Planning out my WIR. What toys/things to include

[4Hchickenproject]

I discovered by accident that my young hens enjoy getting their feet wet. I found a large pan that went with a large flower pot, you know, the bottom portion that catches the water to be absorbed through the bottom of the pot... I keep that filled, and there's one in it nearly all the time.

 

[shesaredroan]

I'm in Texas, these days it's HOT & DRY with below average rainfall.

Everything is brown, we've been having 95 to 104 temps with 30 mph winds that are sucking out what little bit of moisture the ground has left.

I have a friend who has a hard plastic baby's pool in her chicken's run, she keeps an inch or two of water in it for her chickens to cool their feet.

I have a small oval wash tub (18" X 10", about 5" deep) in my run that I keep filled with water for the flock to drink from. I started letting the water overflow the tub and wet the ground around it (I have sandy soil). The girls have scratched out a good size hole around the tub (about 3' across, 1" to 2" deep). Now when I fill the tub and let it run over, it fills the hole too. The flock truly enjoys walking around in the shallow water and scratching in the wet sand. The hole holds water for a couple of hours, then drys out. This is when the girls start digging again to get down to the cooler damp soil. It keeps them busy/active and happy. They are creating their own "baby pool".

I've never had to dig holes for my girls......they dig their own dust baths, then I periodically throw in a little DE, so they dust themselves for mites.

 

[bryan99705]

Just a outside roost and a area to dust bathe in. Agree with rethinking the mister and consider a large shade like a fly on a tent.

If you really want to spoil them, start raising meal worms, they will sit on you and follow you like puppies.

 

[Chicka-boom Chicka-boom]

I love these runs and the "cool" ideas from the various members. Our run is nearing completion but I think we can and will use some of these great ideas. Thanks

Here is a pic of our coop and unfinished covered run

 

[sharol]

Very nice. It looks wonderful.

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