Cranfield Kate Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 my ex batts don't seem interested in the things i have given them to play with in their run - roosting bars, cds to peck at, treat balls hung up, sprouts on sticks.. - does anyone have any suggestions of what might keep them amused? i am so paranoid that my chickens will be bored and unhappy. thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raina Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 I tried CD's but my girls weren't interested. I did buy them a Dog/Cat treat ball, filled it up with mealworms & sweetcorn & the loved it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Kate Posted December 16, 2009 Author Share Posted December 16, 2009 I tried one of those with grapes in it (they love grapes) but if food isn't in a food bowl hanging on the wall they don't seem to be interested. Do i just have un-amusable chickens???! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 I tried the CDs, but they ran squawking and flapping! Had to take them down and they started to make a real racket... Mine are quite happy pecking away at a cabbage, marrow or some old apples. Saronne x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Have you had them long? They might not understand things at the moment, my new girls looked puzzled when I offered them grapes and worms, the other two go crazy for such things! I guess they'll learn eventually. Have you got perches or logs for them? I haven't got much in my run really, apart from a CD and logs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Hello Just keep trying, they are bound to find something they will enjoy. Personally, hung up treatballs, large rocks and a mudbath are my girls favourites. Good luck xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Kate Posted December 16, 2009 Author Share Posted December 16, 2009 i had a really perfect log/branch in there (just the right size for chicken feet) but they just kep tripping over it. I've had them a couple of months and they like doing chickeny things like dustbaths and scrtaching but they're not interested in anything else. and they will only dustbath in a corner of the garden, not in the dustbath i have put in their run so when they're in the run they don't bathe... i just want them to be happy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Im sure that they are happy but knowing us hen lovers, we always want better for our girls Try putting slices of cucumber in their run, or adding dried leaves for them to scratch about in Or add upside down plant pots... xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Mine like little roosting places just slightly raised off the ground. We made them a little stairway up one side of the run out of logs, to a platform with a treat tub on it, which naturally they completely ignored . OH then used tie wraps/cable ties or whatever you want to call them around the ladder runds and we threaded raisins on and it tempted them up the ladders . They love playing on the "apparatus" now as we call it, and we hide food in different places, and change it round every so often so keep it fresh. We treat them like little dogs, and use food as rewards to make them use new bits we build . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Kate Posted December 16, 2009 Author Share Posted December 16, 2009 okay I like the sound of that! it sounds like it will amuse the OH aswell as the chickens (bargain!) thanks everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gelbel Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Well today they were kept well entertained with small corn on the cob* (ie whole ones cut in half - not the mini ones). I thread one on a metal BBQ skewer and hook it up so it's a good stretch to get their beaks to it - even a little jump to reach the top - anyhting to stop them falling on it like a plague of locusts. Hours of fun. *Morrisons are currently doing a pack of 4 for £1 - much better than 2 big ones for £1.50-£.199 that seems the going rate at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Kate Posted December 19, 2009 Author Share Posted December 19, 2009 i tried them with corn on the cob and, just like the sprouts, they weren't interested unless it was in the food bowl! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 My ex-batts were singularly unimpressed with most forms of entertainment, but will keep themselves happy for ages chomping 1/2 a cabbage from a string bag. Mind you, they free range every day, so there's plenty to keep them amused in the garden - favourite game is chase the cat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
