The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: shearling on August 09, 2011, 04:01:00 pm

Title: what toys/amusments?
Post by: shearling on August 09, 2011, 04:01:00 pm
What toys/amusments do you have for your birds?
Title: Re: what toys/amusments?
Post by: CameronS on August 09, 2011, 04:11:44 pm
i hang up various vegetables (such as broccoli cabbage, sweet cord) about 2foot off the floor and encourage them to work for their treats, also five them branches and logs to "climb" over and hunt for bugs on/under
Title: Re: what toys/amusments?
Post by: jaykay on August 09, 2011, 10:59:52 pm
When I had chooks in runs, mine also liked broccoli or cabbage hung up. Straw to scratch on with their corn scattered in it. Mine had a soil patch which I dug over weekly to keep sweet- heaven hunting for worms  :D
Title: Re: what toys/amusments?
Post by: Womble on August 10, 2011, 07:28:51 am

At the moment, I have to say regular sex, since we have a couple of cockerels too many  ::).

However, when we kept ours in a run, I once made a wee device out of an old plastic tennis ball thing - I just drilled one small hole and one big hole in it, and then filled it with grain through the big hole, and sealed it up with duct tape. Every time it rolled, some grain would fall out of the small hole. They used to chase it around for hours!
Title: Re: what toys/amusments?
Post by: Rosemary on August 10, 2011, 08:48:14 am
Quote from: Womble on August 10, 2011, 07:28:51 am
However, when we kept ours in a run, I once made a wee device out of an old plastic tennis ball thing - I just drilled one small hole and one big hole in it, and then filled it with grain through the big hole, and sealed it up with duct tape. Every time it rolled, some grain would fall out of the small hole. They used to chase it around for hours!

You should patent this and market it- maybe with something a bit better than duct tape. I bet it would sell. Dragon's Den, here you come  ;D
Title: Re: what toys/amusments?
Post by: jaykay on August 10, 2011, 09:36:40 am
Definitely, with the rise in city chickens  ;D
Title: Re: what toys/amusments?
Post by: goosepimple on August 10, 2011, 07:56:46 pm
Great, except we're all the 'make do and mend' types on this website, so ducktape for me.... great idea - any more?  could be useful for piggies (no they'd eat the whole thing wouldn't they). ::)
Title: Re: what toys/amusments?
Post by: Sandy on August 10, 2011, 08:26:39 pm
Taking the dogs in with me daily!!! the dogs ignore the chickens but it certainly keeps the hens on thier toes!!!!
Title: Re: what toys/amusments?
Post by: Rosemary on August 10, 2011, 10:10:05 pm
Quote from: goosepimple on August 10, 2011, 07:56:46 pm
Great, except we're all the 'make do and mend' types on this website, so ducktape for me.... great idea - any more?  could be useful for piggies (no they'd eat the whole thing wouldn't they). ::)

The Snak-a-ball is the piggy equivalent. Ours have all loved it.
Title: Re: what toys/amusments?
Post by: goosepimple on August 11, 2011, 09:36:39 am
Is that available to buy or were you just being silly (no offense!)? : ;)
Title: Re: what toys/amusments?
Post by: jaykay on August 11, 2011, 09:50:42 am
Snack-a-ball (http://www.stockleyonline.co.uk/catalog/likit-snackaball-p-985.html)
Title: Re: what toys/amusments?
Post by: yorkiepud on August 11, 2011, 09:55:04 am
Mine love a mirror, got it from a petshop supposed to be for budgies they love it when the sun catches it
Title: Re: what toys/amusments?
Post by: Womble on August 11, 2011, 01:20:10 pm
Quote from: goosepimple on August 11, 2011, 09:36:39 am
Is that available to buy or were you just being silly (no offense!)? : ;)

The poultry version is definitely available to buy. Just send £50 via paypal to [email protected].  All orders placed this week will receive a free roll of duct tape!   :D
Title: Re: what toys/amusments?
Post by: goosepimple on August 11, 2011, 02:43:46 pm
brilliant! - it's in the post  ;D ;D ;D