Toys and non-boring activities for my girls during winter?

[Lady Lionheart]

How do you all feel about mirrors for the birds?

I forgot but I also have a mirror for them. They love it!

 

[Lady Lionheart]

My ladies are spoiled rotten lol. But they are very happy. And to think.. I still haven't gotten that first egg yet! Getting close with my 19 week olds, I hope!

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

My husband just built this for me yesterday. In the bird feeder I have mostly crumbles layered with scratch in it. I plan in putting a flock block up there so they can work to get treats. They also have a swing and different roosts and a dust bathing box. But they still prefer my garden!View attachment 1568923View attachment 1568925

It looks like a cat tower. Ironic?

 

[Lady Lionheart]

It looks like a cat tower. Ironic?

Lol yes it does!

 

[K9 Handler]

They really enjoy swinging??? I am intrigued!

Not mine. I had two swings set up in their run -- one 1.5" and one 3" - hanging from a chain about 24" off the ground. Never had a hen have any interest to sit on one, even with treats on the limbs.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Scratching digging is fun for them. There’s been a lot of good suggestions. If you really want to drive them nuts put some meal worms in a jar/with a lid.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

How big is your coop?
Pics would help.
Extra roosts can help.
How big is your run and is it weather proof?
Lots of space is the best tonic for 'cabin fever'.

Be careful giving too many 'treats' to assuage boredom,
you don't want to reduce their basic nutrition for optimal health.
A healthy bird is more likely to withstand the cold temps and stress of winter confinement.

I sprout some wheat for a green treat once a week or so.
View attachment 1567724

What seeds are best?

 

[BGcoop]

Yeah, so I did the whole cabbage on a string thing, thinking it would give my 11 birds quite a while to play with it.....it was completely gone in about two hours. So yeah they loved it, but I won’t be counting on that to reduce HOURS of boredom.

 

[aart]

What seeds are best?

I use hard red winter wheat, that I buy in bulk from peoples food co-op to cook with rice for myself. It's clean and never molds, but more expensive than buying large bags from an animal feed store.

 

[aart]

Yeah, so I did the whole cabbage on a string thing, thinking it would give my 11 birds quite a while to play with it.....it was completely gone in about two hours. So yeah they loved it, but I won’t be counting on that to reduce HOURS of boredom.

Did they eat it all or just spread it around?