what to put in run for chickens to perch or play on?

[SteveBaz]

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Funny you mention the size of their dust bath. I originally built a section 3' X 5' and 6" deep. I brought in 15 5 gallon buckets of sand from the Columbia River Bank So don’t waste your time. Funny Little Creatures. They play over there because I made the tree perch they love that you saw above in the pics and the saw horse but they never have taken a dust bath there

. I put a little one in the coop for the kids that are 5 weeks younger so they had there own and to feel safe.... Well, all 3 chicks dust bath in it at one time and for my 14 week old girls, 2 at a time for the big girls with 1 on deck waiting anxiously!!!

Go Figure. My friend Sara said; that her girls chose a place she saw them playing at all the time and dumped 10 buckets there and they have a blast in there favorite spot. Get the little kitty litter thing for now and wait and they will show you where they like to hang out a lot and dump some there too.

Good luck, I am pretty new at chickens too but I find common sense, this website and paying attention to what your chicks wants goes a long way. Fantastic Community here at BYC!

Steve

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I've got a few things in my run that they really enjoy:
1. Turtle (covered) sandbox filled with sand, diatomaceous earth and wood stove ash - one of the best ideas for a run, ever, in my opinion. Our ground gets frozen in winter and way too wet in spring and a lot of summer for there to be optimal dustbathing activity without the turtle.
2. Roost made of some tree branches that fell in a storm and 2 large pieces of trunk wood. I also have a similar roost in the back of the coop that I nailed to two trees. That one is in the shade.
3. An X shaped roost (on right of picture), no idea what it is, previous owners left it here, chickens love it.
4. Compost bin (red). I throw the poop from the poop board plus gross shavings, leaves, etc into this. They scratch around in it and make compost, and they love to sit on the edges, too.

 

[buffs only]

I have a cedar tree that I cut down and placed inside my run, that's a Goodyear racing tire in the background, they love playing on that tire- redneck chickens I guess.

 

[mommissan]

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One side is slightly longer than the other to keep one side down. It pivots on a nail in the center. Sometimes I bungee treats to it to lure them up.

 

[gale65]

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ohh....I love that tire!! I'm going to have dh go through his junk and see if he has an old small tire lying around.

 

[Patricia Jane]

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How could they possibly be board. I just love your set up. Gave me some great ideas. Thanks so much for sharing.

 

[Patricia Jane]

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https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/98707_0928110808.jpg

One side is slightly longer than the other to keep one side down. It pivots on a nail in the center. Sometimes I bungee treats to it to lure them up.

How cool is that. Another fantastic idea.

 

[Hopefulloflove]

awesome awesome awesome!! I've got lots to get busy on now

This board is the best!