Chicken bald back

[SueChick]

Very pleased that after a few weeks planning and designing, the new chicken Hentertainment area is complete! As the only free space available to them to wreck (oops sorry I meant for them to free range in!) is a patio area, I have been designing ways to make it more chicken friendly. So now they have a lawn substitute (see below photo), climbing frame/treat dispenser (see below photo - the climbing frame has holes drilled in so that I can hide treats in it!), trays full of pebbles to forage in for mealworms etc, hanging feeders, plant pot perches, broom handle perches and a lovely shady acer tree to eat (oops shade under!). I have also made a few extra special treats to hang up from the feeders as well as the usual cabbage and sweet corn swing ball (first picture is frozen raspberry Chickpops! The second is homemade pine cone feeders).

 

What do you think? Am I missing anything else I could add?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think you could safely call me the mad chicken lady now.

[Beantree]

Some great ideas there SueChick, particularly the lawn substitute.

[SueChick]

Thank you - yes they love the grass. It's only £3.49 for one roll of turf and I have got loads of trays from it - I am just rotating it and allowing it to grow and recover between munching sessions!

[Bramble]

My chucks have seen your pictures and have made an official request for a move to your house, please - your chicken toys look LOADS better than mine, apparently!!!!!

[Luvachicken]

That certainly looks like a fun place to be a chicken.

I should have done that with the turf I got my girls but instead I laid it in their run and now it is wrecked.

How did you make the raspberry ice pops ?

They look very nice for a hot summer's day - mind you, your pine cones are in a funny position

[SueChick]

Oh dear - I was hoping no one would notice that! Poor cameraman direction there - still that's what you get when you make your son and unpaid photographer!

 

The ice lollies are made in one of the kids old homemade ice lolly sets. Just popped in some mint leaves (they are meant to be a natural coolant), some raspberries and topped up with water. Then popped a piece of string in them and put in the freezer until I need them on a very hot day.

 

The reason my ladies are being a bit pampered recently is that we had quite a bit of feather pulling from the boss and as I was getting some newbies I thought I had better give her lots of other things to think about rather than feathers! Hope it works - fingers crossed.

[mollyripkim]

That is absolutely brilliant, some very lucky girls you have there, I hope they appreciate it and reward you with some lovely eggs.

[hammy72]

This is brilliant - I may borrow some ideas for when I extend my ladies run

[LunaKiw1]

the turf in a tray rotation idea is brilliant. We've given ours the odd turf or two in the past but then of course it just gets eaten and disappears but taking it out to let it re-grow makes it a real cost effective treat!

[jeshen]

Brilliant! Like your turf idea especially - will defo copy.... Thanks!

[Luvachicken]

The ice lollies are made in one of the kids old homemade ice lolly sets. Just popped in some mint leaves (they are meant to be a natural coolant), some raspberries and topped up with water. Then popped a piece of string in them and put in the freezer until I need them on a very hot day.

 

Think I will make some of those for when we have the next spell of hot weather.

I guess you could make a strawberry version too

[Plum]

So what is the pine one treat?

[SueChick]

The pine comes were collected in my kids school (really mum you are so embarrassing!!!! Sorry kids - it's for my ladies!!). Then spread a little bit of peanut butter in the branches and sprinkle in mixture of seeds or wild bird food etc.

 

Picked clean!!!!

[Plum]

Shall try that, thanks

[Cat tails]

Love your ideas!

 

I have been hanging up a peeled apple on a piece of string, whenever I'm away all day, so they have limited free ranging time. It takes them quite a while before they finish the whole thing as I hang it just above beak height.

[PixieDust]

These look fun and easy to make. Taking notes for when I get my girls

[daxigirl]

Sorry had to laugh at the pine cone bra.

[Guest]

I have made my girls a swing, so far they have ignored it grrrr.

 

I also hang a hula hoop up so they can hop through it, I didn't get any thanks for that either, ungrateful bunch

[Lavenders_Blue]

It looks very impressive! My girls' run is incredibly boring. Although I did hang a cabbage up for them yesterday (they thought it was Christmas )