Run Toys

[Sunny-Side Up]

Hi everyone!
I'm going to be getting a new flock soon and I want to add a few things to my run to make it more interesting for them. I already have a grass box, a tree, and a play roost, but does anyone have any suggestions or ideas? I want to make a dust bathing area, too. I know that people just use old tires, but I currently don't have any. Are there any suggestions for a simple but effective dust bath? Also, I'm aware of several treats (like apples covered with stuff) that you can hang in the run and let chickens peck at them, but are there any other ideas?
Thanks ahead for helping? If you have anything else that I could add to my coop to make it more convenient or fun, please post. Thanks!

 

[Duckstruck]

I'm not sure if other people have any tricks up their sleeve, but my chickens are content with just basic areas to forge and dust bathe, although they go CRAZY for watermelon. They'll peck it clean! I think scattering some scratch may be entertaining for them to pick at (as you can tell, they are definitely FOOD MOTIVATED!). They're's also seed pecking blocks. Where I find them in co-op, they're a little pricy, but I'm sure there is a recipe for it. My chickens love it when I churn the soil up in earthy areas because it promises bugs. Hope this helps!

 

[Sunny-Side Up]

Thanks!

 

[Nooreddin]

Hey, try to hang a cabbage from a string at a pretty high height, and then just let the chickens peck at it and eat it away. My chickens loved it!

 

[nminusyplusm]

Deep litter in the run and coop keeps my flock entertained all day. They also have a dust bath in a rubber livestock feed bowl which is a necessity since their run has straw. I also built them a swing which they hilariously fight over.

 

[kesrchicky16]

My local feed store sells a "poultry block" it looks like seeds pressed in molasses. I think I'll try that for entertainment this winter. It's the same price as a bag of feed and almost as heavy. Yes I know it's a treat and not food but it should keep them busy and last longer then cabbage.

 

[Diannastarr]

i gave my Colombian Wyandott chicks a colorful toy they loved it. its was such fun watching them interact with their colorful new toy . i put a cheerios box in their play area, and a fire works poster in with them to ,it was very exciting to them they looked at it for hours, and would run around excited then run back to go look at the colors again , similar to what children would do. they would look at the colorful board then look up at me like to express their excitement at what they were seeing....lol.... it was really amazing to watch them HA, i had no idea they would act like that..! i even had to take it away so they would go to sleep HA, like children would be acting with a new toy....lol..

 

[nminusyplusm]

LOL! That's hilarious and brilliant!

i gave my Colombian Wyandott chicks a colorful toy they loved it. its was such fun watching them interact with their colorful new toy . i put a cheerios box in their play area, and a fire works poster in with them to ,it was very exciting to them they looked at it for hours, and would run around excited then run back to go look at the colors again , similar to what children would do. they would look at the colorful board then look up at me like to express their excitement at what they were seeing....lol.... it was really amazing to watch them HA, i had no idea they would act like that..! i even had to take it away so they would go to sleep HA, like children would be acting with a new toy....lol.. View attachment 1146298 View attachment 1146299 View attachment 1146300 View attachment 1146297

 

[Diannastarr]

LOL! That's hilarious and brilliant!

hi there new Mexico neighbor yes it was great fun just watching our chicks having such a great time....HA it was almost better then watching tv....lol..

 

[micstrachan]

I have seen on Pinterest water bottles with holes drilled so they have to roll it around to get the goods (feed, scratch, whatever) to fall out the holes. Haven't tried it yet myself.