Unsecure chicken perches

[Jac and Rory]

I splashed out on one of these oversized polo shaped pecka blocks from Flyte so Fancy. Thought it would ease my guilt if I had to leave the chooks in their run all day. Luckily I tried it out first to see if they liked it. Well, apparently it is actually the most deadly alien invader known to chickens, capable of killing at least 3 feet. I've tried it on 3 occasions in different locations but they are having none of it - won't even go near it if I sprinkle meal worms around the area. However, if I cut it up in small pieces (has to be less than about an inch before it's deemed safe) they will eat it but that kind of defeats the purpose of a boredom buster.

 

Has any found a way of getting around their fears - does perseverance pay off, or is it best just to give in?

[Gelbel]

I've had the same with apples. I left them hanging up for them for a few days or until I think they've gone off- which ever was longest.

 

So I'd say leave it and see what happens - sometime mine like things the next day rather than fresh.

 

But they have started to be frightened of cabbage (which is/was a favourite) and you'll never believe that I ended up throwing a whole sweetcorn away yesterday.

 

Fussy madams.

 

But you've reminded me - I cooked extra spaghetti last night - let's see if they've done frightened of that.

[Mercedes55]

I was going to get one of those pecka blocks too, but I guess I will leave it for now if they are scared of it. Mine are scared of pretty much everything being ex batts. Earlier today though I noticed a snail eating my lupins so I picked it off and put it into their run and 2 of the hens made a bee line for it and ate it in no time. My other half was appalled that I could do something like that, but once they are loose in the garden they will find the slugs and snails themselves and eat them

[Gelbel]

Update - not frightened of spaghetti. It's mayhem out there.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Mine reacted like that when I installed the "black tyre of doom" (aka a lovingly acquired small black tyre filled with lovely dustbath materials ).

 

And no, perseverance didn't pay off, I had to remove it .

[majuka]

I got one of these recently, thinking it would be a nice treat for the girls. It is still there - completely untouched....

[WitchHazel]

Mine love them.

 

They ignored the first one for a while, but once they realised what it was they loved it.

 

It's a bit too hot for that particular one at the moment - very sticky,

[jennydavies]

Update - not frightened of spaghetti. It's mayhem out there.

I LOVE giving ours spaghetti - it's so funny seeing them chase each other thinking they have a worm - me and Charlie go into hysterics watching them - I cook extra for the hens and the Greyhounds

[Margalot]

Ours remained untouched........and then it rained! no stopping them after that!

[sadietoo]

I tried one of these and it was demolished in no time..although I do have to say I seem to currently have a couple of really game fearless birds..they'll tackle anything...melon skin, cucumber, sweetcorn, tomatoes, apple, lettuce, cauli, brocolli, ...even strawberries..although these are politely left at the side of the plate after a few tastes...Carrot is about the only thing they aren't keen on. For a happy couple of weeks they were a bit wary of the new chain link fly screen we erected at our kitchen door (for shade rather than fly deterrent - but it was a bonus chicken deterrent) not any more unfortunately...Kipper broke through the "Iron Curtain" today, and just a few short 15-20 minutes later Pansy charged at it and found herself to her great surprise in the kitchen ..lol:

[Forge Cottage]

In a hot spell last summer (yes there was one) we hung up a pecka block, but the molasses softened up in the heat and it just fell to bits when it rained. Actually it did look and smell pretty tasty but they ate it a bit too quick to be good value. When cooler weather and hung in shelter it lasted much longer, partly because they ignored it...

 

So we came to the conclusion that they aren't bored after all!

[Jac and Rory]

Ah well, good to know it's not only my girls who are unappreciative.

 

Ours remained untouched........and then it rained! no stopping them after that!

It's raining all day today (and no chance of it being too hot!) so I think I'll try one more time and if they still won't go within 3 feet of it then I'll take a hammer to it.....

 

or maybe I should keep it as a "chicken bollard" and place it wherever I don't want the chickens to go...

[Heidi-Hi]

I was just looking at those balls on FOF website yesterday, but decided it was a bit expensive. (Only because I bought a different, oblong tube shaped one before) and it didn't last very long. They loved it, but my run was a lot smaller then, and for boredom it worked a treat. Now that THE BIG WIR is underway, I'm not so sure. I was actually thinking of having a go at making my own. Anyone tried it before? Not sure how, but surely it can't be that hard. Funny, the things they like. THey are just like children - sooooo picky!! Mine didn't give apples or carrots a second glance, or broccoli for that matter...

[Roobaloo]

Are the blocks the same thing as the horse balls?? or are the specific for chickens??

[lillybettybabs]

Try hanging a corn on the cob up first, Let them get used tho it swinging around as the eat it.

[Margaret]

Mine have loved each one I have brought over the years until this one

Wont touch it.

Its no different to any other one I have brough and when they are nearly gone always buy a new one but the new one..must be Alien

[Jac and Rory]

Are the blocks the same thing as the horse balls?? or are the specific for chickens??

The one I bought was from Flyte so Fancy - FSF Boredom Buster Pecking Ring for Poultry

http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/Boredom_Buster_Pecking_Ring.html

 

I was just looking at those balls on FOF website yesterday, but decided it was a bit expensive. (Only because I bought a different, oblong tube shaped one before) and it didn't last very long. They loved it, but my run was a lot smaller then, and for boredom it worked a treat. Now that THE BIG WIR is underway, I'm not so sure. I was actually thinking of having a go at making my own. Anyone tried it before? Not sure how, but surely it can't be that hard. Funny, the things they like. THey are just like children - sooooo picky!! Mine didn't give apples or carrots a second glance, or broccoli for that matter...

I'm sure I've seen lots of ideas on the Forum for home made pecka blocks - maybe we need a sticky for the recipes?