Toys to keep chickens entertained?

[T-lady]

OK, so this might sound a) daft and b) really soft but ...

Now that the nights are drawn in the chickens are in bed by the time I'm back from work. This means they are confined to their Eglu run (3m x 1m) all day during the week doing the same-old, same-old.

Are there any toys suitable for chickens to distract them during what must seem like quite a boring day?

[lynda66]

i've been thinking about parrot toys, mirrors,cd's with piccies on, cuttlefish, those things with seeds in that you hang up and give to budgies, bits of thick rope tied up as a swing, an old tyre hanging up, and even one of those small plastic climbing frames with the holes in and a slide ...... but then i'm soft too

[MaureenHall]

Old cd's hung up are recommended by lots of sites, but as I've never tried it, I can't say really. How about hanging up cabbages, sweetcorn etc, slightly out of reach so they have to jump to get at it? It should keep them occupied and exercised for a bit

[eVILv]

Hang up a cabbage and they will pick away at it. To be honest, they seem happy enough if they have somewhere to scratch and a bit of chicken company. They aren't that bright, even if they do have likeable personalities.

I used to have fifty free range chickens on my allotment, and I regarded letting them out as early as possible as being important for their mental wellbeing. However, after a series of horrible attacks by criminals who killed them all with dogs and various other cruelties, we stopped keeping hens for a good while, and then in March this year, I started up again in a very small way with half a dozen brown hybrids which we have kept inside a large light shed ever since. These birds have never been outside their ten foot by five foot shed in their lives, but they seem very happy and content, jumping from perch to perch, digging in the deep litter and rolling about in the muck. I was cleaning out today and while three of them ventured outside for a foot or two as the door was open, they were more interested in what I was doing in the litter than they were in exploring the great outdoors. My birds seem very happy interacting and exploring their own hut together than in anything else. It is much bigger than an egloo though.

[Bephlam]

People amaze, and terrify me!! Killing the chickens with dogs, etc. Why on earth do these horrible things happen?? I live in fear of someone doing such a thing to my dogs, cats or chickens - hence the reason the cats are forever checked up on, the dogs are always with us...and the girls are padlocked in to thier wee house at night.

It seems O.T.T, but there are some cruel *insert appropriate name here* around!

[Snadger]

I've got an old wardrobe door mirror 6 foot X 3 foot in the run. It maybe doesn't amuse the chooks so much but it sure amuses me watching them attack there own reflection!

It's quite devious really as the newbies came from a barn with about 50 other younguns. With the mirror in place they still think there pals are there!

I've actually got two mirrors facing each other so it's a bit like Bruce Lee's hall of mirrors! All good honest fun!

[Snadger]

Hang up a cabbage and they will pick away at it. To be honest, they seem happy enough if they have somewhere to scratch and a bit of chicken company. They aren't that bright, even if they do have likeable personalities.

I used to have fifty free range chickens on my allotment, and I regarded letting them out as early as possible as being important for their mental wellbeing. However, after a series of horrible attacks by criminals who killed them all with dogs and various other cruelties, we stopped keeping hens for a good while, and then in March this year, I started up again in a very small way with half a dozen brown hybrids which we have kept inside a large light shed ever since. These birds have never been outside their ten foot by five foot shed in their lives, but they seem very happy and content, jumping from perch to perch, digging in the deep litter and rolling about in the muck. I was cleaning out today and while three of them ventured outside for a foot or two as the door was open, they were more interested in what I was doing in the litter than they were in exploring the great outdoors. My birds seem very happy interacting and exploring their own hut together than in anything else. It is much bigger than an egloo though.

Still think if chooks had a choice they would be outdoors!

[lynda66]

I've got an old wardrobe door mirror 6 foot X 3 foot in the run. It maybe doesn't amuse the chooks so much but it sure amuses me watching them attack there own reflection!

It's quite devious really as the newbies came from a barn with about 50 other younguns. With the mirror in place they still think there pals are there!

I've actually got two mirrors facing each other so it's a bit like Bruce Lee's hall of mirrors! All good honest fun!

lol, i'm glad mirrors do have a reaction, i've got 2 as well to go in with mine

[Hashette]

Love the mirrors idea, cheers Snadger

eVILv, how dreadful, I'm so sorry to hear what happened to your girls. Can't understand the mentality on any level, or imagine how it must have made you feel

[Bephlam]

Still think if chooks had a choice they would be outdoors!

I totally agree - it's the same with cats. I hate the thought of something happening to one of my cats, but at the same time - at least I know they're enjoying the life they have - and if something happens to them...then they've had a fun filled, loving life.

Is it better to have a short, but happy, fun, exciting life....or a long 'content' one??

Although, in saying that...if my three dig up any more bulbs, or pull anymore mud on to the grass they'll be confined to their coup!!!

[Bephlam]

Although, in saying that...if my three dig up any more bulbs, or pull anymore mud on to the grass they'll be confined to their coup!!!

Of course, by 'my three' I'm talking about the chickens - not the cats!!! They do dig sometimes, but not with the passion or expertise of the chickens!!

[di]

Ours have mirrors,1/2 buried tyres & an old toddler climbing frame.!!Oh & the kiddies have kindly donated them a mini football & a digger truck!!~never seen them play with either but who knows what they get up to in our absence?Hanging greens for them is good~also if you have any dead sunflowers.

[lynda66]

never seen them play with either but who knows what they get up to in our absence

lol, that had me rolling thanks you are soooo funny

[Two_Sheds]

My parrot shows no interest in toys, he's far too clever. He'll happily strip the bark off a piece of apple wood.
Budgie loves to peck and pull at a piece of rope/string/polyprop for hours until it's frayed to bits. They both completely ignore the expensive cage toys I bought for them.

[Two_Sheds]

Hens like Snail Football....

My neighbour has chickens on his allotment, and we like to throw handfuls of snails up on the netting roof ... the hens go mental trying to jump for the snails, which gradually fall through the net one by one.
It's the funniest thing to watch a hen dashing round the coop with a snail stuck on her beak, pursued by half a dozen other greedy hens ...