Fun And Enriching Activities For Your Backyard Flock

As winter settles in, our flocks have acclimated to the colder temperatures.  Often, our chickens' activity levels drop off during this time of year; in addition to the colder weather, the ground is dormant, and the bugs are gone.  Despite all of this, you can create enriching exercises for your flock that will make them more active and are excellent boredom fighters.  Here are some ideas!

Let's Play!

Providing fun things for chickens in the coop will keep them engaged and exercised.  You can install a chicken swing.  Chickens love to roost on elevated surfaces; having a swing adds movement in addition to height.  You can also add treat balls to their environment.  Treat balls are toys that you can fill with tasty treats for your flock; they have to peck at the ball for a surprise to fall out!  Check out our selection of delicious and nutritious treats for your treat balls!

Let's Eat!

Another easy way to add enrichment for your backyard flock is to hang a head of cabbage!   Drill a hole through the cabbage and thread a rope through it, then hang it up in the coop!  Hang it high enough for them to have to work at it, but not too high that they lose hope of reaching it.  You can also use baskets or hanging seed cages and stuff with leafy treats, such as kale or spinach.  Creating opportunities for your chickens to work for a fresh vegetable treat will fight that winter boredom, and it is good for them!

Let's Get Physical!

There is a good chance that your backyard flock is excited to see you every day!  Take advantage of this energy and lead your chickens on a walk!  Get them out of the coop and get them moving.  You can also quickly train your flock to follow you.  Use delicious treats, like PopWorms! ECO, PopWorms! PRO, and PopWorms! LIVE. Encourage them to follow you while making a noise reserved for them, such as a high-pitched whistle.  Chickens learn quickly, and before long, you can open their coop and whistle for them to come to you!  Whether urban or rural, your chickens will benefit from some supervised and guided free-ranging time!

Providing enriching activities for your flock is a great way to fight obesity in your hens and beat boredom!  Happy, health chickens is the goal.  Check out PopWorms! for more tips and delicious treats!