Keeping my hens happy that are confined to run/coop?

[flipflops]

I have one of the nice amish built run/coop combos. Its 6x12. My hens are confined to this 24/7 because we are in a neighborhood setting but do not have a fenced back yard. As you can imagine in their run they have picked the ground almost clean, just dead grass and mainly dirt. They have their food and water in their house to keep vermin away from it and warm for cold months. In the mornings before I leave I give them some meal worm treats, maybe some oat mix treats, and some handfuls of grass from other areas of the yard. I can tell within 20 minutes or so before I leave for work that they are already done with that and walking around wondering when I am bringing more treats. So my question is - what else can I give them or put in the run food wise to keep them happy?
What about scratch? I know maybe some cabbage or something like that? I just hate to see them bored or feel like they are! PS - They have not started laying yet, they are 21 weeks old. They are on grower feed still - should I switch to layer?

 

[lazy gardener]

How many birds? Can you show a pic of your coop/run? Can you add a fence run to the existing structure? What is your general location and your winter weather like?

I'd suggest that you convert your run into a deep litter run. Aim for a bed of composting deep litter that is a minimum of 6" deep. If the run is a shallow affair that is UNDER the coop part of the structure, perhaps you'd consider elevating the whole thing up on a foundation of cinder blocks or a wood base to give you the needed clearance for DL.

Many benefits to be had from DL: Improved immune systems and feed conversion rates. The flock will stay busy all day long, every day digging for seeds, insects, worms. Your soil will be transformed from a dead fecal impacted mess that is so overloaded with N and P that nothing can grow in it to a healthy fragrant soil that is loaded with healthy micro and macro organisms. No more mud. The birds will convert that DL into the best compost you've ever seen. Your gardens will thank you for it.

You may have friends, family and neighbors showing up with buckets and bags, begging you to share it with them. You will have to tell them that the purchase price is a 2 for 1 deal: They bring 2 bags of DL material, and go home with 1 bag of finished compost!

 

[SueT]

You don't switch to layer until they lay. Some pullets that mature when days are getting shorter, don't lay till spring. So don't give it early. If one lays and not the others, provide oyster shell on the side.
What breed(s) are they?
Scratch gives them something to do, cabbage is fun, you can put an entire head in there to peck at. Make sure their feed is providing 90% of their diet, so they don't fill up on less nutritious items. I like to wait till late afternoon, when they've eaten their usual full amount of feed, then give scratch and scraps.

 

[flipflops]

We are in VA. Mild winters usually, but you never know. Its been in the 30s this week. Our house and run are all covered so no mud at all. We have 3 right now, and 4 babies, that we plan on building more run for when they are ready for outside. So just 3 hens in now. They are all standars - brahma, faverolle and orpington.

 

[CSAchook]

X2 on deep litter. It gives them something soft and interesting dig in, bathe in, hunt for food etc. Quality entertainment without giving them too many treats. For treat options, though, you can also try threading pieces of fruit or veg onto a piece of twine (or even putting them in one of those wire containers people put suet blocks) and hanging them up in the run so the chickens have to work to get them. Like a piñata.

 

[flipflops]

Is it ok to maybe put some DE in a corner of the run for them to have for dust baths? I never see mine taking dust baths. I keep their feed inside the coop, but should move it outside during the day as well? They seem to come and go from their house when they want to go on and eat on the grower feed.

 

[CSAchook]

Chickens typically don't need a separate, above ground dust bathing area unless the ground is very hard, compacted, or frozen. Is your run like that? A switch to deep litter would allow them to bathe in the run and the compost should create enough heat that the run won't freeze even in winter. Other wise, there are threads on here about different ways people have constructed dust bath areas.
DE use is a very controversial topic on this site...but I believe some people use it in dust baths. Other common options are regular dirt from the yard, sand, peat moss, wood ash or a combo of materials. The chickens will want to add feathers and poo to the mix too of course

 

[CSAchook]

Also, where you put your feeders is a personal choice. Some people (myself included) keep them in the coop. Others put them in the run (and then bring them in at night). It sounds like keeping them inside is working for you, so I wouldn't worry about changing it

 

[CSAchook]

Here is a recent helpful thread about dust baths
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/winter-dust-baths.1206041/#post-19135208

 

[flipflops]

Thank you guys so much! Also on their regular feed - I have them on Nutrena Grower feed now. Do you think the Purina flock raiser/grower is a better product? They are pretty much out and I need to get more if I need to keep them on this until they lay.