Can chickens get bored?!

[SheilaWheeler]

I've just started chicken-sitting my neighbours' 5 ladies for the next 2 weeks. They have a run of about 3m x 3m to scratch about in. The chickens have got naked bums (don't know the technical name!) where they have been pecked, presumably. The neighbours say they have tried loads of remedies but don't know how to stop the pecking.

So - without wishing to undermine my neighbours in the way they look after their chickens - can I give the chickens anything to entertain them rather than leave them to pluck each other to pieces?

They just seem to have regular chicken meal, with grit. I try to give them greens I find in our garden for variety and regularly stand and chat to them (don't what the neighbours on the other side think of this though!)

Try hanging up bunches of green leaves eg cabbage? They may be stressed somehow. Spread food on floor instead of just putting in a feeder?

Feather loss can be due to causes other than pecking, for example mites. Sometimes they moult in that pattern too. Unless the area is sore with evidence of pecking (blood) then it's likely to be something else.

I'd check for mites and then if there aren't any give them some more protein (soaked dry catfood is good) to help them lay and grow new feathers as they are mainly protein.

tie CDs on a bit of string and hang them up so that they can observe them. Barn reared chickens (something i am against, but won't get into) often have them to give them some stimulation. It must be the colours and the way the sun catches them.