Eglu cube or go up with 2m run

[paynee]

Hi this is my first post, my wife and i are getting are first chickens on friday (two suffolk bantams), after months of prep and building the coup and chicken run, i am woried my chickens will be bored.

The enclosure is about 4m x 4m square and has perchs, 2 hanging car tyres one filled with sand and another with dirt and also a trapeze hanging from the tree so they can play around.

I was wondering if anyone can give me any other ideas to keep them occupied/entertained during the day as we want our girls to be happy .

 

Thanks for reading.

[Roobaloo]

So long as they have something to scratch around in they'll keep themselves busy

 

But I think yours will be more than happy!! Hang a few heads of broccoli or cabbage and they'll think they're in heaven!!

 

I'd love to see photos of the set up...and the chooks when they arrive!!

[chicken bark]

After providing all that for them I think they will be entertained enough!

 

That sounds like a lovely home for them and plenty of space for the two of them.

 

Pictures when you get them please.

[Tutti Frutti]

Sounds lovely, plenty of room for more Love the sound of the swings and perches - just something to scratch around in and they'll be in heaven. Mine have lots of perches and rocks for them to climb around on and an underbed-storage-tray with a mix of compost, sand and ash from the chiminea/BBQ and they love it.

 

Oh and... piccies please

[paynee]

haha yea i will put some pics up when they have arrived, good ideas coming in, i have put 5 inchs thick of mulche/bark throughout the run which should encourage insects for them to dig and scratch around in to eat.

Because of the large run we have do you think two little sussexs bantams will be lonly? Should we get two more sussexs or another breed of bantams? i have a soft spot for pekins, what breeds will go well with sussexs bantams?

[Redwing]

Pekins are lovely, smaller than Sussex but more bolshy and will stand up for themselves

 

I love Wyandottes, they are just the most lovely bantams, docile and come in lots of colours and patterns

[paynee]

The silver laced wyandotte is beautiful but i just laugh every time i see a pekin run, it just so funny. Would sussexs and pekins get on well? Also are they good layers? sorry for all the questions im new to this all, very excited to get the two girls on friday.

[Redwing]

Pekins are good layers, the eggs are smaller than the Sussex eggs though. Pekins are prone to broodiness though which can be a pain but they have huge personalities which kind of makes up for it

 

They would be fine with Sussex bantams, its best to get them around the same age though and all on the same day or you may have introduction problems