Elderly cat breathing difficulties when purring

[CluckyBucks]

Hello

 

Im having a day out next week and was wondering if there are any ways to keep my hens quiet yet occupied whilst im gone.

 

Absolutely any suggestions welcome

 

Thankyous.

 

xx xx

[xScrunchee]

These are some of the things I do

 

Hang cabbages up, spring greens etc. Just above head height so they have to jump a little and bob their heads about trying to catch it swinging.

I also hang cucumbers up.

 

Stuff greens in parrot toys, wild bird suet cages etc.

 

Home made pek-a-blocks. (Hard seed blocks which take them ages to eat).

 

Parrot mirrors hung around run. Any shelves and perches you can fit in.

 

Cats treat ball stuffed with goodies.

 

Some hens like shiny CD's hanging up.

 

Erm...........will let you know if I think of anything else

[CluckyBucks]

Thankyou, thats alot of very handy information

 

xx x

[xScrunchee]

Almost forgot their most favourite treat ever- Corn on the cob

 

To hang things up I use Rope with a knot tied at the end.

I use a screwdriver to poke a hole through the corn cob or cabbage-whatever, then push the rope through the hole. The knot obviously stops it falling straight off the end.

 

I also burn/melt the other end of the rope to stop it from fraying and also it makes it easier to push the end through the veg.

 

Hope that makes sense

 

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Re corn on the cob, I've got some corn forks which are all metal with a sort of metal spiral as the handle (does that make sense ) I push them into the cobs then wire the handles to the run..perfect

 

Sha x

[chickenopolis]

re corn on the cob.

We got some of those "cobettes" from Mr Tesco and other half drilled through the centre with a wood drill bit - threaded some strong string through it and hung it up the run.

The girls are now happily pecking away - it also gives their neck muscles a work out as well, as when they peck it, it goes backwards and forwards and they follow it.

They are sometimes successful in getting some corn, but it keeps them busy.

They are doing it now - lord only knows when they will get to bed tonight!!!

[chick wiggle]

I use the screwdriver to get the string through the corn on the cob and cabbages too.

So so funny watching them get the corn, its my favourite pastime watching them do their favourite pastime

[CluckyBucks]

Thankyou very much everybody I shall give it a go

 

xx xx

[Gelbel]

I've taken some of your advice as my girls over did the free ranging worm and snail eating at the weekend (my fault) and I am keeping them in their run for a few days. They were standing forelornly at the end of their run craving to be let out.

 

I could not believe that I spent 15 mins out in the pouring rain talking to them to cheer them up and it was chucking it down. The feather babies were nice and dry - I got drenched.

 

So, eventually I gave in and in the pouring rain I got a litter tray and fixed up a dust bath, popped up a rabbit drinker for another way to get water, hung up a honey stick and some CDs on the narrowest bit of cane.

 

And what do they do? Joy, my youngest and little adverturer, perches on the cane. It is so narrow she can hardly grip it, it is in the tightest of corners so it does not take up much room - so it's a very,very tight squeeze for her.

 

None of the 'toys' are touched and the other two are bokking for England as they want a piece of the action.

 

I now need to look for a bit of wood I can make into a nice perch for them in the run. These girls have 2 lovely perches in their bedroom that they don't use. This had better not be another waste of my time. Or I can see another 15 minute convo. with them coming on.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

......and they have you wrapped around their little claws don't they

 

Sha x