Whetherfree - rangingor confined , today ’s backyard chickens exercise less and are given far too many treats in addition to their nutritionally - complete layer feed . As a issue , researchand domestic fowl veterinarians tell us thatmostof today ’s pet chickens are exit untimely from fleshiness - related wellness complications .
Fortunately , we can ferment that around . nutritionary awareness can help oneself optimize the health and lifespans of our backyard flocks ( more on that in a bit ) .
As for your fowl ’s exercise regimens , nothing gets those fluffy butts propel like a chicken resort area . Here ’s how you may make your backyard better for chicken health .
Recess!
unequal bread and butter space lay wimp at greater peril for obesity and behavioral problem such as feather pick and egg - eating . So maximizing yard space is critical to health and wellness .
The scanty minimal outdoor space allocation is 10 straightforward feet per bird , but more is always better . Just as with baby , world-weary chickens can get into devilry .
bring home the bacon enrichment activities within a spacious outside area keeps chicken minds busy with no time for unapproved extra - curricular activity . work up an outdoor recreation area that bring home the bacon ample opportunities to practise their body and their minds !
Kathy Shea Mormino
A confirming benefit to all this activity just bechance to be endless time of day of entertainment for human caretakers !
Chicken Playground Planning
Keep things interesting in the chicken pace by mix in different activeness and features periodically .
Chickens are n’t especially fond of change , so do n’t pull all these trick out of your proverbial chapeau simultaneously . When cogitate about the sort of activities you ’d like to incorporate into a gambol blank , consider feature offering varied vertical heights such as run , roosts and stairs the chickens can start on or fly up onto .
Add multifariousness with dissimilar textures , colors and hiding place . wimp enjoy rude lineament such as fallen branches , stumps , bush and trees , too .
Kathy Shea Mormino
Safety Considerations
Many of the following playground feature film can be add to the interior of a spacious poulet run .
But if you ’d like to countersink up a wimp playground space outside the confines of the outpouring and your spate does n’t customarily devoid - range , consider portable galvanizing poultry fence . The fencing will keep the lot confined to the surface area while preventing access by four - legged predators .
Hawk sack or cervid netting secured over the top of the play outer space will take out aerial predators . In the absence of netting , provide chickens with field to duck underneath for cover charge such as barrels . you could also use rudimentary benches fabricate from an erstwhile threshold resting on top of two cinder blocks , an old end table , or a homemade arm teepee .
Weather Issues
A maneuver yard should offer protection from the sun in blistering weather .
Shade cloth , beach umbrella and tarps bring home the bacon relief from the Lord’s Day ’s beating rays . you may also turn up the play yard near by nature suspect expanse underneath , tree , bushes and decorative grasses .
poulet should not have to travel far to stay hydrous in hot weather . Keep neat , reinvigorated drinking body of water in several locations throughout the frolic space to promote hydration .
Water Features
With core torso temperatures in the 104- to 107 - level Fahrenheit range , and without the benefit of sweat glands , chickens wearing construct - in down jacket have difficultness staying comfortable in gamey environmental temperatures .
A mister in a shady bit in the gambling yard will be a welcome relief as it cool the air surrounding it and the chickens . In temperature over 90 degrees , determine for signs of heat stroke .
In addition to shade and flock of nerveless boozing pee nearby , keep a bucket or vat full of cool ( not cold ) water close to the flock . If any mess member begin to look overheated , panting with fender off from its English in addition to appearing lethargic or pale in the wattles and coxcomb , immediately deluge them in the nerveless water up to their neck opening for several minutes . This cooling measure will bring its body temperature down safely and quickly .
Even if chickens are not in danger of heat stroke , a coolheaded dip in the water system can be a welcome relief to wimp not inclined to wade into piddle independently .
Some chickens do enjoy ram in shallow pond of water supply on hot days . For these birds , a low tot pool or shallow container filled with cold water for wading will be appreciated .
The Cafeteria
We have learn a wonderful amount about the dietetic requirements of position biddy in the preceding 100 years of poultry nutrition study . Today ’s backyard chickens have a important advantage grandma ’s did n’t have .
Commercial layer ration are formulated to ensure a accurate , nutritionally complete counterpoise of approximately 38 different nutrients required by hens to maintain wellness and equip them with the resources necessary to bring forth high calibre eggs .
When I use the term “ treat , ” I mean anything they exhaust that is not their wimp feed , include :
When chicken consume treats , they no longer obtain the correct percent of essential nutrients from their consummate feed . Even healthy treats dilute the stark nutrition in a crybaby ’s diet , deoxidize their power to be optimally intelligent and productive , and to inhabit foresightful lives .
take the problem we would make for a human infant if we were to add piddle to its breast Milk River regularly . The formerly perfect dieting for that baby would be diluted , preventing the baby from grow and developing properly .
The same thing occur when we over - treat our pet chicken . treat in moderation are fineoccasionally . determine comestible treats to no more than 2 tablespoons per day per chicken . And do n’t offer edible treats every twenty-four hour period or even every workweek .
Bowling for Crumbles
Who say a nutritionally complete bed provender ca n’t be fun while encouraging fitness ?
Drill six to eight small holes in an empty , juiceless plastic weewee bottle with a1⁄2 - inch drill turn , then fill it half direction with layer crumbles .
The wimp will hen-peck at the bottle as it revolve around the yard . As pieces of provender strike out of the bottles , they rush along each other for the nourishing chip !
Provide several bottles to the quite a little at the same time to avoid conflict & the accumulation of domestic fowl penalty .
Christmas Tree Jungle Gym
Whenever chickens are confined to spaces small than they ordinarily enjoy due to inclement weather condition , boredom and behavioural problemssuch as feather picking , and egg - feeding can ensue . Keep wimp busy , entertained and well-chosen in winter by think outside the box ; provide novel objects for chickens to explore and climb on such as a Christmas Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree laid on its side after the holidays , a wooden sled , erstwhile chairs hide with evergreens and birch logs stack in an old crate .
Monkey Bars!
poulet have a rude instinct to perch up off the soil . Encourage jumping up and flying down by supply your flock with a variety of object to roost on in variegate height .
you could use rough-cut and rare roosting fabric . Here are a few ideas :
If you ’re feeling peculiarly ambitious … try your handwriting at making a chicken gazebo ! My volaille love the one Mr. Chicken Chick made for them out of items bump flop in our backyard .
Create a chicken resort area that looks different from your mickle ’s everyday environs , adddifferent element from clip to meter and vary it with time of year - appropriate activity .
The potpourri will stimulate their minds , keep them out of each other ’s hair ( or feathers , if you like ! ) and encourage much - needed workout . The options for activity are only limited by your imagination , so get out there and bask discovering which activity are most appreciated by your favored wimp !
Sidebar: Dust Bath 4-Square
fauna living in the expectant outdoors will be debunk to insects living in the environment , transported into the yard by wildlife . That ’s natural and expected .
Chickens are able to rid themselves of most pests most of the time by junk bathing . During this natural process , they dig shallow ditches in the primer coat , rove around in the wanton scandal to distribute it throughout their feathers and skin , and subsequently shake it out along with check - hiking pestilence . Kathy Shea Mormino
Dust bathing not only helps chickens maintain skin condition and plume , it ’s good exercise ( imagine : Gallus gallus yoga ) . It ’s also a scheme for staying coolheaded in red-hot weather and an opportunity to socialise with flock - mates .
So in your chicken playground , why not allow for birds with a choice of secure materials to encourage detritus bathing in location of your choosing ?
Offer a variety of containers replete with liberal filth , peat moss or George Sand . Flower pots , bucketful and tubs are all great dust bath vessels .
In this photo , my chicken enjoyed their choice of peat moss , sand , cedar mulch and plain previous dirt from the yard . We made a rudimentary flesh to segment off the material , but chickens would be just as happy to dust bathe in any or all of the materials at once .
This tale in the first place come out in the November / December 2019 issue ofChickensmagazine .
