4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[melly264]

(yet another!) quick question, how to keep our chickens happy.

 

Pecking order seems to be established, but no.2 down seems to be having a bit of a rough time and is getting a bit skittish. I know they are still new and need time to settle down, but wondered if we could do any thing to amuse them more and thus distract from some of the squabbling.

 

I don't want to up their treats as we are keeping that to a minimum as one of the hens is starting to get runny poo.

 

Someone had posted before about putting in a mirror (like a budgie one perhaps hanging from the run?) any other suggestions?

[Tessa the Duchess]

I have quite a large mirror in my run and it is very popular I also dragged a tree branch back from the local woods and they enjoy perching on it. I know its a treat, but a white cabbage hanging up is a great distraction and a lot cheaper than a pekablok. People hang CD's up but I have never tried this.

 

Tessa

[lisaroo2]

My girls have a mirror and they spend ages checking their 'make-up' in it. Daisy seems to look at herself, then go and have a preen, then go back to the mirror - I'm sure she's checking that her feathers are where they should be!

[hennymom]

our girls have a mirror and they check their hair each morning, also we hang broccolli (SP) on a bit opf string/chain/rope and they play at piranhas with it...we also scatter some split corn around and they spend hours hunting it down and scratching, mine have the odd handful of spinach and the odd grape as a treat too... and a football they kick about the hen house in on stilts too so they go underneath and dig and play there.....we have just extended the run by double the amount so we are gonna invest in a log for them too! good luck with them...

[Abbey Road Girl]

Yesterday, I decided to put a large clay pot which contained some tall weeds inside the run with them after free-ranging. Same old weeds they have been happily demolishing in the garden but a novelty inside the run.

 

I am thinking of sowing some chard seeds in pots for them. Will have to put them up high tho until they are established!

 

A plastic treat ball has been very amusing for them, but not quite so amusing for me as it always ends up at the back of the run. Having no toddlers to send after it, my only reasonable option is to use one of the spare rods that comes with the Omlet netting like a snooker cue! This of course becomes hentertainment in itself!

 

Whenever I top up with new aubiose, I "seed" it with small dried fruit and a few of my unloved goji berries.

 

They seem to have gone off the mirror but maybe they only use it when I'm not around. Will try moving it.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I've got various perches/logs in the run and hang a seed bell up every now and then.

 

Keep meaning to get a mirror .

 

A past its best apple is great fun - chase it round the run then peck it to death .

[Phosphorus]

We have some big branches that they like to perch on - propped round the bottom with some large rocks (they have their own rockery - posh my girls ). We also have a mirror which was really popular to start with but has tailed off in use a bit now. They have never bothered with the CD we have hanging

 

Definately recommend large branches for perching. Bokashi bran is excellent for firming up runny poos Someone mentioned white cabbage - this doesn't keep mine amused for long, mind you I have only given them leaves so I suppose that is different - five minutes and it has disappeared without a trace to be seen - they gulp it down

[shaun]

We tried CDs, but they have just been ignored!

 

Old logs to perch on. Old cat litter tray as a dustbath.

 

There is a strawberry patch to the side, so any strawberries that have been nibbled go in and are enjoyed a great deal!

 

Haven't thought of a mirror, but have an old one in the garage that I'll put in.

[melly264]

thanks for the replies, looks like a mirror would be the best place to start. Gosh, think I'll have to go shopping for that....whilst i'm out.....he-he could get all sorts of things

[Phosphorus]

I got a lovely one for a couple of quid from I think an Oxfam shop. Anyway try a charity shop if you have any nearby - you can get a bargain and the girls won't mind if it is a bit old

[poachedegg]

We've got a CD and a Peckablock in our run - but they are both ignored!

[hennymom]

Yes a mirror is a must we got ours from a charity shop too for £1.50 it's huge and they always glance in it behind it and chatter to the reflection....

[Hen Watch]

Mine have the following:

 

A mirror - which they don't use.

 

A big log - they sit on.

 

A broom handle (or thin branch etc) poked through run bars, left to right about 8 inches off ground - they LOVE to perch on this during the day.

 

A dust bath.

 

A metal food ball - used ocasionally for treats. Like this one in Omlet shop.

http://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/shop.php?cat=Chicken%20Extras&sub=General&product_id=572

[SharonX]

I got a really good sized green plastic framed one from the 99p store. Matches the eglu and gives them lots of entertainment.

My son asked me what it was for & I told him "so they could do their lipstick and check out their fluffly knickers of course". He looked at me as if to say she has def lost the plot

I used some plastic ties to secure it to the run in an upright position as they knocked it down the first day & low and behold it was covered in you know what. A good hose down & it was like new again

[Speedy1]

Mine have a ping pong ball which keeps them amused for hours.

[Mutrix Farmers]

A broom handle (or thin branch etc) poked through run bars, left to right about 8 inches off ground - they LOVE to perch on this during the day.

 

I have done this and the girls are using it more each day. OH said they weren't using it because it's round and they prefer square poles. I did point out that they are forest birds and trees don't have square branches. He said domestic chickens have had the wildness bred out of them, so I asked if the round branch gene had been bred out in favour of a square pole gene

 

Mine ignored the CD, but do peck their reflections in the patio door.

 

Must get hold of a ping pong ball

[hennymom]

we bought large round fencing stakes from wickes they look enormous but the girls sit on them for hours!!!!! lol

[chickencam]

Ours are terrified of footballs, we think they have heard the story of chicken licken and the moon falling down

 

We have a cd which is ignored. They get a buch of something green tied up most days, I am always looking in the reduced section of the supermarket, although they do prefer fresh and crunchy They love my radish tops and lettuce.

[jess]

I have quite a large mirror in my run and it is very popular I also dragged a tree branch back from the local woods and they enjoy perching on it. I know its a treat, but a white cabbage hanging up is a great distraction and a lot cheaper than a pekablok. People hang CD's up but I have never tried this.

 

Tessa

 

oh just so people know, last week when it was really hot my cd hung up was in the sun and it shattered!!!!! not very safe!!! they ignored it anyway tho