Part 0800.0005

[mountainboarddude]

I am feeling a little uninspired as to ways to improve the lives of my hens. they free range as often as possible but only when i am in the garden with them. they spend the rest of their time in a wir which i will be turfing in a few weeks. any ideas as to things that will make their days a little more interesting in the cold weather.

thanks

[Olly]

Branches to climb on/perch on; hang up a cabbage, broccoli stalk or something similar; a dustbath?

 

I have bought - but never got round to using - one of those dog treat balls, on the basis that you could put corn, mealworms etc in and they'd have to kick it around to get them out. For some reason I never got round to it and I don't know where it is now! O

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Mine use their perches and high levels all the time when they're in the WIR. They also seem to like hopping up and down the various branches.

 

They especially like corn on the cob hung up with a skewer - lasts only minutes but they peck at it for a while afterwards if it's the cooked type (they are more juicy which I'm presuming is why they still peck even when the corn's gone).

[beulah59]

I've just put an old wheelbarrow in with mine ... it has a hole in it, so won't fill up with water and I wondered if they'd use it as a perch? I might put some compost in it for them to use as a dustbath ... or some straw or something. They have an old dining room chair and a pile of branches ... but they spend most of their time dustbathing or foraging for bugs.

 

The Hen Garden is more of an assault/obstacle course than a garden now!

[Stevie]

I am feeling a little uninspired as to ways to improve the things that will make their days a little more interesting in the cold weather.

thanks

 

Marmite on toast should do the trick.They'll love you forever.

[poachedegg]

Our chickens enjoy their peck a blok, broom handle perches, a mezzanine level, a log, a step stool, hanging sprout stalks , porridge in bowls, and hanging cages like in the picture below stuffed with cauliflower leaves, apples, lettuce, cabbage, cucumber - basically anything in the fridge!

 

[foreveryoung]

oooo i like that idea!!!!

[mountainboarddude]

hmmm, some very good ideas, so thanks to you all. I have tried the perches, but the last pecka block i bput in in one of those mesh holders, was so hard that even i could'nt break it so they didnt stand much of a chance. i will go and use some of your ideas anyway, so thanks very much.

matt

[riven]

there's some spoilt girls out there