iandjsmum Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Hi Everyone, Any ideas please on making the chicken run a bit more interesting at this time of year? My run is quite large and the base is bark. My 6 pekins are happy but my 2 hybrid white stars seem a bit bored at times, once they take a break from all their digging! Should I give them a perch and is there anything that might occupy them for a bit? We've had a lot of snow so I haven't been able to let them roam the garden. Thanks and happy Christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 They do like to be occupied. I'd say put some perches in if you can or something for them to stand on, logs or wooden shoe racks I quite good. I have perches made of broom handles or fence posts, some go across corners and I put treat pots up high by them to encourage them. these are a good 5 feet of the floor. In the mean time can you hang stuff for them to peck at? I hang broccoli heads, greens, melon halves. Or the treat balls from the omlet shop or pet shops stuffed with stuff. It does give them something to do.... I am sure others have lots of good ideas.. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Different levels are good for giving them a different perspective on life. I've used a step stool and made a platform from bit of ikea rejects. Today I made a ladder from a piece of trellis fence lawn edging. If you put logs or pots or anything in the run they have to move round them and makes the area into a lot of smaller areas they keep discovering. Hanging veg keeps them occupied as said and millet or sweetcorn. Sometimes I throw in trimmings from bushes and trees for them to kick around and explore. Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FATduck27 Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 Hang an old CD or mirrior on a string, it's funny how long the will spend looking and pecking at the mirrior. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 I've not tried that yet I tiled a post in the garden and included a mirror tile which they have completely ignored but the cat looks in it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 I read somewhere that if you feed them layers mash instead of pellets they spend more time eating and less time looking for something else to do!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 Have a look in the link in my signature for perch inspiration . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gelbel Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 A 1/2 breakfast bowl size lump of left of spaghetti hung up in a bird feeder kept mine entertained for nearly 2 hours one day last week. Hanging up half of cabbage will keep them amused for ages too. I also rake pellets into the ground (cover) to keep them amused when they scratch about - keeps them eating properly too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 Mine like pek a blocks, sprout stalks hanging from the top of the cube run, we also have a shoe rack, stepping stool (thanks Plum ) and broom handle perches, log and stuff fat ball cages with left over greens/salads. Think I will also put some treat pots in at a higher level too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoopsie Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 Some great ideas here, thanks! I was about to post up the same question! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iandjsmum Posted December 29, 2009 Author Share Posted December 29, 2009 Thanks everyone for so many clever but simple ideas. I'm going to put some clay pots in for starters and ask a neighbour for the 'perch' like log in his front garden. I guess it's a case of putting things in and seeing what response I get! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 Be prepared for the "OMG she's planted a bomb which will explode in 30 seconds " reaction............mine have this reaction every time I make amendments Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 Be prepared for the "OMG she's planted a bomb which will explode in 30 seconds " reaction............mine have this reaction every time I make amendments Sha x That's how mine responded when I hung up a couple of CDs in their run! Saronne x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 My girls will never forgive me for the BLACK RING OF DEATH (aka a tyre) that I put in their run, thinking it would make a lovely dustbath . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 I raked in a couple of bags of sand and a couple of gravel yesterday in their run as they were desperate to get to some we had put around it as the garden is waterlogged, and they were entertained all day and very sleepy when I checked them at bedtime. I've also put an old duvet on top of their coop ( doubles as black out at night) which is apparently nice to snuggle on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
