Run Enrichment Ideas

[Elliemae1984]

Alright everyone, show me your ideas for run enrichment!

I have a split coop with a split run (each side is 4 feet by 20 feet) for a flock of silkies only, so they don’t really roost. We just built it this year so it’s our first winter with it.

Right now they get supervised free range time to stave off boredom but with the cold and snow coming (I’m in Ontario, Canada) that will have to be paused eventually. We will be wrapping the run so they can continue to use it as the temps drop and snow comes.

So, what kinds of things can be added to the run to keep them entertained through the winter months (and beyond)?

 

[TwoCrows]

In the winter when birds stay in the run due to weather, I will throw in a flake of Alfalfa hay. (3 strand which is mainly leaves, few stems). They will spend hours, even days scratching for leaves and seeds. Alfalfa is high in protein, vitamins, minerals and trace components they can't get from their feed. I also use a big mirror, (chickens love to look at themselves) ladders and stumps for levels to hop up on. Hanging cabbage or apples are a hit too.

 

[SueT]

Branches!

 

[Bananabread]

Branches are also perfect for draping edible leaves and vegetables down from without any effort at all for them to entertain themselves with. While I hate to endorse amazon...we got some perfect chicken feeding skewers that we can hang almost any type of vegetable that also work great.

We grow nasturtiums around our home which are perfect because they grow like weeds and chickens love them (the flowers are edible human treats on salads too!)

 

[thecatumbrella]

If you have the space, install a dig box! We made ours out of pine 2x6s and planter wall blocks. It's full of mulch, peat moss, and herbs. We throw in scratch grains, sprouts, weeds, etc... so there's always something to find. They also use it for dust bathing, and love to perch on the edge.

 

[alinas2010]

Do silkies dust bathe? Maybe you could add a shallow dust bathing bucket to their run; that’s one of the things mine only get to do in their run so it kills some boredom when they’re stuck in there.

Maybe some piles of hay and leaves with treats hidden in them to scratch through in the winter.

 

[Sally PB]

Sometimes, "different" is enough to be "new." Move things around. Take something out, put it back a week or month later

 

[SueT]

Ooh, I know something they might like. Take a net and catch a bunch of grasshoppers and let them go in the run.…my chickens love a grasshopper party!

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Alright everyone, show me your ideas for run enrichment!

I have a split coop with a split run (each side is 4 feet by 20 feet) for a flock of silkies only, so they don’t really roost. We just built it this year so it’s our first winter with it.

Right now they get supervised free range time to stave off boredom but with the cold and snow coming (I’m in Ontario, Canada) that will have to be paused eventually. We will be wrapping the run so they can continue to use it as the temps drop and snow comes.

So, what kinds of things can be added to the run to keep them entertained through the winter months (and beyond)?

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Benches! My chickens love the bench I gave them it’s short so even my silkies can join in! I just used a board and bricks. By the way I just love your silkies!!!

 

[Sally PB]

Colorful, noise making bird toys are always a good investment,

Around Christmas 2020, I got some large jingle bells that were red, silver, and green. Shiny! Sparkly! Jingly!

The chickens totally ignored them.

I'm going to put them out again this year and see if the pullets might give them a peck or two.