The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Kier on May 06, 2010, 10:22:36 pm

Title: Pen Enrichment
Post by: Kier on May 06, 2010, 10:22:36 pm
So instead of destroying the garden the chickens have been moved to a spacious pen,however apart from their coop it is rather barren at the moment.I'm thinking of putting a couple of logs,and hanging grapes for them to peck at,but apart from that has anyone got any proven ideas that work to keep them entertained?I'm hoping that when my mums at work and i;m home from uni i;ll let them have free roam of the garden then pop them back before she gets home anyway,but still lol ;)
Title: Re: Pen Enrichment
Post by: doganjo on May 06, 2010, 10:39:24 pm
Sounds a good plan to me, Keir (oops sorry, wrong spelling - that's my grandson's name spelt that way)  Kier  If they are kept in teh same area all the time it can sour and you need to worm them often, so letting them out to free range is good - but can't you get Mum on board instead of deceiving her?  I know I'd prefer that.
As to toys for them, big logs is good, and hanging things for them to peck at is good too.(Cabbages hung upside down)  Mine have a little one foot high wall that they prance along on and hop on and off, as well as the remains of the last two Christmas trees!
Title: Re: Pen Enrichment
Post by: Kier on May 07, 2010, 09:47:05 am
The christmas trees are a really good idea!my mum is on board,in a fashion lol Luckily we can sort of see both sides of the arguement,so so far we've come to an understanding.We 6 bantams due to hatch on tuesday so when they're up to a suitable size then the pen will be ideal as I've seen bantams clear higher fences than ours.
Thanks for your reply
Title: Re: Pen Enrichment
Post by: clumbaboy on May 07, 2010, 12:16:14 pm
Hiya,
     A good idea is to hang sweetcorn as well, u can buy peck blocks for them , I have old branches and a big tray of bark chippings, :wave: its trial and error to see what keeps them amused
Title: Re: Pen Enrichment
Post by: Rosemary on May 07, 2010, 01:21:05 pm
Sweetcorn, brussel sprout stalks, nettles, comfrey, sunflowers with seedheads, a bird feeder with sunflower seeds / mixed corn are all good activity centres. A box filled with compost would make a good dust bath.

Good luck with the project.
Title: Re: Pen Enrichment
Post by: curios on May 07, 2010, 06:57:56 pm
We use a plastic container with one or two small holes just big enough for a mealworm to drop from and fill it with worms and hang it up so they have to keep pecking it to shake them out. I also add  a tray (seed tray) of greenery that is sprouting, and mine have a dust bath too  - a deep tray filled with a mix of playsand and ash form burning paperlogs (apparently ash is a natural deterrent to mites etc).
Title: Re: Pen Enrichment
Post by: little blue on May 08, 2010, 01:41:44 pm
our girls have a tomy ride on tractor and trailer, and the quail a little toy digger.
they have alot of stuff mentioned above as well...
Title: Re: Pen Enrichment
Post by: Kier on May 09, 2010, 07:18:08 pm
thanks for all your ideas everyone,I'm taking on board everything i'm collecting and will hope to put it in there soon.Will post pics as and when,Thanks again
Title: Re: Pen Enrichment
Post by: valr on May 09, 2010, 09:30:03 pm
I read somewhere they like Cds strung up ...  Wonder if they like mirrors, like budgies? :D