apple tree stumps in run

[karlooben]

my neighbour has cut down a very very healthy apple tree so angry with him for it , it was not causing a probelm and it must have been there 30 yrs or more . anyways i was wandering if the stumps from the main trunk would be ok to stack up in the run for the girls to play with , i really dont agree with cutting down trees but maybe i could help recycle it by giving it to the girls 

[Vember]

Can't see any problems with that Looby
You'll get all sorts of insects living in them and the girls will love scratting around finding them


Sarah

[karlooben]

thankyou wasnt to sure if maybe the apple tree would be toxic to them or something better to check then be sorry . am hoping i can catch the ppl before they take them away i know the girls wil love them 

[goosebusters75]

Hello, fruit trees are fine for smaller pets like rabbits, guinea pigs, rats etc so i would imagine an apple tree is fine for chickens, lots of people keep chickens in orchards also.

[Bigblacktaximan]

If you can make a little log stack,  leave it a week or three,
then when the chooks are about,   knock it over and watch the feeding frenzy as they chase all the bugs and creepy crawlies down

rebuild and repeat as wanted

[karlooben]

  i should of thought of that goosebusters then i would not of needed to post about this , .

[Learner]

I often used (when I could get them) branches from fruit trees in an aviary for cockatiels as they loved chewing the bark and the wood! 

[chuckmum]

My girls really love their tree stump, they spend ages hopping on and off it and balancing on it to preen. When it first went in it had bark on it, which they soon stripped off to get at all the juicy bug's that used to live their, it is now smooth and bark free. They wouldn't be without their beloved stump!

[pink-chicken]

We were advised by the vet to use fruitwood branches (thin ones) as perches for our budgies because they are so safe and non toxic. They are much better for their feet than plastic perches 

Jan.x

[hillfooter]

Anything which encourages their natural foraging behaviour will make them more lively and happier birds and help prevent boredom so it's a great idea to provide them with some logs. 

If everything is provided for them "on a plate" so they have no need to forage we might think we're being kind but it's better to encourage them to be active.

Regards

[Flowerpower136]

I've got various stumps and logs in the run.  Use one of them to raise the water feeder, some to prevent too much digging at the boundary, others just for the fun of it.  The girls like pecking and clambering for crits.

Though with the log burner fired up, might be retrieving a few as winter kicks in.