Your health questions answered by poultry vet Victoria Roberts BVSc MRCVS
Question: I am trying to keep my hens happy while they are confined due to bird flu risk but am running out of ideas.
Victoria says: Remaining creative for such a long time can get a bit wearing. Try and rotate the ‘toys’ so they don’t get bored with just one. Examples would be branches to play on, corn-on-the-cob hung up so they have to jump a bit to get it, apples threaded on a horizontal string, knotted between each one, wheat thrown in the litter so they can scratch, sprouted wheat in seed trays, swedes cut in half and hung, any green vegetables hung, extra litter (such as Easichick) or straw bales, some spread out, others left whole. This all creates entertainment and exercise. Hens are very adaptable – it is known as domesticity.
