What do you use to entertain your chickens in your run?

[ninny]

pet stores sell neat containers that you put meal worms and other critters. The bugs can't get out or theres ones that the bugs come out one at a time.

 

[gsim]

Do not put food out in run unless it is enclosed overhead. You will attract crows, blacbirds, squirrels, etc. May cause your birds to get diseases.

Perches are best. Also, find a shady spot and put compost mixed with sand and diatomaceous earth. Makes a great place for them to burrow down into.

I have an open-to-the-sky 2000 sq ft run. It has 3 perches, two are 24" and one is 36" They love to congregate under the coop which is 8 x 16. I closed off the very lowest tightest part that they love so much. I was afraid they would start to lay eggs in there and I could not even get back there to get them in one place. They have about 1/3 of it to get under still, and like it, especially on rainy days. I planned to store feed & grit there in plastic bins, up on pallets that would sit on bricks.

Am going to do a chickie jungle gymn soon. Will really be an ascending series of perches. Will likely add two other perches too, in shady areas for summertime. Am hopeful that grass will hold out being that pen is large. Still, 24 birds might decimate the grass in two years or so. Too soon to tell.

 

[SallyF]

Saw my rooster running through the yard yesterday with something red hanging out of his beak, and all the hens following close on his heels. I was almost afraid to look at whatever he had. Turns out he found a ripe plum tomato on the "volunteer" tomato vine in one section of the garden. It seemed to be good exercise for all of them! Maybe next year I should hang one of those upside down tomato planters in the run.

 

[Bunny82]

Quote:
Hi there, I'm new and in the UK so thought I'd let you know what I do. I make my suet blocks using individual yoghurt pots which I pierce a hole through the bottom and thread a piece of string through it long enough to reach the the opening. Heat up some lard or suet (is it called shortening in the US?) and mix with raisins, corn, layers pellets, chopped peanuts or any other things your chooks like and fill the yoghurt pot, making sure the string goes through the middle of the mix, and put in the fridge until set. Then all you have to do is hang them up in their run.

It's been a while since I kept chooks but I only gave them these in the winter as a treat as they're incredibly fattening (as you would expect!). They loved them!

 

[mayapooh]

My kids love rootling around a pie plate filled with water and whatever is the current snack of the day - scratch, greens, rice or pasta, etc. Their very own chicken soup.

Also fun is hanging part of a bunch of grapes on a wall and watching them jump up and pluck them off.

 

[Luna_Chick66]

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I got my chickens some Alfalfa and they really do seem to love scratching thru it.


However, right now... they are way too interested in the file box (cardboard box you store files and papers in that you put together - you get them at office supply stores) I use to bring them inside and outside in (mine aren't sleeping outside at night yet) they just LOVE tearing off pieces of cardboard. I wonder if they are trying to tell me they hate thier "CHicken Transport Box" as I call it.

 

[Booswalia]

They stayed entertained all day yesterday with this little treat...

 

[TcherDawn]

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You should try the Leapster- it's more educational! Don't want them falling behind and losing their place at Harvard.

 

[WisconsinGardenChick]

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Yeah, a cabbage is big for just four chickens. Plus, I think I read somewhere that brassicas (like onions) can affect the flavor of the eggs.

We did get a large suet feeder for $5 from Menards to hang in their pen. Lately we've been filling it with dandelions from the yard (we don't use chemicals on it.) They love it!

Earlier in the year, we gave them sunflowers. Initially, I just gave them leaves; later I learned to put whole stalks in their pen. They have a great time pecking at the flower heads and leaves.

 

[dianer29]

Garden Chick: I noticed something in your picture and need to ask you about it: how is the feeder /waterer mounted?. I see the picture but can you desribe it to me so I can have my husband take a look at the picture and see if we might want to do that. I have my Silkies 7 week olders and they are driving me bonkers. Today has been a day to top all days .I am in by their brooder cleaning out shavings from waterer which I tried to put up on bricks ,no difference to them they still party till I drop........... I find myself less than one hour apart picking up after them time after time I used to ,prior to today was able to clean them approx every 2 hours. Their food is in a small trough with small holes and of course they find it in their chicken hearts to toss their imaginary salad over and over. I scold them ever so quietly so not to scare them and they turn their fuzzy butts and continue and it seems they mumble back....hey I have given birth to kids who tried to pull that. The chickens are out of control....lolPs no sense sending them to a corner I have a few that go there anyway and talk to themselves.....so..............