Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[debbiedoobs]

Hi all,

What do you all do to keep your chickens entertained? Mine free range around a large closed area in the garden where there is plenty of places for them to dig and eat bugs etc. I admittedly spoil them rotten, just love giving them new things to do and watching them play.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Any kind of perch, bench, log, branch gives them something to hop up and down on.

 

I stick sweetcorn, apples, cabbage or spring greens onto a bbq skewer and hang it from a tree or the Omlet netting - hours of fun .

[debbiedoobs]

Think my chucks have been spoilt then because they no longer eat apples and turn their nose up at anything leafy unless they find it growing in the garden. They have logs to roost on and steps and tree trunks and plants to hide or sit on. It's just that sometimes I notice they almost seem bored and unless i sit out with them they don't really do anything. They are very sociable and always happy for a cuddle or stroke and love sweetcorn x

[Clucking_Mad]

As a treat I buy live mealworms and put them in a container for example a cat litter tray and put soil over the mealworms and the girls get so excited and spend ages digging for them even when they are all gone. I also have a couple of treat balls that I put the meal worms in or sometimes sweet corn or peas and they kick that around for ages

 

I also have a springy food holder I think I got it from feathers & beaky it hangs in our WIR and you can put food treats in it but it bounces & springs around and my girls spend ages ducking and bobbing trying to get the food treats.

 

I have also made a dust bath for when they are locked up in the WIR while we are at work I have used an old tyre and mixed compost and kids play sand with some louse powder and they love it and all 3 try to bath in it at the same time which is a bit of tight squeeze lol.

 

On hot days I put grapes and ice cubes in a bowl of water so they spend ages bobbing for the food but also while they are doing this they are drinking water at the same time.

 

I love my girls and will try and doing anything to keep them happy and entertained.

[hopingforchickens]

Love the tyre idea, might have to copy that one, I've tried various things for dust baths, but none have been that sucessful

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Whereas my chickens were scared witless by the tyre I put into their run for a dustbath . I had to remove it .

[gavclojak]

LOL my were scared of the yellow ball you fill with treats but loved the tyre, my OH built a swing too....much to my children's horror:)

as ex batts was surprised they used it too...mine love corn on the cob bobbing too....spoilt ladies...such diva's

[LottyJ1]

Mine love the yellow treat balls but by big girl is a bit heavy handed and it pops open sometimes!

[debbiedoobs]

How did you do the swing? Do they go on it? X

[gavclojak]

Hi there

have a look at the thread i started, Introducing my ex batt girls at long last

There you will see the swing, a few of them do go on it and seem to love it, My OH made it in about an hour, it was really easy do. i half buried a tyre and they like that too, it also gives me somewhere to perch while sitting with them have a look at the photo:)

[debbiedoobs]

Had a look at your pic, looks great. . Think I'll definitely make them another (they have holes all over the garden) dust bath from tires and maybe bury one like you have. Love the swing, think it would just waste my hubby's time as I doubt they'll go anywhere near it! They dont like new stuff and even when I've left it they still won't. Think silkies are real softies!