Outdoor run entertainment

[hockeygirl56]

I'm having a bit of a problem lately with what seems like boredom. I was hoping that the weather getting nicer and the girls going outside more would help, but I'm at the point of one of my girls bleeding and I'm about to have to quarantine her, which I feel really bad about

My run right now is plain jane - dirt covered by woodchips. I have a little grass box deal that I'm thinking I'll make bigger, and I'm gonna work on getting the hubby to help me build some roosts out there too, but are there any other ideas out there for what to put in the run for entertainment purposes? My chickens have it way better than a lot of other chickens that I've seen, with a nice big coop and run (or so it seems to me), and they get snacks every day to liven things up. I recently bought higher protein food (20%) to see if that'll help with the pecking, and while ordering egg cartons, I ordered some Avia 2000 I think it was called - supposed to help with pecking too. But anyway - back to my original thought process - I need ideas for what makes everyone else's chickens happy.
Below is a picture of what we call the "chicken ranch". The main shed is for storage, and the lean-to is where the chickens live. Run is attached and they go out there everyday, and I free range them when I'm able to watch them, which is usually a few times a week right now for a couple hrs each time. The lean-to is 10'x14', and the run is I believe 12'x14'. I have 8 chickens in that space. Seems like enough room to me, but correct me if I'm wrong!


This is the inside of the coop (although nest boxes have been moved to the other side and there are now 2 feeders and waterers under the roost). If this is not enough room on the roost, please let me know also - this is where a lot of arguments seem to happen too.

 

[Judy]

Space is a tricky thing. You're within the "formula" amount of space for 8 birds, but if it's not working, formulas don't do much good. You can put most anything that they can jump on, sit on, hide under, etc. out there, and just the change and having something new may help. Even moving them around may help. A flock block or a cabbage hung on a string might keep them busy for a while.

You might try watching them a while to see if you can identify a "lead pecker." If you can pick one out, you can remove that bird for several days, then reintroduce her, which will put her lower on the pecking order and will shake up the pecking order.

It looks like there is plenty of roost space. If the single higher one is 10' long, it's plenty for 8 birds. If some use the lower one, they could be squabbling for the "best" or higher one, but some nightly squabbling and jockeying for the "best" roost position is quite normal. I have 3 roosts which are all at the same height, and there is always some squabbling at roost time. They don't draw blood over it.

I also wonder about the pine chips in the run. They might enjoy at least an area of plain dirt in the run. You could also try sand, just for the change.

Here is a great writeup about space:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/700308/coop-and-run-size/0_20#post_9504811

 

[4 the Birds]

Your coop and run size look good. Additional roost bars and locations as well as multiple feeders will help minimize the blood shed. Squabbles often happen around the feeders and the chickens at the bottom of the pecking order always get the worst of it. A few stray bales or a wood bench also gives them something to climb on or huddle under. I put roost bars in my run as well. A fenced free range area is wonderful for the birds if you have the space.