Topic of the Week - Boredom Busters for Winter

[AlphaButterfly]

One might have thought that those who endured the various lockdowns during the initial Covid panic would have learned that even with the vast range of at home entertainments and possibly the freedom of a garden, forced confinement does lead to boredom and it seems in retrospect many other mental and physical health problems.
Zoos have gradually realised that confinement isn't suitable for many if not most of the species they keep, hence the zoo parks where much more space is available for the more obvious creatures that in their natural environment would range over acres or even square miles.
I've never understood why some people think chickens are immune from boredom and are quite content confined to whatever standard is in fashion at the time.
Chickens are by nature foraging creatures and will quite happily make use of an acre or more if allowed.
Rather than provide toys, which most of us had during the Covid lockdowns and which proved inadequate when it came to our health, let the chickens out, even in the snow if they'll go.
There is no substitute for freedom and no amount of toys can change compensate for the lack of it.

So very well said! I’m so glad you posted!

 

[GardenladyMG]

At times, periodically, I hang a cabbage as a tether ball for them to peck. Tie it like a gift package and hang it down on a rope. Weeding grasses? I tie into a bunch and hang. Really not for boredom, I want the good food to translate into higher quality eggs: the bonus is they enjoy it.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I am curious where you get your wild chum salmon from? That sounds like a great protein boost and treat. Thanks for sharing.

I order them from Wildfork.com. It’s $11.48 for 1.5lb bag of filets. They are labeled “Keta salmon” on the website, but it is also known as “chum” or “dog” salmon because it’s often fed to sled dogs. I order a big box of wild fish, yak and bison from them every month and once you reach a certain order amount the shipping is free. I live in the Midwest so wild caught fish isn’t readily available and pretty much all red meat is corn fed. That led me to wild fork.

 

[AlphaButterfly]

View attachment 4001307

Long, cold days can lead to boredom in the flock. This week, let’s share ideas for keeping chickens entertained and active in winter. For example:

• What toys or items do you place in the run to keep your flock busy?
• Do you use hanging treats, pecking blocks, or other feed-based activities?
• How do you encourage movement and exercise when the ground is snow-covered or icy?
• What enrichment ideas have you found most effective in winter?

Anything else you'd like to add?

For a complete list of our Topic of the Week threads, see here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/topic-of-the-week-thread-archive

• I spread several cups of scratch out in their outside run. As a busy activity and since it has a higher ratio of grains for winter, it helps keep them warm.
• I periodically rake and mound up their outside run pine pellet (sawdust), because they LOVE to dig and spread out the mounds.
• I discovered that they go crazy over the ice I break out of their water cups from their outside bucket. Who knew?!?!?
• I put one of the big red dog balls into their outdoor run and they seem to enjoy standing on it and moving it around.
• I pour hot water over a big bunch of alfalfa cubes in a huge shallow dish and they will spend hours eating and tearing them apart.
• I grow grasses to cut and drop into their outdoor run.
• On warm-ish days I let them loose in the garden to dig for grubs, etc.

All of this being said, I am aware that most of the extra things I do for my flock are more about my need to nurture and care for them. I find it to be very soothing to care for, and to spend time with them. They are not merely egg producers to me. They are part of my pet menagerie.

 

[Nanook33]

My run does not have a solid roof, it does have a small (8x8') portion under the coop. We get a lot of snow so I shovel a good bit(~20 x 8') as well as a path down the entire 50' length(mostly to be able to clear the mesh roof if snow sticks).

I've never free ranged so their confinement area is the pretty much the same all year around. My coop is big enough for my flock not to be crowded during terrible winter storms when they can't go out into the run. I planned it that way and over the years have learned how many birds are comfortable in there.

I've never used food/treats as 'boredom busters'.
Toys? Pfft.
Chickens don't get bored, their keepers do.

If/when it gets icy I'll toss down some shavings or sand.

Straw works well, also.

 

[UpstateChickenDaddy]

View attachment 4001307

Long, cold days can lead to boredom in the flock. This week, let’s share ideas for keeping chickens entertained and active in winter. For example:

• What toys or items do you place in the run to keep your flock busy?
• Do you use hanging treats, pecking blocks, or other feed-based activities?
• How do you encourage movement and exercise when the ground is snow-covered or icy?
• What enrichment ideas have you found most effective in winter?

Anything else you'd like to add?

For a complete list of our Topic of the Week threads, see here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/topic-of-the-week-thread-archive

My official boredom busters are limited by apathetic chickens with a few exceptions I’ll mention later.

Cabbage and veg hung up? They couldn’t give a cluck. That big expensive block food block that weighs a ton? They just use it to stand on. Swings? Nope.

Mine enjoy the dustbath, the various solid perches, the bench, and what I call a double decker chicken garden. During growing season they love the chicken garden and enjoy walking up to the second level (which gave me twice the growing space and added 12 sq ft to the total run space).

The only actual toy they DO enjoy are the balls that release treats as they peck at them. I made one in an old water bottle hung from a string in their brooder and the enjoyed that too.

What they enjoy most is company. They see me coming long before I get to the run door and are gathered round. I try to sit with them a bit so Dulce at least can come sit on me. She needs to stop pecking and I admonisher her but they just love company. I am their boy toy as it were. Even Charles is friendly (still at 18 weeks) and Henry announces my arrival each time.

Btw so far at 18 weeks the two roos are still peaceful. I know eggs might start arriving in two weeks so I hope the peace continues when they become frisky.

 

[HowIsItDone]

There is no substitute for freedom and no amount of toys can change compensate for the lack of it.

We have hawks around here.
No substitute for live chickens.

 

[HowIsItDone]

Everyone has such different coop/run set ups, different birds, different climate, different predators. There really is not one way to raise chickens that will work everywhere.

I love to let mine out - but predators are real. Wind, rain and snow, cloudy days - give advantage to the predators. Space is probably the best cure for flocks that get along, and clutter makes better use of that space.

I don't do food hanging, I do mini haystacks, they scratch down, and I can flip onto of snow. I do have wind shelters in my run, so birds can get out of the wind and weather and still be outside.

If your birds are active, bright eyed and eating, they are doing fine.

Mrs K

Same here. I push the straw in their run into big piles, and they spend the day spreading it out.

 

[Nanook33]

We have hawks also, so no free run. But, yup-straw piles keep the gang busy for quite a while. Toys just do not work.

 

[UpstateChickenDaddy]

Same here. I push the straw in their run into big piles, and they spend the day spreading it out.

Going to get a bale tomorrow for them. They have loads of space but as the picture demonstrates the run and coop have to be like fort knox. The four footed predators plus eagles, hawks, etc p