Things for chicks to do

Since somebody was nice and left me a comment on my last post and asked for suggestions for things for chicks to do, I thought I make a separate post about it. The first picture shows the little sand box I put into their area, it's just a good sized clear plastic box and I put about 2 inches of sand in it, then I got that branch that it visible on that picture, so they have a gnarly branch to climb around on, in the corner next to the sandbox as well as in some other areas I throw a few handfulls of hay, they go crazy about it, scratching in it, grabbing pieces and slinging them on the ground, running around with it and chasing each other.

I am also providing a few perches for them to sit on, actually just made a new one today that is made from a 3 x 2 and is about 3 feet long. This gives them choices for sleeping places, prepares them for sleeping on a perch in the henhouse that is waiting for them and when they are not sleeping it gives them a place to fly up to or use as a launch pad for their flight exercises. The old broomstick is quite a popular perch, they sit there looking outside,

I do believe it is important for chicks to have an enriched environment, they are smart and energetic little creatures and they thrive on having something that keeps them busy. I also give them grass, just pull out a nice size grass plant including the roots and some dirt, it provides great entertainment (and makes a mess).

I sit inside their area sometimes on the floor after I just cleaned up, and hold some lettuce leaves out for them, the go at it as if they haven't eaten for days. I use the lettuce to get them to jump on my hands or arms, I call their names and hold the lettuce in front of them in the hope they will learn their names. Sometimes I scatter a grain mix I made up on the ground for them, flax meal, wheat germ, Scottish oatmeal and some fine buckwheat. They get crumbled boiled egg yolk and finely chopped alfalfa sprouts. I am hoping to move them outside, at least for the days when it is warm, by midweek next week. I am learning as I go, I think I will look for a few nice branches to put into their chicken yard so they can sit off the ground in the sun. Once they can eat adult food I will get some mealworms for them to "hunt" and who knows what else I can come up with to keep my little flock entertained.