Busy as a… Bird?
Enrichment is very important to the health of animals in captivity. How to make sure enrichment needs are met depends on the species and the individual animal, where even the type of enrichment may be different. At Zoology Foundation, we have a few different types of birds, but the bulk of our avian population are chickens. Most birds require a lot of enrichment, and chickens are no exception! They are very intelligent and active, and while some of our chickens enjoy training and getting attention from us, a lot of our flock members would rather be left to their own devices. So, to make sure all our chickens are properly enriched, we have an official environmental enrichment program.
The base of our program is making sure their enclosure is both interesting and meeting needs in different ways. In their coop, they have the option to roost on roosting bars, nest in nesting boxes, or make themselves comfortable on the floor that has a layer of soft substrate. Our entire Chicken Yard is also fully covered with wire mesh, so their coop door stays open, and they can choose to not hang out in there at all! Their yard is large with many shrubby trees, which we use to mount more roosts, including natural wooden ones. We also have some stair-like structures that Roger the Peacock, who lives with the chickens, loves. The trees also provide lots of natural shade as well as foraging opportunities. We also have multiple food and water sources. By providing them with many options for natural behaviors such as roosting and finding shady places to rest during hot summer days, we try to reduce any feeling of monotony while encouraging movement around their yard and the ability to make their own decisions.
All these enclosure features are permeant, however, so we also provide enrichment activities throughout the week! For the chickens, this most often is done by providing them with unique food items and presentations. So far, our most popular enrichment activity is giving them the chance to forage like they would in the wild. There are multiple ways to go about this, one example being foraging boxes. We’ll cut up assorted greens, veggies, and fruits into small pieces, put them in the bottom of a shallow box or tub, and then cover all the treats with a layer of hay. Our chickens then get to pick through the hay, or in most cases kick it out of the way and get their treats after a bit of work. These enrichment activities are removed after at a least a day to retain their novelty, which is why permeant enclosure fixtures are so important!
Of course, our chickens aren’t the only ones getting enriched. Keep an eye on our Instagram and Facebook page for pictures and videos of our chickens and other residents enjoying their enclosure features, getting some training, having one on one play time, and engaging with enrichment activities!
