Talk:Raising Chickens/Keeping your chickens happy
From Wikibooks, the open-content textbooks collection
  (module) |
Choosing a Breed | Finding a Hatchery | Feeding | Keeping your chickens happy | Building a pen | Other Information | Archives
[edit] Other methods for entertaining chickens
Post your methods for keeping your chickens happy here. Klingoncowboy4 05:51, 3 Jul 2005 (UTC)
Feed 1 tbs. white millet per bird as a treat.
My chickens LOVE cottage cheese
low fat type with a little Quaker oats sprinkled on top.
Simple, corn and plenty of it82.38.78.129 13:57, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
Depending on the kinds of chickens you have, you may be able to get them to come near you and you can hold them and pet them as well. Some of them just run away from you when you try to get closer to them. I missed the kind that I had when I was in Luang-Prabang, Laos. Some of them are very sportive and you can let them fight a little for exercises. Please let them fight for fun only and make sure that it's not for gambling or for serious killing of one another !
[edit] Hand raising chicks
Handling chicks is the best way have tame friendly adult chickens. Friendly chickens are much easier to handle and care for than shy or unfriendly chickens, however if you are raising your chickens for meat (and not as pets or for egg production) having an up-close and personal relationship with your poultry may not be a good idea. Friendly chickens don't just run up to you when you have food; they will perch on your lap or shoulder and coo sweetly to you.
Take into account that breeds such as Rhode Island Reds seem to be the most playful, however they are high strung, sometimes aggressive and are never as friendly and cuddly as Buff Orpingtons or Wyandottes. Roosters and cockerels are naturally more aggressive than pullets and hens.
When they are very small you can scoop the chicks up and hold them in the palm of your hand, be sure to keep them warm and always be very gentle with chicks before their feathers grow in. Do not squeeze chicks. It's best to sit on the floor and hold the chick low so that if it walks off of your hand it will land softly.
As the chicks grow larger you can play with them much more, be gentle and patient. Chicks are capable of running very fast and can cram themselves into very small spaces; be sure to play with them where they cannot run under (or into) furniture or small openings or where other animals might trap them (even the friendliest house cat can be a serious threat to a small chick.)
In general most chickens like exercise and stimulation so you can be creative, use a bell caged in a plastic ball or dangle parakeet toys for chicks and larger cockatoo and cat toys for fully grown chickens. One fun way to give treats to your chicks is to drill small holes in a plastic ball or egg (like the kind used for Easter candy) and put a little chick starter inside, as they grow older you can put corn, carrot peelings, clean crushed shell, or left overs from your meals inside just to keep things interesting. Some chickens get quite possessive of their favorite toys so if you have more than one chicken be sure to have plenty toys to go around.
