I used to just throw scratch grains on the ground until my flock in Denver started fighting over it. Switched to a $15 hanging treat ball and the pecking order drama is GONE. | Backyard Chicken Keepers - Hub Chatter
I used to just throw scratch grains on the ground until my flock in Denver started fighting over it. Switched to a $15 hanging treat ball and the pecking order drama is GONE.
That treat ball trick works because it turns feeding into a puzzle. I started putting their layer pellets in one too, not just treats. It slows them down so much they forget to be mean to each other. Honestly, the best fifteen bucks I ever spent on the coop. It's like they use up that bossy energy trying to get the food out. Why did I wait so long to try something so simple?
Always thought those puzzle feeders were just a silly gimmick for dogs, but reading what wren652 said about chickens makes total sense. It's not about the toy itself, it's about giving them a job to do with their food. Turns the whole pecking order thing into a game where the prize is the next pellet. Guess I was wrong to dismiss the idea for so long. Might have to try something similar with my own birds now.