Poll on flock toys — please answer if possible!

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Great thread. Thanks for the tag. When mine were tiny they enjoyed the mirror in their brooder, now it’s hanging in their coop so they can check their feathers before going out each morning In their run they have a sandbox and about 30’ of roost bars at different heights that they love. Each day they get access to our big yard that has a sandpit, tree stumps, and old flower pot with dirt in it (on its side so like a cave) and there’s 5 trees that have ladders and perches in them. Their favorite toy is our pig. All get along great and absolutely love each other.

Adult chickens enjoy mirrors as well. Its a tool if I have to bring a hen inside the house for medical reasons. If alone, a mirror in a safe location will be inviting to a solo friend. In my experiences! An alone chicken is a sad chicken who can become stressed and in result making immune system compromised a bit and counterproductive to healing

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

I just looked at the poll and it says 'flock toys'. What is considered a flock toy? If stuff from nature is included as flock toys then yes! LEAVES!! Chickens love piles of leaves! But, thats cause theres a possible buggy in there!
I cant think of any 'toy' not food driven the chickens will play with....I have a ping pong ball that seems to float around the run tho. Dust bath seems to bring a certain amount of pleasure enrichment too. No buggies in the dust bath

 

[The Welch Chickens]

What is considered a flock toy?

I meant small, colorful toys such as parrot toys. I explained it in my first post rather than in the title

small, colorful toys (that don’t involve food) such as xylophones, ropes with bells, mirrors, balls, tiny drums, etc.

 

[KimbosKluckers]

Adult chickens enjoy mirrors as well. Its a tool if I have to bring a hen inside the house for medical reasons. If alone, a mirror in a safe location will be inviting to a solo friend. In my experiences! An alone chicken is a sad chicken who can become stressed and in result making immune system compromised a bit and counterproductive to healing

Great idea for an alone chicken!

 

[The Welch Chickens]

Adult chickens enjoy mirrors as well. Its a tool if I have to bring a hen inside the house for medical reasons. If alone, a mirror in a safe location will be inviting to a solo friend. In my experiences! An alone chicken is a sad chicken who can become stressed and in result making immune system compromised a bit and counterproductive to healing

Do you think putting a mirror with a sick (and therefore isolated) chicken is a good idea? I have an egg bound hen alone in my basement right now. I wonder if she’d like that.

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

Do you think putting a mirror with a sick (and therefore isolated) chicken is a good idea? I have an egg bound hen alone in my basement right now. I wonder if she’d like that.

I am not sure about that. She will be feeling lonely without seeing any other chickens, but egg bound hens get killed by the flock members if they show they are egg bound, so that might stress her at the same time. Try it out and see, I guess?

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

An egg bound hen needs epsom salt baths imo. Afterwards a nice quite place to rest. Another epsom salt in 4hours.... I would not use a mirror in an egg bound hen. I was thinking more like a medical emergency that requires your immediate action. When Patient ripped her comb off, i had to rush her inside, clean the wound, and keep her in as clean an environment as possible. Her little setup included a mirror. I kept her inside for 9 days while that wound healed and she always gravitated to that mirror and bed. Its safe to say that a mirror can be a help in certain situations.

I am not sure about that. She will be feeling lonely without seeing any other chickens, but egg bound hens get killed by the flock members if they show they are egg bound, so that might stress her at the same time. Try it out and see, I guess?

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

An egg bound hen needs epsom salt baths imo. Afterwards a nice quite place to rest. Another epsom salt in 4hours.... I would not use a mirror in an egg bound hen. I was thinking more like a medical emergency that requires your immediate action. When Patient ripped her comb off, i had to rush her inside, clean the wound, and keep her in as clean an environment as possible. Her little setup included a mirror. I kept her inside for 9 days while that wound healed and she always gravitated to that mirror and bed. Its safe to say that a mirror can be a help in certain situations.

Of course! Treat her first and then let her rest.

 

[Lavender Wraps]

Well, with my hens, an old tire without the rim makes a good dust bath, an occasional egg laid in one. They like a thin board stuck into the wire at a corner, good outdoor roosting. Other than chasing a bug around the outdoor run they are dead heads when it comes to play. Dust bath, roost and food, end of story.

Oh yes, our new Bantam Rooster likes to play, attacks me every chance he gets, lol!

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

Oh yes, our new Bantam Rooster likes to play, attacks me every chance he gets, lol!

Chickens do not play fight because it is useless for their survival. If your rooster is attacking you then he is showing you aggression and something needs to be done because that means being around him is a risk.