Tried to add something cool and the girls hate it

[urbangardengirl]

Today I noticed one of my neighbours having a tree cut down. I joyfully walked over and asked if I could have a section of the stump to put in my coop for the girls to climb on and add a little something new to break up possible boredom.

Well, you would think I put a bag of snakes and a couple of hawks in there with them!

I was afraid for awhile they were going to hurt themselves or each other trying to fly through the hardware cloth to get out. They cower on the other end of their run and have been screaming ever since. Will see if they accept it in the morning and if not, guess I have to pull it out. Sheesh! No good deed goes unpunished.

 

[chrissynemetz]

Chickens hate change.

^^^ this
Chickens hate change. Give them a little while, and once they realize the scary old tree stump isn't gonna eat them they'll be fine with it.

 

[sourland]

Chickens hate change.

 

[Coops Dad]

I put a few pallets leaning against one another to create a shelter in my chicken's run and they hated it for a week; they regarded it with deep distrust. Now it's everyone's favorite hangout.

Don't give up. They'll come to see it as part of their world soon enough.

 

[urbangardengirl]

Today I noticed one of my neighbours having a tree cut down. I joyfully walked over and asked if I could have a section of the stump to put in my coop for the girls to climb on and add a little something new to break up possible boredom.

Well, you would think I put a bag of snakes and a couple of hawks in there with them!

I was afraid for awhile they were going to hurt themselves or each other trying to fly through the hardware cloth to get out. They cower on the other end of their run and have been screaming ever since. Will see if they accept it in the morning and if not, guess I have to pull it out. Sheesh! No good deed goes unpunished.

Update ... I moved the stump away from their food and water to the other end of the run. Still has treats on it and this morning's treats are trailed to it for good measure. They are still wary, but not visibly upset so thank you all for your input and advice. Something tells me they will be perched atop it any day now. Pics are from yesterday.

 

[B-Goock]

This is what i kept thinking it would look like.

 

[Melky]

This is so funny I’m in the middle of putting a stump in myself and an adult swing for new fun.

 

[Byrd gal]

My girls are the opposite. We are putting wire over the run finally. We open the gate and let them run in the yard while we work. Now if we don't keep them out they want to "help". Skippy hears the nail gun and runs as fast as she can to do her part. Betty didn't even get off the air compressor when it kicked on. So curious.

 

[black_cat]

That's so strange, how old are they? Mine (adults) are pretty accepting of new things in their coop/run. Chicks are sometimes wary of new things.

 

[theoldchick]

Throw favorite treats near it and on it. Chickens are naturally afraid of anything new.