Herd activity centers... Anyone?

[BreanneRN]

Let's face it, herds spend a lot of time dealing with boredom, unless they have multiple acreage to roam with cliffs, streams, logs to jump, etc. (what is the first thing we usually do? get rid of that stuff, so we can have a safe, clear pasture). Additionally, activity centers can provide other benefits like helping keep hooves trimmed. Starting this thread for anyone who has noticed or built or placed items in their holding pens to help your animals fight boredom, whether they are rabbits, goats, sheep, llamas, alpacas, horses or what ever! Starting with this link : https://www.thedodo.com/how-happy-goats-have-a-good-ti-451847102.html sorry some of the videos have expired in there, but a lot are still working... When my mom, who grew up on a farm, was young she used to love to sneak over to the neighbors to watch their dairy goats play. They had a tin roofed barn built on a slope that housed the goats, and it had a low side that fronted on the pasture. The goats would love to climb the barn roof and slide down and would do it repeatedly "just for fun"! They also enjoy teeter totters and balls...

 

[greybeard]

Recess and playground for livestock.... maybe they just need a hobby..or a job.

My cattle don't get bored (and I've never seen any that did). Follow the old axiom.
Grass in front. Bull behind.

I'm glad too, as I'd hate for them to get bored, then depressed and I have to put them Prozac or Pamelor or Welbutrin.

Maybe I'll get mine a teeter totter or a diving board..even tho I think they are normal, well adjusted and socially active bovines, or I could teach them to play chess or color with crayons and collect stamps if they are a bit on the introverted side or more cerebral than others.

 

[Pastor Dave]

They say rabbits are pretty intelligent. Not sure who "they" are. A lot of rabbiteers put a tin can in with them so they have something to play with when they get bored. Mine all have one. I also try to avoid startling them by coming in the shed talking or making too much noise by having constant music playing for them on my favorite radio station. So they hear voices and music all day til I close up for the night and shut off the radio. Just a couple things I do. Not much help though.

 

[BreanneRN]

Recess and playground for livestock.... maybe they just need a hobby..or a job.

My cattle don't get bored (and I've never seen any that did). Follow the old axiom.
Grass in front. Bull behind.

I'm glad too, as I'd hate for them to get bored, then depressed and I have to put them Prozac or Pamelor or Welbutrin.

Maybe I'll get mine a teeter totter or a diving board..even tho I think they are normal, well adjusted and socially active bovines, or I could teach them to play chess or color with crayons and collect stamps if they are a bit on the introverted side or more cerebral than others.

View attachment 51452

Maybe cattle like to be bored, afterall, if there is nothing to get excited about, nothing bad is happening... I had that attitude when I was working in the hospital... Boredom meant that nothing bad was happening to anyone! Excitement meant that something was... Thanks for the really great pic! Maybe these are the grown piglets from the fair circuits? They must have to do something with those racing piglets... Wonder what the withdrawal time would be on that Wellbutrin/Prozac/Pamelor? Anyway, glad your cattle are not needing any of that stuff....

 

[BreanneRN]

Here are some more, it seems like it is mostly goats that need activity centers... I have sheep, but they do like to play... https://www.wideopenpets.com/10-goat-playgrounds-will-make-kids-jealous/ guess I will hit up Craigslist for some tractor tires, used pallets and those giant spools...

 

[Pastor Dave]

I have seen folks place climbable objects inside pens and pastures for goats to allow them to climb and play.

 

[greybeard]

Maybe these are the grown piglets from the fair circuits?

No, it's from a huge breeder farm near Shenyang in the Chinese province of Liaoning China.
Nothing to do with boredom. It's to keep them leaner.

 

[BreanneRN]

No, it's from a huge breeder farm near Shenyang in the Chinese province of Liaoning China.
Nothing to do with boredom. It's to keep them leaner.

Oh well, they look pretty happy and "not bored", so perhaps it is a welcome, though unintended consequence, also a great way to cool them off in the summer! Although maybe they just look like they are happy because that is how pig faces are configured... But a daily bath will keep them clean! (and really reduce that bill for Pamelor/Wellbutrin/Prozac, afterall, have to watch the "bottom line"!)

 

[greybeard]

I'll have to ask my animal psychologist about that.
Mine all need to spend their time raising calves or putting on muscle and I sure wouldn't want any mentally maladjusted livestock around that aren't able to perform or fit into society leading up castration and/or their day trip to slaughter sale.

 

[Donna R. Raybon]

This is a good thread. Participation is voluntary. Hard hearted sarcasm says more about the poster than anyone else.

Yes, animals do get bored, do have a social life, and HAPPY animals live more productive lives. That translates to producer making more profit, too.

Cattle given access to pasture, shade, back rub, etc. probably entertain themselves. Calves love running, jumping off a bank or a elevated spot playing king of the mountain. Cows have " besties" as well as those they do not like. At the dairy we have a street cleaner brush mounted vertically that cows adore rubbing on.

My goats will stand for hours playing with chains nailed to the wall. They seem to enjoy the texture and sound. Of course the standard stuff to lay, jump on is available to them.

And, pig.....yeah enrichment is recipe for happy, stay where you put them piggies! Even the chickens enjoy a swing to sit on!

My animals make ultimate sacrifice for my well being. It is only fair I try to make them secure, happy, and stress free.

Sharing what works is great. Please keep this thread going!!!