Sooo much pooping

[ewoodpugz]

Hi Folks

I've just come back to work three days a week after being on Maternity Leave for 12 months. I have three ex batts in an Eglu with a standard run. They're used to free ranging in the garden all day and I'm worried that they're going to be bored and fed up in the run while I'm at work. They all get on fine now and they're aren't any bullying issues fortunately. So far I've put in a little tray with soil in for dust baths, a perch (which they don't seem to use), plenty of feeders and I hang up veg but it only lasts a nanosecond before they devour it. Any other ideas?

Thanks

[lillybettybabs]

I have a parrot mirror with a little bell underneath, I catch them looking at themselves in it,

Then they peck at the bell , I also have one of those treat balls that you can clip to the mesh, I cram it full of kale

so it is more hard work to get it out.

[piglet]

our run is on wood chip so i sprinkle oats/rice/layers mash which they dig/scratch for, that keeps them entertained for quite a while, i also hang whole brocoli and white cabbage up which lasts a couple of days, i also put tomatos in the food ball, they last about 20mins tops depending how ripe they are, i have also hung a CD up but they dont seem to pay much attention to it, pets at home sell chicken toys on their website so i am thinking of trying one but im not sure if the bells will drive me and my neighbours mad! it is a big concern of mine that they will get bored while shut in the run but as far as i know they arent making too much noise in the day.

hope this helps you!

[dannablue]

I too have mine on wood chips and find that sprinkling a handful of corn or hanging a whole broccoli floret or cabbage up keeps them busy for hours. Once they find a couple of bits of corn they set to digging and scratting about, keeps them occupied and healthy. They seem happy doing it. I try to change what they get as treats, broccoli one day, corn on the cob another, handful of corn sprinkled and sometimes mealworms etc. They also like to have a dustbath during the day too. We have a mirror in there and they can often be seen admiring themselves and on the odd occasions boc bocking at the newcomer

[Barkisland]

I gave my girls one of these:

http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww.flytesofancy.co.uk%2f&WD=buster%20boredom&PN=Boredom_Buster_Pecking_Ring.html%23a2_21FSFBBB#a2_21FSFBBB

Which they love, and it lasts for ages.

[Plum]

our run is on wood chip so i sprinkle oats/rice/layers mash which they dig/scratch for, that keeps them entertained for quite a while, i also hang whole brocoli and white cabbage up which lasts a couple of days, i also put tomatos in the food ball, they last about 20mins tops depending how ripe they are, i have also hung a CD up but they dont seem to pay much attention to it, pets at home sell chicken toys on their website so i am thinking of trying one but im not sure if the bells will drive me and my neighbours mad! it is a big concern of mine that they will get bored while shut in the run but as far as i know they arent making too much noise in the day.

hope this helps you!

 

I love the look of the toys, I don't care if mine don't play with them they'll look great in the run

[Laurachook]

I've often wondered about toys and looked at the various cage toys available for pet birds but was never sure if they were ok for chickens. However looking at the chicken toys on pets at home website, they look like ordinary bird cage toys so must be ok. I'm defo going to get some to decorate the coop!