Some pet parents believe there’s no need for chicken toys. These little scratchers forage and bathe in the sand at the slightest chance. Your chickens aren’t Peter Pan; they get bored and tired, too.
They sometimes peck at shoelaces out of frustration. A few toys can minimize coop drama and make your flock content and happy.
The Surprising Connection Between Mental Stimulation and Flock Health
Chickens aren’t the type to stay put. They usually spend some time scratching through leaves and other things that get their attention in the wild. A few chicken toys or enrichment activities help satisfy those natural urges.
Boredom not only stresses out those cluckers. Their immune system starts running on low battery, and the birds become less generous in the egg production department. They often direct that pent-up energy at other flock members.
Feather pecking, bullying, and even serious fights are much more common in a run that offers little stimulation.
Boredom Busters: Creative Types of Chicken Toys/Enrichment To Try
If your flock knows what’s on the agenda every day, they will likely lose patience. You can start with a Chicken Scratch into a pile of leaves, stuff treats into a cardboard box, or scatter them through a patch of straw.
A few chicken toys right in the middle of the run is bingo!
Hanging treats
Some people like to string up dry fruits, herbs, and grains high enough that chickens have to stretch or hop slightly to peck them. For instance, Small Pet Select offers Pea Flakes and Herbal Cookies for hanging.
Perches at different heights
Many chickens naturally prefer to get up off the ground to survey their kingdom. Staying on the ground entirely isn’t their style. You can help by creating several perching options, such as staggering old tree branches or sturdy boards at different levels.
Dust baths
A dust bath is more like a stress buster and a party-like experience for cluckers, where they get to hang out in sand, wood ash, or peat moss. A bathing box filled with these things gives them a place to indulge in one of their favorite pastimes.
Mirrors
Some chickens are surprisingly fascinated by mirrors. Place them against the coop wall, and you’ll catch a few birds stopping by to see other flock members staring back at them. It just provides the visual distraction they sometimes yearn for.
DIY Puzzles vs. Store-Bought Chicken Toys: Which Is Worth It?
For parents keen on making their own chicken toys, recycled-bin materials are usually among the best to use. Poke a few holes in a plastic bottle and fill it with Grub Bugs. Fruit & Berry Blend also works. As your friends kick and roll the bottle around the run, treats slowly tumble out.
Certain commercial play products are worth the investment for their durability. Small Pet Select offers a Hanging Toy that lets your birds enjoy some oats, herbs, and even peas as they play.
Winter Cooping: Adjusting Enrichment By Season
There’s no single chicken toy for every weather. You’ll need to be more creative to keep your friends happy as the seasons change.
- Summer: Most birds enjoy grub bugs and fresh grass during the warmer months.
- Sweater weather: When it’s freezing, and there’s snow all over the place, your companions want to be locked inside the coop, but not in first-class boredom. Hanging all cookies, alfalfa blocks, or Fresh Nest Herbal Blends will keep their minds sharp. At least, these things feel rewarding to peck at when they can’t access the outdoor pasture.
On especially chilly days, some parents also toss a bale of greens into the center of the coop to entertain the chickens.
Signs Your Chickens Are Bored And What To Do About It
Chickens always want to communicate their boredom to their parents one way or another, but you need to know the actual cues.
Excessive pacing
If your chickens are suddenly moving back and forth along the edges of their run, they’ve got extra energy, but not much to do with it. That’s a sign thet may need chicken toys.
Noisy chatter
Cluckers aren’t exactly the type to suffer in silence. They may raise their voices agitatedly and run through the coop if the pacing language doesn’t get your attention.
Fighting and bullying
Boredom may escalate into a situation where stronger chickens start pulling the feathers of weaker flockmates. They aim at their backs or necks out of desperation. Chicken toys give them something else to focus on.
Conclusion: Keep Your Flock Constantly Entertained With Creative Enrichment Ideas
You may give your chicken all the best feeds and supplements in the world, but chicken toys just have a way of stimulating their minds differently. They don’t want a pet library or a quiet backyard. With enough treats like grub bugs and hanging toys, your friends will be happier.
