We got some crickets from the bait shop. We really thought they would love it--but, it freaked them out! They ate a few, but were shocked and it took them a minute to start trying to catch them. A lot of the crickets got away! We made them a covered dust bath--looks kinds jankey, but the love it. It was a raised bed that was starting to rot a little--untreated wood. We replaced the wood around the garden bed and just moved the old wood to the back yard and filled it with coarse sand and topsoil and nailed some T-posts in the ground around it and hung a tarp. They like to get in it a lot more than I thought they would. We have another area beside the privacy fence with crepe myrtle like bushes--don't know what they are, but the size of crepe myrtles. It is a shady spot with some underbrush below the taller bushes. We pile leaves in there under the bushes for them to scratch around in. We put an old metal garden bed on legs in under the crepe myrtle bushes--just put a board over the part where the dirt was. Then we added a bench in front of that and stood some logs up in front of the bench--it's tiered. The really like that area--we call it the fort. I made sure and kept that area damp during the heat. They spent most of the day in the underbrush on the hot days. I want to add some more vertical things for them on the other side of the yard. I have a pallet, but I feel like I need to sand it before i give it to them--it is splintery. I like the way you have yours propped up--I hadn't thought about that. Thanks!
I have some plants growing in plastic stock tanks, as well as a repurposed fence post they love to perch on. I have one mirror but need to add a couple more. There’s also a big pallet set on its side that they hop on, a walk-through big plastic trash can, and I also put out some piles of hay that they love to dig through and peck at. I’ll definitely add a flock block soon. Oh, and I have a nylon net that holds a head of cabbage, which is a huge hit. I love the idea of more water and a sprinkler.
We put rocking chairs out in the run. The last storm beat the chairs up but you gave me the idea to put them out in the run to see if they would use them. Our girls love the chairs. Our rooster doesn't seem to but the girls do. They use it to their advantage at treat time to get higher than everyone else. Chickens make me happy.
I'm in the process of re-doing my chicken yard. I really liked your idea about hanging "shiny things" around the yard. I have a bunch of old CD's that'll be perfect. I've already planted some elderberry bushes around the chicken house, and they love them. I have a couple of handmade ladders that they like to perch on that I found a couple of years ago. I put them inside the chicken house for their nighttime perches. I found a toy xylophone at a thrift store but I haven't figured out the best place to mount it yet. Thanks for the great ideas!
I found a little tikes car 🚘 bed frame I put it in my chicken garden lol still haven’t gotten any taker’s yet but thinking of turning it into a grass box just haven’t figured it all out yet lol
Been raking the old leaves from the front yard garden beds and bringing them to their runs. Threw in a bunch of grubs on top and they were busy for a while. Freecycle is my friend. If anyone has that in their neighborhood, I got mirrors from there which is hilarious to watch my ladies check themselves out. I made a swing too and I never see them on it but I see marks on the bar so I am sure they use it. These silly birds, we love them so :)
I love your ideas! I have found fun "chicken toys" at thrift stores and along curbs on trash day. It's always a welcome gift when you can give your chickens a great free "toy." Old wooden ladders are great. My fat Orpies use an old wooden ladder that I cut the bottom half of the legs off. They use the legs to climb to the top of the coop, and the (now half-size) ladder top lets the girls who are too big (or lazy) to fly get into the top roosting boxes. It cost a whopping $4.50 at a local thrift store. I also found two wooden stools for $1.50 each that I repainted, and the girls love using them as lookout towers!
To an extent they do, yes. But we have red shoulder hawks who are smaller and there are lots of dogs and cats in the neighborhood so I think they figure the risk is not worth it.
Without our prior knowledge or consent, the power company sprayed herbicides in our yard--all along the fence and about 4 feet into the back yard where my chickens are. I am still furious.
We got some crickets from the bait shop. We really thought they would love it--but, it freaked them out! They ate a few, but were shocked and it took them a minute to start trying to catch them. A lot of the crickets got away!
We made them a covered dust bath--looks kinds jankey, but the love it. It was a raised bed that was starting to rot a little--untreated wood. We replaced the wood around the garden bed and just moved the old wood to the back yard and filled it with coarse sand and topsoil and nailed some T-posts in the ground around it and hung a tarp. They like to get in it a lot more than I thought they would. We have another area beside the privacy fence with crepe myrtle like bushes--don't know what they are, but the size of crepe myrtles. It is a shady spot with some underbrush below the taller bushes. We pile leaves in there under the bushes for them to scratch around in. We put an old metal garden bed on legs in under the crepe myrtle bushes--just put a board over the part where the dirt was. Then we added a bench in front of that and stood some logs up in front of the bench--it's tiered. The really like that area--we call it the fort. I made sure and kept that area damp during the heat. They spent most of the day in the underbrush on the hot days. I want to add some more vertical things for them on the other side of the yard. I have a pallet, but I feel like I need to sand it before i give it to them--it is splintery. I like the way you have yours propped up--I hadn't thought about that. Thanks!
You have lots of great ideas and sounds like the space is designed really well! ✌🏻❤️🐓
Like your new flock
I have some plants growing in plastic stock tanks, as well as a repurposed fence post they love to perch on. I have one mirror but need to add a couple more. There’s also a big pallet set on its side that they hop on, a walk-through big plastic trash can, and I also put out some piles of hay that they love to dig through and peck at. I’ll definitely add a flock block soon. Oh, and I have a nylon net that holds a head of cabbage, which is a huge hit. I love the idea of more water and a sprinkler.
Oh I love the tunnel idea too! I plan to do a lot for their enrichment and safety this autumn/winter too. ✌🏻❤️🐓
We put rocking chairs out in the run. The last storm beat the chairs up but you gave me the idea to put them out in the run to see if they would use them. Our girls love the chairs. Our rooster doesn't seem to but the girls do. They use it to their advantage at treat time to get higher than everyone else. Chickens make me happy.
I'm in the process of re-doing my chicken yard. I really liked your idea about hanging "shiny things" around the yard. I have a bunch of old CD's that'll be perfect. I've already planted some elderberry bushes around the chicken house, and they love them. I have a couple of handmade ladders that they like to perch on that I found a couple of years ago. I put them inside the chicken house for their nighttime perches. I found a toy xylophone at a thrift store but I haven't figured out the best place to mount it yet. Thanks for the great ideas!
I found a little tikes car 🚘 bed frame I put it in my chicken garden lol still haven’t gotten any taker’s yet but thinking of turning it into a grass box just haven’t figured it all out yet lol
Been raking the old leaves from the front yard garden beds and bringing them to their runs. Threw in a bunch of grubs on top and they were busy for a while. Freecycle is my friend. If anyone has that in their neighborhood, I got mirrors from there which is hilarious to watch my ladies check themselves out. I made a swing too and I never see them on it but I see marks on the bar so I am sure they use it. These silly birds, we love them so :)
I love your ideas! I have found fun "chicken toys" at thrift stores and along curbs on trash day. It's always a welcome gift when you can give your chickens a great free "toy." Old wooden ladders are great. My fat Orpies use an old wooden ladder that I cut the bottom half of the legs off. They use the legs to climb to the top of the coop, and the (now half-size) ladder top lets the girls who are too big (or lazy) to fly get into the top roosting boxes. It cost a whopping $4.50 at a local thrift store. I also found two wooden stools for $1.50 each that I repainted, and the girls love using them as lookout towers!
These are great ideas! ✌🏻❤️🐓
@@realsimplemama I'm painting an old stool bubblegum pink as we speak!
my 1 chicken loves the swing she swings all the time she was her tail to get it going i also made a swinging bridge for them
That sounds so cool! ✌🏻❤️🐓
Do the plants from Lowe’s or Home Depot have pesticides or fertilizer on them? Flock Blocks are amazing!
Hi! I’m not sure. I would ask them. I don’t think that Lowe’s sprays but it depends on where the plants are coming from originally. ✌🏻❤️🐓
Do the hawks not get in the trees? They do in our neighborhood.
To an extent they do, yes. But we have red shoulder hawks who are smaller and there are lots of dogs and cats in the neighborhood so I think they figure the risk is not worth it.
Without our prior knowledge or consent, the power company sprayed herbicides in our yard--all along the fence and about 4 feet into the back yard where my chickens are. I am still furious.
Oh my goodness. That’s terrible I’m sorry. ✌🏻❤️🐓