Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[alexgirl73]

I am always looking for new ways to keep my girls entertained on these wet summer days when they don't gt out to free range as much. What do you have in your coops and runs for entertainment?

 

Currently I have a head of broccoli dangling for them to peck at, a large brick to sit on and some branches for them to perch on. My run is only 6 x 4 and half as tall as the shed which is their coop, so no space to put benches and things in!

[Yolky]

Could you fit in a bale of straw? I have heard that they enjoy that. Our run is in the middle of being made (it will be 2m x 4m) and I am hoping to get them a bench, although the husband did laugh at me when I said I thought a kids bench for the chooks was a good idea

[alexgirl73]

Probably not a whole bale, but a half one would be good I shall make enquiries up at the local stables on monday, thanks.

[Angels4]

Could you fit in a bale of straw? I have heard that they enjoy that. Our run is in the middle of being made (it will be 2m x 4m) and I am hoping to get them a bench, although the husband did laugh at me when I said I thought a kids bench for the chooks was a good idea

 

I think a childs bench is a wonderful idea.

[moomin]

We have a bench outside our patio doors, not in their run. They absolutely love it they perch on the back, the arms, the seat. It's a shame it won't fit into their run

 

Trouble is, it's always covered in chicken poo!!

 

You could put in a mirror too, they like looking at themselves - very vain, chooks are!!

[AJuff]

My chooks love sitting on upturned flower pots. They don't take up much space.

[alexgirl73]

ah, now those I have plenty of lol and I like the idea of a mirror, wont they peck at the glass though?

[shaun]

I have:

 

- A big branch for them to climb on

- an old tyre, used as a dustbath

- a bale of hay to jump and wait for mealworms!

- a small table to climb on

- the 'house' bit of an old bird table to crawl in

- a platic crate (with a hole cut in) as a small bolt hole.

- other various logs

- woodchippings to scratch around and kick out!

[tenzin]

CD's

Branches

Bench

Hanging Cabbage

Dust bath , well a large container with dirt and sand ect ect

 

TBH i change mine around every so often to give them new things to do .

[alexgirl73]

ooooooh, I like the idea of using an old tyre as a dustbath I can get one of those no probs as my OH has a friend with a tyre yard. Also the plastic crate, though I presume you have to make sure the sides are smooth to make sure of no injuries

[Guest]

I have a couple of perches, made out of the decking rails (the run is made out of the decking!). A dog crate which seems to be permanantly occupied by my very broody Light Sussex - although at least one hen likes to roost on top of it! 2 shallow tubtrugs full of dirt for dustbathing, a pot full of dirt for dustbathing and a table for the spare Eglu when it is not in use elsewhere.

 

Oh in the greenhouse extention there are also bamboo canes and greenhouse staging - but only cos we've nowhere else to store those!

[alexgirl73]

hmmm, decking, yet another great idea

 

Oh and btw, I just had a quick read of your blog. You go girl!!! What a fantastic achievement, well done!!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Ikea shoe rack perches & stick perches!

 

[alexgirl73]

At this rate I'm going to have to get OH to build yet another extension onto the run And I really don't think he'll allow them anymore space after convincing him to give up his shed for them. Great ideas everyone.

[chelsea]

A wooden table/perch hubby made for easy access to the cube (mine dont like the cube ladder)

 

Activity Branch (old branch across the run) with hanging bits on : seed bell (made with honey), broccoli, corn on the cob, small hanging mirror, strip of millet.

 

Shallow large tubtrug with compost in for dustbathing.

 

2 wooden ladders to climb on.

[kimbo_frog]

ah, now those I have plenty of lol and I like the idea of a mirror, wont they peck at the glass though?

 

I got my girls a mirror from a pet shop...its just a polished metal square with a chain and clip...think its made for parrots!

A cheaper version would be old freebie CDs that you get...

 

My girls have also taken quite a shine to my kids skateboard!...

they are often seen standing on it...quite funny really...

 

Kim

[Sandychick]

My girls have also taken quite a shine to my kids skateboard!...they are often seen standing on it...quite funny really...

 

Can you get a photo Would love to see a pic of skater chickens