Incorporating native and natural habitat into coop design and run layout

[jerseychix]

We are going to be embarking on a new habitat for our chickens. We are moving to a house with plenty of land, but it is on essentially a second growth forest (re-populated with pines, firs, and birch from an overgrown pasture). We are going to be clearing some land for the new coop/run but would like to incorporate native vegetation that the girls won't destroy. We'd like to include as much environmental enrichment as possible. Pipe dream? Any experience or info would be awesome.

 

[Erin~TheChickenLover]

Well, I think this sounds like a cool idea. I can give you a few ideas. #1 Idea: Use tree branches for roosts. #2 Idea: Cut down a tree top. Trim off the branches to be about 1 1/2 feet long. Keep only the limbs sturdy enough to hold a chicken. Dig a hole in the ground and stick the tree top in to be used as a play roost for the chickens. I have one and the chicks especially like it. Mine is cedar so that it will hold up better. Here's a pic of a roost that I like (courtesy of the internet):

Also, use trees to make the pen. I did this and we made it log cabin style. Here is a pic of my pen:

Any plants in the pen/run will not last any time at all. I wouldn't even bother with that, the chickens will just destroy the plants.

 

[sdsknifeworks]

Just tagging this thread to get ideas.

SDS

 

[Erin~TheChickenLover]

Also, you can make the chickens a garden. Amaranth is a beautiful plant, easy to grow, and good for chickens. Milo and wheat are some more possibilities.The garden must be grown away from the chickens. It makes great enrichment for the birds when you harvest what is grown and give it to them. I put dead leaves in my chicken pen to serve as ground cover. I throw in grass clippings from when I mow the yard. It's natural and free. Throw in some treats among the bedding and the chickens will be kept busy scratching. You can make the chickens dusting holes to bathe in and put rocks around the fluffed up dirt-filled holes to keep the dirt from being flung out. But really, chickens don't need that much enrichment. They entertain themselves well.

 

[jerseychix]

Awesome roost! And I will certainly have enough treetops to choose from.

I've grown amaranth as an ornamental before. Do you just cut it down and give them the whole plant?

 

[Erin~TheChickenLover]

Awesome roost! And I will certainly have enough treetops to choose from.

I've grown amaranth as an ornamental before. Do you just cut it down and give them the whole plant?

Yes, toss in the entire plant, you can even throw in the roots, and they will pick out what they want to eat.

 

[crazyhen]

If you have a strip of land you can grow Alfalfa, wheat, oats or other grain plants; you can give them too. You can cut the alfalfa and let it air dry and feed them that in the winter too. Gloria Jean

 

[weekendhomestea]

Erin,

I am glad you like the tree branch chicken perch. For more perch ideas, you can read my original post about it.

I like to grow sunflowers for my chickens. The seeds are a high protein supplement and you can just through the entire seed head to the birds and let them pick out the seeds.

Some people also like to plant mulberry trees for their chickens. The chickens will eat the berries when they fall to the ground.

-RDG

 

[Going Quackers]

I also have used natural tree branches for roosts in mine, as well as digging a hole to provide a 'bath' i also have tossed in pinecones.. and fortunately the placement of my pen allows the cedar trees to grow into it so they can peck and eat the bugs off of it...

 

[terryg]

One simple trick to keep hens busy in a confined space is to put a small log in the run. It will soon get moist and buggy underneath. Move it every few days and the hens will have a field day scratching around. Eventually, as the log decomposes they tear that apart too. I have photos and more ideas here: http://hencam.com/henblog/2012/06/keeping-the-girls-busy-3/