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

[chicken crazy]

I got my hens on Friday and I have 2 questions!

 

This may be a silly questions but I've read on here that picking up the poo from the run every day will keep the hens happy! However how do I get in the run? Do I have to unclip it?

 

Second question is while they are staying in the run, which will be while Im at work.

What things can I put in the run to keep them happy & busy? I'm wanting them to free reange at some point but till I can keep an eye on them and finish getting the garden ready I want to keep them in the run.

 

Arrived 22/08/08

[ClaireG]

I don't poo pick everyday but do use Aubiose in the run, poo tray and nestbox. Its brilliant and soaks everything up a treat. Had the Auboise for about 3 weeks now and am planning to rake it out and put a new layer down next weekend.

I've put the base of an old coverd cat litter tray in the run with some play sand in. The chickens use it as a dust bath and a perch. Other ideas i've read on here are hanging CD's in the run and stringing up a cabbage for the girls to peck at.

[clootie]

Hang up some corn on the cob too - they love that.

[Donna_0]

I use a rake to pull out the 'bits' I can see every night from the run, this seems to keep it fairly fresh, I will change the woodchip once every 4-6 weeks. We hung a cd up in the run but so far they haven't even looked at it!

We have a small food/suet wild bird feeder from Wilkinsons hardware store, which we hang inside the run with sweetcorn / tomatoes / melon and grapes (their favourites ). The way to a chickens heart is through its tummy or so I am finding!!

Some people put branches across the run for their hens to perch on..I'm thinking of getting a cube so I'll do this then as there will be more space

 

-Barbara 28/07/08 -Currently on strike!

-Margot 04/08/08-Currently on strike!

[chicken crazy]

Thank you for the comments. I'll give it a rake over later when they have gone to bed! I have some easibed shall I put some of that down on top of the chippings?

 

Might have to look through my cd's see if any can be given to the chicken house, I'm sure they will be a few dodgy cds i wont mind getting rid off!

 

Do you give them the sweetcorn uncooked? I have a corn on the cob sat in my fridge that they could have!

 

Arrived 22/08/08

[Sandychick]

I made this yesterday to keep mine entertained in the eglu run while I'm at work. It is made from odd bits of wood and branches lying about in the garden. They really like it peck at it, sit on it and scratch under it for bugs......definately a hit

 

[chicken crazy]

That looks great, not sure if I can be that creative! I'l have a look around the garden to see if I can find anything. Talking of gardens, I better see if they have taken themselves to bed!

[Hen Watch]

I've an eglu too. No need to unclip it. You can either blast poos with the hosepipe once they've gone to bed. Or I put Auboise in the run, it soaks up poop and I just change it once a month.

 

For entertainment in the run, I have.

- Log to jump on

- Dustbath

- Mirror (they never use)

- Foodball (see Omlet shop)

- Grit pot

- Old shower curtain pole as a perch (or you could use a broom handle, thin branch...)

- sometimes I tie string to brocolli stalk or carrot tops and tie it to run bars

 

[jomaxsmith]

I use Easibed in the run and rake the whole lot out every week (actually much less often than that!). The poos disappear so I couldn't easily 'poo pick' anyway!

 

I feed my hens mash and find they don't really need that much entertainment as the mash keeps them busy for long periods. I often give them a cabbage if they're going to be in the run all day - it's cheaper than sweetcorn and if you get a really solid one it takes them ages to eat. Corn on the cob is good if you can hang it up because then they have to concentrate on pecking and it takes them a while. Getting the perfect way of suspending it can take a bit of practise though!

 

Jo

[chicken crazy]

Henwatch - Your run looks great, thanks for the ideas. Im sure i have an old broom handle laying around in the coal shed. I've lot a little list of things to try now!

 

jomaxsmith - Thanks for the help, I'm going to try the easibed in the run tomorrow on top of the chippings. I want them to be clean and happy but dont really want to be picking poo up everyday!