This was a nicely written, informative, fun article!! Tyvm. I’m new to the chicken life; we’ve got 8 chickens who are 14 1/2 weeks old. I’ve put a couple stumps in, loose dirt and will try straw! They love it all.
I love your ideas! I’ve recently expanded the outdoor space for my girls, but want to include fun things for them as well. Their run isn’t big enough for any extended amount of time locked up. I think the stairs is a great idea as well, I have extra scraps of wood that I could easily utilize!
Chickens also love fresh lettuces - I buy the organic spring mixes from local grocery and throw some out every few days or so. Their pecking sounds quicken as they get so excited! Also in another string we talked about bamboo leaves. These are great nutrition, full of vits/minerals and great for their microbiome. Chickens love bamboo leaves and they can hide in and climb in and out of bamboo limbs that are placed in their run!!
We hang lots of fruits and veggies via rope (heads of lettuce are a favorite), but I never thought to score the item prior for easier eating. Thanks for the tips!
Enrichment of poultry environment is very beneficial, same as for any confined beings. Whether you have to use a run part or full time for your flock, using some of the suggestions in this article will provide entertainment for chickens as well as encourage natural behaviors and minimize issues like feather picking. Most of it can be done with no or little expense. No need to peel apples for chickens though unless you you want to go the extra mile
View attachment 1783240View attachment 1783237 Thanx for the tips! Love the hanging fruit! And love the ladder! My girls free range all day but rarely climb on the large branches & my ladder! They prefer my concrete patio! Lol! They do love scratching in the bamboo leaves & foraging for buggies & worms in the grass.