Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[muppet22]

Hi.

 

Quite new to keeping chickens. Really enjoying it so far!!

 

I have a large'ish run with my 3 hens in it, the floor is sharp sand which the hens seem to like. Apart from that it's quite vacant. I was thinking of putting something in there for the hens to entertain themselves with as a few days in a week they are in there all day as I'm at work.

 

Any good recommendations?

 

Was thinking about getting a perch in there somehow. However the run is not that tall (probably 3 1/2 feet) and protected by chicken wire on top and on side. The wire is too close to slot a branch in either end, so I guess the perch would have to go inside the run. Anyone give me some inspiration?!

 

Tom.

[lindafw]

how about getting hold of a branch...chop a bit off an oversized bush or ask a neighbour? Some chickens like hanging cds...they are shiny and reflective and good to peck! hanging sweetcorn is good too...mine prefer cooked! and come autumn mine quite like a stick of brussel sprouts

[auntielizzie]

Is there room in the run for a dust bath? I use an old cat litter tray filled with dried old potting compost mixed with play sand (not sharp sand - apparently that's not good). I mix it up with some diatom, making sure there are no lumps in it. The girls love it. I also find they like raking through the straw I throw around in the run. I haven't tried any toys, mirrors, cds etc ,but I do quite often hang up cabbage leaves which they like to peck at. The first little house and run I had wasn't very tall, but that still had a perch in it which they did sit on. This was made out of a bit of broom handle poked at an angle across one of the corners through the mesh. Don't know if that would work in your set up.