Unsecure chicken perches

[Guest]

Any ideas on enrichment for hens in a WIR? We've got a few ideas but would welcome some more.

 

Also, this is what i am doing with feeding each day and i wanted to check it was ok?

 

There are layers pellets down all day for the girls. At lunchtime they get 'porridge' made from layers pellets with either scrambled egg (with shell cooked in), pasta, rice, some mixed veg, sweetcorn, a few raisins on top, sometimes a tiny bit of cheese (tiny) and at bed time they get mixed corn - a small handful each. They have fresh water which is changed whenever dirty/frozen.

 

They occassionally get some kitchen s"Ooops, word censored!"s thrown down during the day.

 

Does that sound ok?

[Space Chick]

Truthfully that sounds too much. Layers pellets should be the main bulk of their food, treats should only be given in the evening, then it should be a egg cup full of corn per hen. The exception I make to this is when it's winter, I do supply greens at varying time due to the lack of greens in my garden and where I may make them a pellet porridge in the morning which I make with layers pellets, warm water and maybe some mealworms thrown in.

 

The do often get veg peelings in the evening too, but I have a big flock so its not much each

 

As for enrichment in the run, I have some small plastic tables they can jump on, a large pasting table and a rabbit run with a roof to create an upstairs/downstairs mezzanine. I also have various perches (broom handles on the corners through the mesh works a treat )

 

Hope this helps

[Egluntyne]

I agree with Space Chick.

 

If you give them all that extra food, they won't eat adequate amounts of their layers pellets, and this may lead to calcium deficiencies and poor egg production.

[Lavenders_Blue]

It's so difficult not to give them too many treats isn't it?! But as the others have said, pellets should form the main part of their diet. A good way of giving them treats but without them gobbling it up too fast is to hang a sweetcorn or cabbage from the roof of the run then stand back and watch the vegetable swingball competition commence! They will get their treats, but they won't be able to guzzle too quicky and it will keep them busy for ages.

I also give my girls a little handful of wheat each evening and throw it into their run so that they have to rootle around in the bedding for it, which keeps them occupied too.

Other 'enrichment' ideas are a dustbath (they will probably use this most days), some perches, some logs of different height for them to hop onto and an area of dry soil that they can dig around in. All that should keep them more than happy!

Edited January 2, 2011 by Guest

[Guest]

I will cut down what they are getting, i should add that when i say veggies in the porridge (layers pellets) its literally a tiny cube of carrot or two, a piece of brocolli and a few bits of sweetcorn...i have definitely been giving too much corn and too many things like scrambled eggs though, so will stop all that.

 

I guess i feel a bit sorry for them out in the cold.

 

I am such a soft touch.

 

It may also explain why we havent had a single .

 

Thanks both.

[Guest]

It's so difficult not to give them too many treats isn't it?! But as the others have said, pellets should form the main part of their diet. A good way of giving them treats but without them gobbling it up too fast is to hang a sweetcorn or cabbage from the roof of the run then stand back and watch the vegetable swingball competition commence! They will get their treats, but they won't be able to guzzle too quicky and it will keep them busy for ages.

I also give my girls a little handful of wheat each evening and throw it into their run so that they have to rootle around in the bedding for it, which keeps them occupied too.

Other 'enrichment' ideas are a dustbath (they will probably use this most days), some perches, some logs of different height for them to hop onto and an area of dry soil that they can dig around in. All that should keep them more than happy!

 

Sorry, we posted at the same time. It IS really hard not to give them stuff when they enjoy it so much, but i will cut right back, i had cut back but will cut back more this time. They must think i'm a right mug!

 

Re the dust bath - do i use compost/normal soil (except its all frozen solid still) or what's best? We use top soil for the tortoise would some of this in a container be ok?

[Lavenders_Blue]

Top soil will be fine, that's what I use. You can also use play sand, but no point in going out to buy that especially if you already have top soil. A container with a reasonably high side (a few inches) is a good idea as they do fling it around everywhere!

[Space Chick]

Soil or bird sand (not builders sand) is great for dustbaths. I have 4 in my WIR and I add some diatom and buzz busters to it too to help keep beasties at bay

[Christian]

A cat litter tray with a lip is great for a dust bath. I fill mine with ash from our wood fire and they race to it once filled with fresh ash......

[Guest]

A cat litter tray with a lip is great for a dust bath. I fill mine with ash from our wood fire and they race to it once filled with fresh ash......

 

Ahhh ok..we have a woodburning stove, i had no idea ash was ok for them.

 

They now have perches at different heights, suspended cabbages, and a treatball which caused much hilarity for us and a bit of confusion for them!! We also put in some cut branches from the Rowan which they've had a great time picking and pecking at and trying to look underneath. What a bunch.

 

Brilliant ideas all - thank you.

[LauraJ]

With regards to putting ash into their dustbath, we use smokeless coal on our woodburner and Im worried that it might have chemicals in it that might not be good for them (I have also stopped putting on our veggie patch) what do you guys think?

 

As usual, thanks for all round top advice

[The Dogmother]

you're giving them too much Wendy, cut out the carbs such as Pasta and rice - does them no real good. Stick to mainly pellets or mash with a bit of greens/dried seaweed/alfalfa.

 

Re dustbaths, I have an old enamel wash basin (It needs to be pretty heavy) and fill it with woodash, topped up with Diatom to prevent lice. They love it.

 

Hang up some CDs to get them moving around, or dangle their greens just out of reach so they need to jump for them.

[Guest]

you're giving them too much Wendy, cut out the carbs such as Pasta and rice - does them no real good. Stick to mainly pellets or mash with a bit of greens/dried seaweed/alfalfa.

 

Re dustbaths, I have an old enamel wash basin (It needs to be pretty heavy) and fill it with woodash, topped up with Diatom to prevent lice. They love it.

 

Hang up some CDs to get them moving around, or dangle their greens just out of reach so they need to jump for them.

 

I know. They are still getting their hot porridge (made with pellets only) and a few mealworms on top.

 

They now have hanging veggies - not a great success...they didnt really respond to them much bar the odd peck...they however LOVE their perches at different heights and also LOVE the giant pot with the soil/ash in it - they've had lots of fun jumping in/out of that today.

 

I've hung a few birdy mirrors in the WIR and one in particular is clearly very vain and spends a lot of time staring at herself walking back and forth.

[The Dogmother]

They'll get the hang of veggies soon enough, takes a while for them to realise that they are tasty. Mine love dark green veg like curly kale and savoy cabbage.

 

Anything fatty or with too many carbs isn't a good idea as they store their fat internally rather than on their bums like we do. It doesn't do their internal organs any good.

[Tutti Frutti]

I also add logs (good for them to rummage around in - and then stand on when they've finished!).

 

For Xmas, I bought them a dog kong - I fill it with corn and mealworms and cork it with a pear then chuck it into the lions! I go back an hour later and all that's left is the kong and the pear stalk! I don't know if all 6 have a go... or not - my feeling is that top chook gets the lot and I should've bought 3 kongs! I only give this once in a blue moon - nothing regular, I made that mistake before and they'd complain loudly when I didn't appear with treats! Cheeky monkeys

[Guest]

I also add logs (good for them to rummage around in - and then stand on when they've finished!).

 

For Xmas, I bought them a dog kong - I fill it with corn and mealworms and cork it with a pear then chuck it into the lions! I go back an hour later and all that's left is the kong and the pear stalk! I don't know if all 6 have a go... or not - my feeling is that top chook gets the lot and I should've bought 3 kongs! I only give this once in a blue moon - nothing regular, I made that mistake before and they'd complain loudly when I didn't appear with treats! Cheeky monkeys

 

They've got logs and branches that they seem to like, however a Kong seems like a great idea - i have several in the house as the dogs looked at them like 'errr...why???'

[megalin]

Ha ha, one of our girls found a big mirror the other day!

She stood and gigged her head at it for ages, then went back every day after to check she/it was still there.

I had to confiscate it eventually as she started pecking the sides of it and pulling it to pieces.... then she started pecking her reflection so I got a bit concerned

[Mincepies]

I'm a terrible chicken mum and feed ours all sorts of leftovers. Hard to monitor their layers pellets intake as they are free range in a large garden so snack on grass, insects, and anything that they happen to find.

 

Once, saw a cute field mouse running amongst them and in a blink of an eye it was in Martika the maran's beak! She swallowed it whole

 

They create their own dustbaths in various earthy spots, have tons of multi-level objects from which to survey their territory, such as branches, logs and stones, and particularly enjoy sunbathing on an Astroturf-style doormat!

[Lavenders_Blue]

You're not a terrible chicken mum - it sounds like your girls have the life of riley!

[Guest]

You're not a terrible chicken mum - it sounds like your girls have the life of riley!

 

Ditto!!

[Guest]

The new enrichment things are going down well - veggie kebabs, birdy feeders with greens in them - perches and tree limbs as perches - they love it!