Do you know chickens, like dogs and cats, enjoy playing with toys, yes toys!
Just imagine how boring it gets walking around the coop all day pecking at the ground looking for bugs and worms.
A bored chicken can quickly become an unhappy hen, this can also lead to some bad habits and health conditions. Do chicken have feelings? Yes! For more information on how chickens understand and share the feelings of another chicken click Empathy in chickens
So how can you keep your hens happy and healthy?
Toys!!
I’ve listed below some of the best toys to entertain and stimulate your chickens, this will keep your flock happy and healthy.
Reasons why you need to provide entertainment and stimulation.
To satisfy psychological needs
Boredom– Chickens like to live in groups, toys can attract them to play together, without toys your chickens can become lonely and bored. Boredom can lead to hens pecking at one another, causing redness and skin irritation, also leads to plucking and pulling of feathers.
Entertainment and Exercise
Stress– A cooped up chicken, especially in the winter months can become stressed. Giving your hens something to entertain and stimulate them, such as a swing, ladder or a ball gives your chickens some exercise and challenges.
Without toys your chickens could become stressed, leading to a reduction in egg production, egg eating and cannibalism.
Chickens have a climbing instinct, as you know they like to roost. Placing a ladder or build a perch in the chicken coop is a quick and easy way to provide a structure for your hens to climb on. Watch them run, you have now provided a jungle gym for your chickens.
How to provide entertainment and stimulation
The easiest way to provide stimulation is interaction.
When you go into the coop to collect eggs, feed, water and clean, this is a great time to interact, your chickens will greatly appreciate the time you spend with them.
Below some of the best toys to entertain and stimulate your chickens, this will keep your flock happy and healthy.
Toys
You might be wondering what kind of toys can my chickens play with, as you know chickens like to roost, so there are many simple toys that you might have laying around.
Chickens have a climbing instinct, as you know they like to roost, place ladder up to a perch in the chicken coop and watch them run, you have now provided a jungle gym for your chickens.
You can start with a simple ladder resting against the wall of a coop, or an A frame style ladder for the hens to climb up both sides
A ball or bread hanging on a string for them to peck at, the bread works well as it falls apart they will quickly peck and eat all the pieces.
If you’re not a DIY type of person or you just don’t have the time or supplies, here are some products you can purchase.
Chicken Activity Center-Play, Swing, & Roost-Includes Treat Basket
This is by far one of the most complete entertainment systems you can buy, this activity center will keep your chickens entertained for hours, comes complete with many features and all you the ability to add other toy to the structure if needed.
Here’s is a list of key features about this item, it also comes in two different sizes to fit the needs of your run.
Large Activity Center measures 39.125”D x 60.25”W x 37.125”
Small Activity Center measures 23.375”D x 32.5”W x 21.625”H
- 6 roosting perches, 2 ladders, 2 swings, 1 large top platform-each bird requires 8-10” of roosting space
- Treat Basket has easy open and close lid with chain for hanging-excellent for leafy veggies
- Stable base ensures you, or your birds, don’t have to worry about tipping
- Excellent addition to your chicken coops accessories for free-range birds or inside coops
- Solid design made with USA Southern Pine and constructed in North America
Wood Chicken Ladder Swing
- Vehomy Chicken ladder swing is made of natural wood, Stainless steel wire, and colorful wood beads, safe to chew and play on it for chickens.
- Size – The total length of size S chicken ladder toy is 31.5″ and size L is 47.2″, both sizes width are 5.9″, suitable for all breeds and ages of chickens to use in the coop.
- Design- Our chicken coop toys are with suspension hook design, it allows chicken to jump onto it, flat ladder surface make sure your chicken’s balance on it.
- Ideal relaxing place: The chicken swing toy is not only a toy for poultry, but also a nice chicken coop decor. An ideal place for your pet friends to swing, play, climb, and chew, easy install in the cage. Reducing coop boredom and bringing smiles to the people that care for them.
- Ample room between the pieces of wood, won’t get caught chicken’s claws.
If you don’t think it’s long enough for your chicken coop, you can attach strings to the hooks at both ends.
Chicken Swing Chicken Perch
- Vehomy Chicken ladder swing is made of natural wood, colorful bells, and natural corn bran, durable, non-toxic, and sanitary, there is no glue, wire or plastic. Safe to chew and play on it.
- Size – The Chicken toy for hens is made of very sturdy natural wood with length 15.75inch, width 3.54inches, suitable for all breeds and ages of chickens to use in the coop, also suitable for medium and large parrot such as macaw.
- Design- With suspension hook design, it allows chicken to jump onto it, flat ladder surface make sure your chicken’s balance on it.
- Ideal relaxing place: An ideal place for your pet friends to swing, play, climb, and chew, easy install in the cage. Reducing coop boredom and bringing smiles to the people that care for them
- EASY to INSTALL– it’s convenient to put on the chicken toys in your chicken coop or yard, just connect the steel hook to the top of your pet cage is ok. If you have any question, welcom to contact us.
Chicken Wood Stand
About this item
- Larger Size chicken toy measures 14.5″ long, and it can be extended to 28.5″ maximum long with connected screws, staggered wooden slats provide more height level for chicks to stand and play.
- Ultra Stable and Sturdy:In order to increase its stability, we added a triangle plate in the middle,and used the connection method of screws,which plays a stronger stable performance for your lovely chicks,even a hen is very stable on it.
- Nature-friendly Material: Crafted of selected premium pine wood, environmental non-toxic and odorless material, which is skin-friendly to humans and animals. Besides, The triangle hole makes your baby chick feel interesting and joyful to do jump exercise.
- A Value Package: 3 x side triangle plates with holes,10 x perching bars,20 x metal screws. The chicken rack is detachable and easy to store, it only need a small space to occupy when not needed.(Wing Nut will help you organize it without any tool)
- Multiple Uses: This chicken wood stand is a practical tool for farms, chicken coops, houses or gardens. You can put it in chickens coop and on outdoor lawn for pet use. Suitable for poultry chickens,hens,baby chicks,ducks,gooses,and some medium-sized birds macaws,parrots, etc.
Chicken Xylophone
There’s nothing more entertaining than watching your chicken’s play music by pecking on their Xylophone.
- The xylophone toy is special designed for chickens. There are two chains with hooks that can be hung in the chicken coop. When your chicken pecks at it, it makes beautiful sounds. On the bottom of the xylophone, there is a floral grinding stone that is rich in mineral for the chicks to peck and play with.
- Size and Material: The chicken xylophone toy for hens consists of wood base and metal keys. The body of the xylophone is 24*12*3cm/9.4*4.7*1.2inches. The Chains are 30cm/11.8inches long.
- Function: Chickens are always attracted by crisp sounds and bright colors. This toy can provide fun for chickens by pecking it and relieve their boredom.
- Package Including: 1x chicken xylophone toy with a floral molar stone and 2x chains.
Chicken Wood Mirror Toy with Bell
- Chicken mirrors toys were designed suspension hook and both side mirrors, make it easy to hang it in any chicken coop and cage.
- Size: the chicken toy is total 41cm/ 16.1inches long, suitable for all breeds and ages of chickens to use in the coop, also suitable for birds parrots.
- Materials: Vehomy Chicken mirror toys are made of natural wood and acrylic mirrors, non-toxic and harmless, safe for your pet birds to play and peck. The both sides mirros were covered by protective film, please peel off it before used the chicken mirror toy.
- Function: Chickens are inherently combative, especially for roosters. The mirror toy lets your rooster peck at himself in the mirror, makes him feel less lonely and reduce boring. The bells provide even more mental and physical stimulation.
- Package Including: 1 x chicken mirrors toy for Hens, 3 x hang decorations. Before used it, please hang the decorations onto the mirror toy.
DIY Chicken Ideas
If you’re looking for more DIY projects themn you need to check out this book.
You will find ways to enhance your coop, and give your chickens a better lifestyle.
The chapters are packed with a variety of ideas, covering every skill level:
- The Basics: Lisa will tell you what tools you absolutely need, the ins and outs of pallets, and a few special skills, like how to transfer lettered designs to wood.
- Quick and Easy Projects: Get started with projects that take minutes or hours, not days! From a decorative cutting board coop sign and paned window coop mirror to more functional projects like a clothespin herb drying rack and dropping board, you’re sure to find the right starter project.
- Handy Projects: Ready to take on a slightly more challenging build? Try the removable coop ladder roost, boot tree stand, feed dolly, chick-sized jungle gym, or chicken-proof herb garden.
- Pallet Projects: What’s better than DIY projects? DIY projects made from free wood! Use pallets in all forms (whole, partial, and boards) for the projects in this chapter. Make a coop tool holder, chick roosting bar, swinging bench, feeding station, coop shutters, compost bin, and so much more.
- Weekend Projects: More time doesn’t necessarily mean frustrating or too difficult. The ambitious, yet easy-to-follow, projects in this chapter include a sliding barn coop door, a-frame integration pen, and a roadside egg stand.
No matter what you need for the coop—or what your chickens might want you to build first!—you’re sure to have fun as you create a coop and run that’s the envy of your neighbor’s flock.
These are just a few of the most common toys for entertaining and stimulating your chickens, as long as your chickens seem happy and healthy you are on your way to many years of raising chickens
Let us know what you favorite toy is, its always great to see what toys keep your chickens happy!