CannyCat Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 When I'm home, the chickens spend a lot of time pootling around the garden, digging and scratching and dust bathing. But when they're in the run, I often find they're just sitting in the eglu, and I'm concerned they're getting bored The eglu and run aren't terribly stimulating (especially not compared to the Great Outdoors ) - they have a small log/large stick which they're thoroughly underwhelmed by, a lot of bark chippings. Can anyone suggest anything I can put in the run to keep them occupied? I've tried tying food around the run, but they dont seem to be able to comprehend that if they eat it all now, there wont be anything left to do later! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 (edited) HI Cannycat, There has been lots of debate about bored chickens before, you might find it useful to do a search on the topic. Ours get a bit bored sometimes too. We hang CD's up and wire food containers with lots of goodies in. We also put in a cat litter tray filled with sand for then to have something new to bathe in. We too have got a log and we've also got a piece of wood across the run through the run mesh for the girls to perch on. There's nothing that can compare to the luxury of your garden though Good luck with it. Edit - After Thought - can you get something that looks like a ball that you can fill with food. They'd have hours of fun trying to get stuff out of that.... Edited September 19, 2006 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabbagepatch Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I tried hanging an old cd up - its supposed to encourage the girls to spend hours admiring themselves. I can quite categorically say that they have taken no notice of it whatsoever. Perhaps they need some lipstick to apply....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I tried that too with the same results! They just weren't interested - perhaps I ought to find some with better content than the internet set up disks they had. They do like some cabbage leaves or a head of broccoli tied up in the run though. That keeps them busy for ages, as do left over corn cobs! It's amazing how much they can find to eat off them when everyone has finished with them for dinner!! Another thing that keeps them occupied is a dust bath. A simple large seed tray full of compost or sand will keep them busy for ages! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CannyCat Posted September 19, 2006 Author Share Posted September 19, 2006 I'll definately get a dust bath for them I haven't tried the Cds, but when Bertha was going through a phase of chucking the food out fo the grub, I tried a super shiny metal cat food bowl. Matilda was fascinated, and kept trying to peck the "other" chicken in the bowl I got rid of it because it collected rain water and a few nasty looking insects drowned in it! but maybe I'll reinstate it as a play-thing! I'll go search the forum, thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 Try this - get a corn cob & screw one of those long thick screws with a loop on the end into it. Tie some string through the loop,& attatch it to the top of the Eglu run so it dangles down. They have loads to occupy them,as whenever they beak the corn cob,it swings away,meaning they have to chase it to get to the lovely corn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CannyCat Posted September 19, 2006 Author Share Posted September 19, 2006 Try this - get a corn cob & screw one of those long thick screws with a loop on the end into it.Tie some string through the loop,& attatch it to the top of the Eglu run so it dangles down. They have loads to occupy them,as whenever they beak the corn cob,it swings away,meaning they have to chase it to get to the lovely corn Dont they get bashed in the beak when it swings back?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 They soon learn to duck...it's very funny to watch ,especially when you have 5 of them at it,like I have Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabbagepatch Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 i'm going to try a dustbath for them, but i think the only sand at home is builders sand. it this suitable, or should i just give them some soil/compost? ooh, so many decisions to make Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I am sure that somebody on the forum puts live mealworms in the dust bath to keep them busy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveypup Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 We bought a mirror from the pound shop and Hilda spends an awful lot of time pecking at the "new" chicken and making "go away" noises! Vera however doesn't seem to bother with it. We have also tried hanging corn up which as Cinamon says works a treat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 i'm going to try a dustbath for them, but i think the only sand at home is builders sand. it this suitable, or should i just give them some soil/compost? ooh, so many decisions to make I think you need play pit sand - the orange in the builders sand isn't good for them (they WILL eat it!) Or some really dry crumbly compost,the stuff left over in the greenhouse will do the trick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CannyCat Posted September 19, 2006 Author Share Posted September 19, 2006 i'm going to try a dustbath for them, but i think the only sand at home is builders sand. it this suitable, or should i just give them some soil/compost? ooh, so many decisions to make I think you need play pit sand - the orange in the builders sand isn't good for them (they WILL eat it!) Or some really dry crumbly compost,the stuff left over in the greenhouse will do the trick They seem to really like the soil in our garden, so I might just dig up some of that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHen Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 My local pet shop sold me bird sand to go in the dust bath. It was £4 for a huge 25Kg bag. At least I know its safe for birds plus it has oyster shell in it incase they fancy a peck when bored! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabbagepatch Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 thanks for the tip happyhen, i'll look out for that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 Mine have got play sand from homebase in their dustbath. They do have a tendancy to poo in it though - so I have to keep changing the sand! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Wouldn't it be great if you could give them a litter-tray to poo in. Toilet trained Chooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Wouldn't it be great if you could give them a litter-tray to poo in. Toilet trained Chooks You mean yours DON'T Gina??! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
