to them a lot... from 'good morning' to how pretty they are. I do believe they enjoy that I do talk to them.

That's what I do!

 

[City Farmer Jim]

Free range is tied with spending time with the chickens for us at Snowflake Farm. This is our head hen Chanel, as you can see she likes to visit with me when we are outside. Life is so much better with chickens in it...can't imagine why we wanted so long to do it.