Calling All Behavioralists: How do I determine if my birds are content in confinement?

[2 Acres]

The birds get even happier this time of year. It's harvest time... and the corn is coming out. (and there's usually "spillage" on the road)

5 gallon pail time...

 

[2 Acres]

The birds get even happier this time of year. It's harvest time... and the corn is coming out. (and there's usually "spillage" on the road)

If the majority of my girls are sleeping on the coop floor... does that mean they are content???

 

[Seaslug]

I think that there is a lot of guilt over this -- having a nice run and providing for the birds with a lot of enrichment vs. giving the birds free range.
If you have only a few bantam birds, then if you can get purchase or borrow an EX-pen or two, you could set up a temporary area for an field trip on grass once a month that your birds may enjoy.
My birds spend most of their life in their run and I do not feel bad about it, because their safety is one of my responsibilities. Nor do I feel bad if I provide them with food based enrichment -- that is exactly what free ranging is, and I do not believe that anything should eat the same thing day in and day out.
What I do is I try to make sure that I permit at least an evening a month that I allow the girls an evening out, about two hours before sunset, in which I sit outside with them. They get to explore, I get to watch them (and determine which weeds they currently like, which makes it easier for me when I am pulling things for them later), and they are looking to get back into the run after filling their crops.
I do not kill my birds when they stop producing; they live out their life with me and I do what I can to make their life enjoyable.
I currently have a six month old puppy. He thinks that he should be able to run free. But I trust neither him nor the rest of the world (as he looks very much like a fox, and I know people's attitudes towards foxes), so despite what he "wants," he isn't permitted to run free and I am guilt free about that.
You are doing a great job!