cheap rural entertainment--cheep, cheep, cheep

[mogal]

Normally, when I weed the south hoop house, I just throw the weeds on the floor of the chickens' hoop house.  I have seen some videos where people are hanging commercial treats like a miniature flock block so this morning I was wondering how I could do that.  I've bought my hens exactly ONE flock block and it was totally eaten the next day.  Since it was on the ground, they could effectively peck it to pieces.  Same when I throw weeds on the floor but weeds don't cost what a flock block costs. 

This morning, I noticed an old wire hanging basket we got from an auction a couple of years ago.  It's not the run of the mill hanging basket but longer than wide, wire in some filigree designs and pretty.  So, I took it off the hook where it had hung from a tree limb, hung it from one of the hoops in the chickens' space and filled it with weeds, mostly chickweed which was appropriate,.  The younger hens were outside so the older hens first gave it a major fish eye--"What's she bringing in here this time?!"  A few leaves had fallen through the spaces and that intrigued them.  After the loose leaves were gone, one of the braver hens pecked at chickweed sticking out.  When the basket swung around a bit, they ran away a little.  Curiosity and appetite brought them back within a  minute and they really went to work on their snack.  I stood to watch them for maybe 5 min before I needed to get back inside to finish some chores but it will be interesting to see how much of the weeds will be left when I go out to feed this evening. 

My husband thinks I'm nuts but I find chickens to be very entertaining.  Oh, well.   

[countrymom22]

You're not alone, mogal. I too find my flock amusing and enjoy spending time with them. Hubby thinks I'm crazy. Sometimes I will even do some of my workout next to the coop so I can just observe them. They bring me peace, unless the rooster and Dozer are fighting through the fence!

I've had the same issue with the flock blocks not lasting very long. They seem to last longer during colder weather when they are probably partially frozen. But for the length of time that the block lasts, I do n otice that the pellet consumption goes down, so I guess it's a wash.

[mogal]

I'd pulled a 5 gal bucket worth of weeds and this evening, around 4:30, all of it was gone. Just gone! Maybe I'll do a better job of weeding the hoop house this winter if the hens have so much fun eating them from their fancy hanging basket.

My dogs don't pay any attention to any of the chickens but when some were still chicks, the young cat that took up residence here last winter was too intrigued for his own good. DH was almost ready to throw a bucket at him when one of the dogs set this rotten cat straight. Good puppies!