Keeping Chickens Entertained

Big Red and Iris enjoying a drink together

Chickens are constantly on a treasure hunt trying to find the best snack or perch. How do you keep chickens entertained and happy. I can't imagine caging up chickens without access to GRASS. Predators are always a concern but chickens are curious by nature and will thrive if allowed some roam time digging and running.

The following tips will keep chickens occupied. 

Kids playhouse on top of Subaru heading for chickens.

Haul in something for them to climb on. We found a kids playhouse on freecycle and strapped it to the top of our Subaru. They love perching on it after a rain to preen their feathers high off the wet ground. From time to time I bring in some shovels of dirt and toss in the floor of the house - all sorts of near invisible little snacks for them to dine on inside dirt!

Janie our biggest chicken and the leader.

Daily snacks. Each morning I juice oranges and share one half with seven chickens. Too much citrus can give them runny poo so don't overdo it. Also, it's been said crushed seeds and rind are not good for them, fortunately, when you juice, the seeds come out and they only want the interior fiber so all is good. I spear it so it doesn't turn upside down. Little ants and critters crawl in the cup, a chicken delight.

Forage for goodies on your property. Bring 'em some garden worms, cutworms, lettuce, dandelion leaves, raspberries, mulberries, blueberries, or strawberries (if they ignore berries, it's because they are too hard, so squish them and they will come running). They don't always have access to fresh greens in their run so I go and collect a little of this and that for them.

Leave some tall grass around the fence perimeter.

Tall grass & old roof panel, perfect for movable SHADE

One of our best predator defenses is the tall grass that has grown into the base of our fence. It is near impenetrable. We've spotted black Ratsnakes taking care of a mouse in the tall perimeter grass. Chickens love to jump up and eat the grass seed that has been allowed to mature. They also love to scratch and claw in the tall grass. We don't weed eat around our fence and trying to get the fence out is near impossible. We've never had anything more than a mouse tunnel its way in.

Make sure you have a soft dirt area in the shade where they can take dust baths. They like loose soil, leaves, or even wood chips. This is a chickens FAVORITE daily activity! Something as simple as digging a hole and mixing in wood chips or leaves will create a bath area that will be fought over!

Movable expansion pen, predator proof we hope.

Enclose a grassy area with a movable pen safe for them to patrol and hang out without fear of predators. My husband lets the chickens out of their coop at 7 am when he goes to work. I wanted them to safely have access to grass before I wake up several hours later. Coyote prowl until 9 am and Hawks are always out and about. I no longer sleep with one eye open from 7 - 9 am.

Old shutters provide light but tons of SHADE & dust bathing.

Section off fence areas and open them as the day progresses. My chickens are enclosed in their "safe zone" most of the day and when I am not home. Around 3 pm they are let out into the broader fenced area until they go up to roost. They love getting out where they can run and flap their wings, flying all about and enjoying breezes. Chickens tend to rest in the shade midday under the coop from 11 - 3 so there is no need for them to have free roam access as a predator could get them.

Provide them with shade zones. We hinged together two old shutters to create a place where they can dust bathe and hide out during the hot summers and even when it snows.

Pool noodles are not just for pools!

Perches, perches and more perches. I was looking for a low perch for my young chickens and decided a soft log might be the ticket. I stuck a bamboo rod through the center of a pool noodle. They LOVE it.
  
Your chickens will be safer, happier and you too will enjoy watching them have fun!

-Rebecca

The new Chickens have Arrived - Name that Chicken

New chicks!

Several days ago we received a wonderful gift of 6, 6 week old chickens hand raised by my neighbors. If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you might remember that we fostered 6 chickens for our neighbors when they temporarily relocated to Hawaii for 3 years. We loved our little flock and as the time passed we lost 4 from natural causes.

Moltie from my prior flock, always on the go & into something

When my neighbors returned, we gave them back their 2 remaining White Leghorns. My favorite chicken, Little Moltie, was one of the survivors. When we acquired the chickens they were 3 years old. Now, they are nearly 7. It's amazing to think they have lived this long. Apparently they have decided to kick back in gear and actually lay an egg nearly every day! It's very rare for a chicken to continue laying at this age. They are very happy and free range among lots of trees and leaves. I believe all the nutrients they scavange from nature has helped bring this along.

This is a no kill zone people - says Big Red

On industrial farms chickens are culled at 18 months when they first molt and egg production temporarily stops. It's cheaper to buy another set of pullets (young chickens) than to wait for them to begin laying again. Chickens can lay for many many years if free ranged and allowed to live a life naturally, as intended.

Chicks finally roosting, sleeping soundly.

So what's new on Forsythia Hill... Janie (Dominique), Iris (Welsummer), Cleopatra (Red Dorking), Big Red (Rhode Island Red), Raven (Australorp), plus one unnamed (Buckeye). I really wanted a mix of breeds to see how they differ in laying and in personality. Janie is the leader of the pack, Big Red is the sweetie, Raven is the smartest, Cleopatra is the prettiest, and little Iris is the baby. She is often heard crying if anyone is strays from the flock she SHRIEKS... come back, don't stray, you might not find your way!

Janie, don't mess with me chickens or else!

A small flock requires a secure space for roosting at night and ranging during the day. There are many predators; foxes, hawks, raccoons, opossum, & dogs (to name a few). Chickens are just plain fun but like any pet be prepared for some work and expense to feed and care for them. If you are outside often and can provide an entertaining space for them and socialization you will get the most from your flock (more about how to keep your chickens busy throughout the day in a future blog post).

I need a name please

Name my chicken! One last chicken needs a NAME. She is unusual in that she has 5 toes. Most chicken breeds have 4. She is identical in coloring to Cleopatra but they are different breeds. Please post your suggestion on my blog.

-Rebecca 

Lessons Learned from the Hen House, Way to Care for Chickens

Moltie, the goofy runt White Leghorn with Comet & Zucc.

Fostering six 3-yr old chickens has nearly come to an end. In July the family that raised this flock of White Leghorns and Brown Comets will be returning to Virginia from a military stint in Hawaii.

We had never had chickens so initially we were a little afraid of them. Scampering around adorned with sharp pointy toes, floppy red combs, and flappy wings. Attempting to take flight when anyone approaches or while the owner is proudly showing them off. Pecking at your calf, shoe, or heaven forbid eyeglasses! Unknowingly I had a tick on my calf and my chicken made me aware of it, two strikes and it was quickly removed.

We hauled in a kids playhouse from freecycle.

Each chicken has a different personality. We had the runt, the vocal one, the one that was constantly victimized, the curious one, the scaredy-cat, and the pecker (that would be the tick grabber). Small backyard chicken owners get to know their individual chickens and become attached to them, like any pet. You want to protect them, love them, care for them, and play with them. Some people even bring them inside to live, buying chicken diapers for them.

Don't be alarmed when they Molt - drop feathers - it's natural.

We went to great lengths to provide a safe and healthy home for our feathered friends. Designing and building an elevated coop that has proven to - so far - be predator proof and a dry place for the chickens to hang out on rainy days (Chickens want to be outside regardless of the weather but do not like to be rained or snowed on). We installed two windows so the coop would naturally heat up in the winter (one that opens to cool it off in the hot summer).

Our coop nearly buried in snow - keep a path shoveled.

I've lost many nights of sleep worrying about our little flock locked up in the coop all night... will a fox get to them, will they freeze to death, or will they turn on their own and kill the runt! Chickens can be very cruel, going after the most timid. We spent one whole year devising fencing and rotation to keep one chicken away from the flock otherwise we would find her battered and bloody. Finally after a few of the meanies died off, we could put her back with her flock. We always let her go up to roost in the coop at night LAST. Hell or high water, chickens will NOT come off their roost at night so she was safe to roost but we had to open the coop at the first crack of morning light or she would have been massacred. It's amazing that after the natural deaths of 4 of our 6 chickens, she still remains!

You should see grains in the feed!

I sold eggs when I had 4 - 6 hens finding two loyal customers on craigslist. We would feed a locally ground non-GMO feed. Feed is very different depending on where you buy it. We started with the standard feed store variety and moved up to a better grade of feed. We didn't spring for the soy free organic as it was so expensive. Do not buy your girls low grade crap. Seek out a nice grain that LOOKS like grain! I was shocked to see the difference. One looked like gravel compared to my feed - never buying it again. They say girls quit or slow down laying by 30% each year but I did not find this to be true until the later years. My Comets laid a huge egg EVERY DAY for 5 years! My leghorns slowed down a little with each passing year after age 4 but I have 2 leghorns living now and all my Comets have passed on so all that egg laying really does wear them out. If you are going to raise chickens for selling eggs - good luck - I never made a profit because feed is so expensive (any feed).

We adapt to predators, our Coopers Hawk.

Chickens have a reputation of being garbage disposals, being able to consume anything. After trying many foods, I've learned that carbs can nearly kill them! They love spaghetti and one day I cooked them a big pot - they gobbled it all up and for 3 days they hardly moved and their crops were blown up and clogged. I massaged their crops 3 times a day for 3 days and gave them teeny pieces of bread soaked in olive oil to try and get some grease in there. I think they would have died if I would not have helped. LESS is BEST. I do like to give them a little treat every other day. Very small portions - often in small bits of ONE thing. They love corn cobs (one for 2 chickens), blueberries, strawberries, Zucchini, and watered down oatmeal (1/4 c for 4 chickens). Anything that expands (bread, pasta) can clog their crop so I stopped giving both - do not kill them with kindness! DO NOT GIVE AVOCADO or APPLES (seeds toxic)! My chickens refuse to eat purple lettuce!  Only green for them! They also LOVE STINKBUGS! Google before you give them anything to ensure not toxic! Each chicken will like different things - they are often picky!

In the coop - nice and clean!

I learned early on that keeping grass alive in the immediate Chicken Coop area was near impossible. I do rotate the chickens into one area while I reseed the other - swapping back and forth so it doesn't all turn into solid mud.  I'm not raising pigs here! Chickens will also mess up a food or water bowl in a minute if you don't elevate them.  They only have legs to scratch with and this is what they do all day long - peck and scratch - in the dirt and on the food tray. We've devised some inexpensive ways to elevate both. I use plastic plant trays to take care of the water bowl and bent rebar into a hook to hang the food.

Wire, fencing, and CDs to deter Hawks!

I visited a coop located in downtown Cville to get some free supplies and felt so sorry for the hens. The family was afraid to let them out to roam because one day they saw a hawk.  YES, I too freak when I see a hawk but you can provide a little scratching area without keeping them locked up in a wooden box 24 X 7. I've hung wire, plastic fencing, and shiny CD's from my coop over to the fence to hopefully frighten off hawks. I would rather my chickens live a life doing what they love most than to be no better than factory farm raised. But heed the warning - you MUST first and foremost protect your flock. We all want our flock to merrily free range to their hearts delight BUT there are many, many predators and I've heard the sad stories over and over... but I just forgot one time... You can not let your guard down for a single day. Do not forget to lock them up at dusk in their coop, possum and foxes are cunning and smart. Raccoons have been known to pick locks. We have 2 doors that open differently so if they get in one, hopefully they will give up! We have four partitioned fenced areas: 1) under coop area 2) immediate right side coop area 3) left side coop area for emergency separation 4) expansion free range area.  When in the (4) expansion area, I have to be outside or keep one eye outside to make sure they don't fly over or get nabbed by a predator (beware of possible visiting dogs - the biggest killer of chickens). If you plan to totally free range without fencing, plan on tears - it's just a matter of time before your flock gets attacked.

Keep your coop clean - we laid linoleum in the bottom of our coop and it has worked great for 3 years! I completely clean it out and wipe it down - windows and all in Spring and Fall - periodically removing waste each month. We also built an elevated wire grate that sits over droppings from roosting at night so the girls don't walk or stand in their droppings.   I get donated sawdust (as long as not treated or cedar) that I sprinkle over the grate and droppings each am. I have a water bowl in the coop and outside that gets changed EVERY am when I feed them. Do not over feed! You will only attract RATS! Keep all feed tightly contained in metal - animals will eat through the toughest plastic.

Chickens are work but provide so much joy. It's even fun getting the system down! The returning family that raised my flock has expressed interest in raising a new flock, may be they will let the two old gals live out their days here with us... we'll see.

-Rebecca

First Snow of the Season

Our coop and hens complete with a dusting of snow.

I happen to love being mesmerized by the snow as it sprinkles down from the sky.  I never mind being home bound for a few days or even more.  Staying warm beside the wood stove, a good homemade soup, and the computer or a good puzzle keeps me occupied.  Albeit, this first snow was here and gone in about 4 hours, it was still pretty and the chickens seemed to not be bothered. 

"Pop Art" - Little Moltie watching it snow this morning.

Each morning during the cold months I have to bash the frozen chicken waterers on the ground to remove the ice and retrieve water from the house.  My husband and I laugh every time we have a "chicken project" and the fact that people always say, "chickens are easy".  Ha - ask my husband his opinion on that claim.  New Year's Day we were expanding the fence to give the chickens a grassy area in which to peck around.  Winter has really done a number on the grass around the coop.  This past Fall I was happily moving fences in order to toss out grass and finch seed to cover the barren soil, giving the chickens newly sown green patches. 

It's to get down below 20 degrees tonight and that means it's our first time to turn on the heat lamp in the coop.  Fingers crossed that all are OK tomorrow morning!

Cheers to lots of SNOWFALL.

-Rebecca

My Chickens are Molting

As a new chicken caregiver, there are many unfamiliar terms associated with "hen handling".  I've heard of molting and broody hens but was not exactly familiar with the details as to what occurs.  Ones first thought when they see a chicken molting is that they are ill or mite infested or even dying.  These thoughts ran through my mind several days ago as I noticed the white feathers accumulating in the grass and one chicken acting skittish.  Wanting to be left alone, pulling out some feathers, and strange holes on her pink neck all made me become fearful. 

Digging a deep hole underneath the chicken coop didn't help matters.  Initially Rainbow, the White Leghorn, appeared to be making a nest, complete with a rock as a fake egg.  I thought possibly she was becoming a broody hen, a hen that wants to sit on an egg and not get off the nest.  A broody hen can be a problem as they can not want to eat or drink water.  Even dying from thirst or starvation.  Fortunately, Rainbow does come out of her hole and has fairly normal chicken behavior; scratching, eating and drinking.  So I am guessing that she is just trying to hide not brood a baby chick (from her rock).

Quills growing back in, the "porcupine look".

Confirmations of molting:

No mites present.

No other hens attacking her.

No rooster on premises to cause feather pulling.

The quills are growing back in (the porcupine look).

She is eating and drinking.

She is hiding at times and skittish.

Egg laying has halted.

Rainbow b4 the molting began.

It takes a lot of energy to molt feathers.  I'm hoping this is a half-molt in that only the neck and tail feathers will drop.  So far, so good.  You do not want to handle or scare a molting chicken.  I've read that when the quills come back in, it can be painful, making for a cranky chicken.  I'm trying to direct black sunflower seeds to her specifically for nutrition but this is always a challenge with other "piggie" chickens nearby.

Pretty chicken feathers on one of our Comet breed hens.

Molting is a normal chicken process, renewing feathers for the winter.  It typically happens when the days shorten after summer but can be stress induced.  I am sure the transport to our coop almost a month ago didn't help matters and imagine that is what switched the molt process on.  There is another Leghorn that has begun molting and that would make sense since we're short two eggs each day - two birds at a minimum will go through this process, may be the entire flock.  Our three comets are not showing any signs as of yet and their feathers look lovely, so far...

-Rebecca