Planning out my WIR. What toys/things to include

[sharol]

I have two recycled sawhorses ($3 from an auction) and 3 bales of straw (stacked, 1 on top of 2 for shade) in my run. I love the log, but I don't have a structured roof, just netting, so that won't work for me. I was thinking about using an old swing set with replacement logs for the swings and stuff, but I haven't found one cheap enough.

 

[BoltonChicken]

Yesterday I saw the "roost swing" for the first time.

By 10:00 a.m. this morning, as if by magic, my chickens ALSO had one!

 

[dbounds10]

We have a couple big stumps with a log across it and they love to play on that. I also have a suet cage hanging that i put veggies in. Under the coop in the shade I have 2 gallon jugs of frozen water that they lay up against.

As for the misters, I disagree with the other poster. I live in N Texas and we have some humid days. Unless it is like 80-90% I use my misters in the outdoor run when the temp is above 90. They love it and lay under the mist and play in it all day. If the choose to get out of it they can.

You can see the mist in this picture and they are all under it. To the left are the logs they play on and if you look just under the ramp, you can see one of the frozen jugs.

 

[ForgottenGlen]

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[ForgottenGlen]

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This is an awesome run! I've been trying to think of ways to add seating that I wont have to depoop if I want to go sit with them. Do they hang out on the stumps too or mainly just the suspended log?

 

[dbounds10]

Thanks!
Mainly they just hang out on the log, i do sit on the stumps with them at treat time. So far I have not sat in poop but I am certain it is in my future...

Here is a better pic that shows the top also

 

[chicktwins]

Love that run!!!

 

[luvinrunnin]

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I LOVE this pic!!!! We added hardware cloth onto an existing pen with zip ties and ours looks just like that too! LOL

 

[CarolynF]

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I was just talking to my mom about how chickens were cared for in Eastern Wash. back "in the day". That part of our state is very dry and very hot like your area. She said the birds would hide under bushes down near the river, and would scratch the dirt near the garden, down to where it was damp so they could cool their feet. It's similar to what I've read elsewhere about providing shallow pools for the birds to cool their feet. Maybe you'd like to include something like that.

 

[affacat]

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Oh, that's such a great idea. We have fun letting our chicks jump up to peck our fingers... the game is now ON with a cabbage.