Lockdown Learning Activities: Happy Chickens

When caring for animals in captivity, it is important that all of their needs are met; this includes making sure they have a good diet, fresh water, company (if appropriate), veterinary treatment when needed, shelter, and safety. One of the most important things we have to consider is their ability to perform natural behaviour and how we can encourage this to make sure that they are both physically and mentally happy; not scared, lonely, or bored!

When we change an animal's environment (their home) to do this, we call it Environmental Enrichment. Enrichment encourages animals to use their natural abilities and behaviours to interact with their environment. To be able to do this we have to first learn about the animal, what their natural habitat is like, and what they would spend their time doing in the wild. We can then use this information to create an enclosure and activities that stimulate their senses and encourage these natural behaviours at the sanctuary too.

Think about the things that make YOU happy. Is it your favourite food? Your family and friends? A favourite toy or activity? Now remember, animals are just the same. They are all different but they will all have likes and dislikes, things that make them happy, things that scare them, favourite foods and foods they don't like, other animals they like to be around, activities they like to do... and they even play!

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YOUR TASKS:

1. Research chickens and what they need to be happy and healthy. What do they like to do? How do they behave? What do they need to live?

2. Using what you have learned, imagine that you have been put in charge of designing a new Chicken Enclosure at the sanctuary: What would it look like? How big would you make it? How would you make sure that your chickens were happy living in it? We’d love to see your designs and why you think they would be good for our chickens! Key Points to remember for your enclosure:

• It needs to be secure so that predators such as foxes cannot get in.

• Our animal keepers need a door to be able to get inside and care for the chickens.

• As well as an outdoor area, the chickens need somewhere warm and dry to sleep and rest in - don't forget some cosy nest boxes for them.

• Sanctuary visitors need to be able to see the chickens from outside - what will you build your enclosure from that they can see through?

• Most importantly, how will your enclosure allow them to behave like a chicken? Think perches, nest boxes, areas to scratch and forage, somewhere to dust bathe, things to peck and play with.

In the videos below you can see some of our rescued chickens at the sanctuary using their dust bath, and scratching/foraging for seeds and insects.

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Due to Avian Influenza (Bird Flu), some of our chickens have been brought inside from their usual enclosures to shield them from contact with wild birds and the risk of contracting the virus and becoming sick, and so enrichment is now even more important to stop them from becoming bored while they’re inside.

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YOUR TASK:

• Using your research, we want you to design or make a toy/activity to help keep the chickens occupied and stop them from becoming bored while they are inside. Bear in mind the things you have learned that chickens like to do. Use your imagination! We’d love to see your ideas and why you think the chickens would like them. Hint: Search "chicken enrichment" and see what other people have made for their chickens. What ideas do you like and why? What do you think our rescued chickens at the sanctuary would like? We might be able to use your ideas here!

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Sometimes the simplest ideas can be just as successful, such as this basic food enrichment - cabbage hung up on a string for the chickens to peck at. As you can see, they loved it!

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We'd love to hear what you've learned about chickens (feel free to ask us any questions you might have) and don't forget to show us your work if you take part in the activities! Send us an email at brockswood@hotmail.co.uk or leave us a comment on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Brockswood.CotwallEnd

2020: A Positive Reflection

2020, a year none of us will forget. It’s so easy to focus on all of the bad things that happened this year, so we are instead celebrating all of the good and hope that you will be able to do the same. Sometimes it’s only a small win, a happy moment or memory, but they shouldn’t be overshadowed by the bad. So here are ours…

We started the year with our new website, which to date has been visited 36,000 times. After a lot of work (we do it all ourselves) it allowed us to not only share more of our work with you, but run all of our ticketing when we were finally able to open. This included almost 17,000 tickets to visit us this year - a record breaking number of visitors to the sanctuary!

We completed work on our on-site charity cabin, which we’ll be opening once distancing is no longer something we need to worry about. We also completed work on bridges and pathways which meant we were able to open some of our back paddocks to you, and a new wheelchair friendly ramp out of the walled garden. We also, with an enormous amount of help from you, our local police, and some the generosity of local companies, had a major security upgrade; protecting our animals day and night.

Including some new animals who joined us this year, such as the poor Pekin ducks (now thriving with us!) found crammed into a tiny crate, in absolutely appalling condition in a garden. We’ve also celebrated some wonderful moments with our existing residents, such as Mumsy the sheep who was given just weeks to live with suspected cancer and shocked us all with a full recovery!

Pekin Duck Rescue

Mumsy fought and WON!

We enjoyed the most beautiful, sunny weather over the summer months and as we were finally able to open in July; we got to enjoy these days with you. The animals loved sunbathing and playing out in their paddocks (and our new CCTV system showed us they’re still playing late in the evening) – while we enjoyed donated ice lollies while we worked, thanks to the kindness of supermarkets that supported our work.

We held our first online dog show, and thanks to funds YOU helped us raise, work is well underway on our Secure Dog Run, which will enable us to also help dogs in need of somewhere safe to run off-lead.

Our team have worked harder than ever, and you’ll remember that some even packed their bags and moved in for some time to make sure they were able to keep caring for the animals no matter what happened. We took on roles we’d never done before and learned new skills, we adapted to the new challenges the pandemic brought with it, we passed our first aid training, and continued studies in other areas so that we can keep improving our work.

We, along with our sister sanctuary Proteus Reptile Trust, have so far survived the devastating effects the pandemic has had on the country, and specifically the animal care and rescue industry. This is all thanks to YOU! You’ve sent us donations, gifts, and kind messages. You’ve brought your friends and family to see and support us. You’ve written letters to MPs, contacted newspapers and radio stations. You’ve shared our social media posts and helped to spread our work even further - we even got a share from Greenpeace. Most of all, you helped us in our toughest fight yet.

While we spent most of this year apart, you certainly came together for us!

Thank you all!

Lockdown: The Birds

On top of the continuing battle against Coronavirus, we are now fighting Avian Influenza (Bird Flu). Following several very serious cases found around the country, England was recently declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone. This means that all bird keepers, whether you have 500 birds or 5, are now legally obliged to take precautions to protect your birds against this very serious virus - including, where practicably possible, bringing birds inside or under cover so that wild birds and their droppings cannot enter their living spaces and risk introducing the disease.

We're working hard to put all of the necessary precautions in place to protect our birds here at the sanctuary, and as we know many of you also keep pet birds - small flocks of chickens, ducks, and other winged friends; we thought we'd share some information to help you at this time.

Biosecurity is absolutely crucial at this time. This means not only keeping your bird enclosures clean, but all furnishings within them paying particular attention to food and water bowls, all tools and equipment used, the areas surrounding enclosures, and yourself.

Cleaning with a good disinfectant is very important. Always read the container or product data sheets (you can usually find these on the manufacturer's website) to make sure your chosen product is effective against the Avian Influenza virus, and use the correct dilution. You can find a list of Defra approved disinfectants here.

Keep food and water containers covered and protected from wild birds.

As the virus is spread through droppings and secretions from infected birds (if you're a bird keeper, you'll know how often just a single bird can poo!), it is so easy to accidentally introduce the virus without taking these precautions. Could you be taking it in to your chicken coop on your feet whilst walking through your garden? Can wild birds or other wildlife access your feed and bedding storage areas? Stand back, look at your bird enclosures and care routines, then carry out a simple Bird Flu "Risk Assessment", aiming to eliminate as many of the risks that you come across as you possibly can.

For more in-depth, official guidelines, you can find the Government's Bird Flu resources here.

Depending on the types of birds you keep and numbers, it may not be practical to completely enclose your birds. Remember to bear their physical and mental welfare in mind, and monitor them each day for any changes - even the smallest changes in behaviour or appearance may be an indicator of something amiss. If you are worried at any point, seek advice from a professional such as your avian vet.

This virus won’t dominate the headlines like Covid, but it is extremely real, and very serious for the birds it can infect - a bird sanctuary not too far away in Worcestershire has sadly had all of their residents euthanised after some tested positive for the virus, and we cannot even begin to imagine being forced to do this. It simply cannot happen!

We regret that due to this, we won’t be able to take in any unwanted birds at this time. This is to, again, protect our birds at the sanctuary; birds you might be familiar with here such as Nigel the Goose, Malcolm the Emu, Benedict the Rooster, and so many more... Our animals rely on us to keep them safe, and we must put them first!

Wishing you and all of your feathered friends good health!