Stimulation?

[Chickenmama1614]

My rooster appears to be turning into a crabby man and my hens appear to be getting bored with the long cold winter months. What is a good inexpensive way to keep them entertained and docile until spring? I feel like they are becoming out of control and picking on each other more each day.

 

[Wezdin]

Hang a head of cabbage where the have to jump to get at it, that might help!

 

[Chickenmama1614]

Hang a head of cabbage where the have to jump to get at it, that might help!

Without risking injury to them what do you use to hang the cabbage?

 

[Wezdin]

I would use some kind of long needle-like thing to thread a string through the middle. I have not personally used the cabbage but other people have and it works. But from experience though, they do like to jump for hanging food. Good Luck!

 

[Peppercorngal]

I don't know your "setup", where you are located and the type of weather you have. I like to give my chickens a pat of rice straw (or bean straw). They spend hours tearing it up and finding the remaining rice and beans to eat. It also helps with mud or to insulate against the snow on the ground of the run. I also give them the cabbage. I've seen chicken swings, but I have never tried that.

 

[solidsnake]

BUGS! Nothing makes chickens go wild like some jumping crickets or wiggling meal worms. Also there's flock blocks, which is basically like a giant granola bar for chickens to hang and peck at. You can also get an empty can of Pringles, cut some small holes and fill it with scratch so they have to roll it around to get the treats.

 

[aart]

My rooster appears to be turning into a crabby man and my hens appear to be getting bored with the long cold winter months. What is a good inexpensive way to keep them entertained and docile until spring? I feel like they are becoming out of control and picking on each other more each day.

Chicken Cabin Fever is Real, and it can be Ugly.
How big is your coop and run?
Dimensions and pics(inside and out) would help immensely.

I have lots of roosts in the coop, and it's sized well for my climate(they just spent 2 days confined to coop due to a blizzard) and the fact that my run is not weather proofed.
Tossing down a flake of hay, or some BOSS to scratch for in the coop bedding can help.

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!