julia55 Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 Has anyone got any opinions on the food ball which can be purchased from the Omlet Shop. I am fed up with trying to tie the food up to bits of string in the cube run and this looks ideal although the picture on the packaging shows ferretts,guinea pigs etc and not chickens. Is it suitable for hanging in a cube and would a small cauliflower etc fit into it?? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surferdog Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 I got a suet ball cage from the pound shop. Line it with lettuce or cabbage leaves and fill with sweetcorn, rice or cooked pasta. Someone on here suggested it and it works a treat (plus much cheaper than the one from Omlet....) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 I have something similar and it keeps my girls amused for ages. You could also try one of these from Wiggly Wigglers...free p&p at the moment too. I have just ordered two myself. http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/shop/product.html?product_id=51&-session=shopper:518D20C11d8b018D76uxkMC8C054 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 I bought some and have found that the girls pull the leaves out very quickly so still use them and pack the balls very tightly. However, I find that pinning up cabbage and lettuce leaves slightly above their head height so they have to jump for the food works very well, they can pull beak sized bits of cabbage off and it keeps them amused for ages. I have used old bulldog clips and also those Good Grips kitchen clips are good too. You need something that clamps the leaves quite tightly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 I put the greens for my little monsters in string bags that can be tied to the run mesh - can easily accommodate cabbages, caulies etc and can be washed when they get mucky (the bags, that is, not the monsters! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 I have the food ball from Omlet (although not purchased from omlet, local pet shop) and it is good in principle however the ladies do pull out the leaves etc very quickly as the wholes are quite large. To make it more challenging I have added wire in the gaps. The girls much prefer their leaves in a ball over in a dish on the floor. As they free range for most of the day I have started haning the ball and other veggie treats around the garden, on the back of the patio chairs an low bushes. so they have a treasure hunt. Stella seems to be better at this than the other two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 I have a very similar thing, and mine are absolutely terrified of it. No idea why. Won't go near it even with grapes etc in it......stupid birds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 I bought one to see how useful it was (and because OH couldn't manage to tie greens to the run with a knot I could undo the following day to put some more up). I put greens in it and the girls seem happy with it. I find I have to cut out the bigger stalks but I just chuck these in the run and the girls eat them too. Haven't tried anything else in it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julia55 Posted December 10, 2008 Author Share Posted December 10, 2008 Thanks for all your suggestions. I took myself off to the local pet shop at lunchtime and purchased a metal fat ball feeder for £2. It looks ideal as has a long hanging arm and holes not too big but not too small either. Lets hope they use it - I think I worry too much that they aren't enjoying themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chooks Aloud Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 Make your own treat ball. There's some chewing gum on the market at the moment you can buy in a round ball. We just drilled some holes into the bottom, filled with treats and bobs your uncle job done. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barkisland Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 I was given a hamster treat ball by a friend who also keeps chickens. It's a green plastic ball, the size of a tennis ball, with an adjustable size hole in the top, like on a parmesan drum if you can picture it. one of these, in fact, but mine's green with red apples on it. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=19839 I fill it with mixed corn and leave it in the run for them when I go off to work. They chase it about, and as they boot it around, the corn spills out for them. They get very excited when they see me filling it in the mornings! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 I used one of those when I only had a few girls, now that I have 12, I just string a cabbage up in the run. Don't be tempted to give them a suet or fat ball though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 I tried the Hamster balls too but found that the cabbage or lettuce lasted about a milli-second so have bought this bird fat feeder for less then £2 at the farm shop I buy bird seed from. Its easier to load up as you don't have to squish the leaves to get them in either as the top flips open. I hang it from the roof by a long string and a clip. As you can see it is very popular! I also hang large leaves up too from the run roof and again with a clip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mumpty Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 I put the greens for my little monsters in string bags that can be tied to the run mesh - can easily accommodate cabbages, caulies etc and can be washed when they get mucky (the bags, that is, not the monsters! ) Where do you get the string bags from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 why don't mine like raw leaves they mostly get ignored, they much prefer cooked veg! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mazzarina Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 My girls like the metal ball, and anything else that I tie from the top of their run. They were overjoyed with the corn-on-the cob I tied up (I got the idea from this forum), although I haven't yet found a way to keep it secure for more than 5 minutes. It's like a chicken pinata! Watching them bob from side to side as they followed it did make me wonder, though - could they hypnotize themselves?! I wouldn't put it beyond them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
