Are you wondering how to keep your chickens entertained? Do they need to be stimulated? Maybe it’s winter and you’re wondering if your chickens are bored.
Remember when the Wi-Fi went out, and you found yourself staring at the ceiling, contemplating your life choices? Yeah, chickens get bored, too, believe it or not.
It’s worse for those who live in states where cold weather lasts longer. Also, if you have a smaller chicken coop and run, one thing that might happen if your flock is bored in the winter months is pecking at each other. And that never leads to anything good.
These are ideal for anyone with a small chicken coop and run, if you are pasture raising your chickens, you won’t need to provide any of the following, but sometimes it’s just fun!
1. Veggie String
This one’s my favorite, and boy, do the chickens love it! All you need is some string and your chickens’ favorite veggies (mine go crazy for cucumbers and lettuce). Thread the veggies onto the string, hang it up in the coop, and voila! You’ve got yourself a pecking pinata.
You can buy the ones above on Amazon here.
Also, Tractor Supply now has a wide selection of chicken toys. I’ve shared images of those I saw the other day in store below.
2. Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
Mirrors will work to keep your chickens occupied. The CDs hanging work even better because they usually move around.
3. Blocks For Roosting
Take a trip back to your childhood and bring out those old building blocks. Create a fun structure or tower for your chickens to knock over. Okay, really, they’ll just jump up on them and most likely fall over.
Adding as many roosting bars as possible in smaller coops also helps with boredom and pecking.
Anything you can build that they can climb up on and explore will keep them entertained. They love to have areas to roost on. Look around your home for things you must use in your chicken coop, like an old cane!
They actually have a lot of chicken toy packages on Amazon! You aren’t the only one wanting to keep your birds happy and busy!
4. Treadmill Treats
No, I’m not suggesting you get a miniature treadmill for your chickens (although, how cute would that be?!). But a stationary treat dispenser will keep them moving and occupied. Fill a plastic bottle with their favorite treats( I like to get the scratch grains or sunflower seeds), hang it just within reach, and let them peck away!
You can fill a net with treats or even heads of lettuce and hang it up. Of course, on Amazon, they have everything you need to make your chicken coop a playground!
5. Leaves
In the fall time throwing leaves into your chicken run not only helps with mud, it keeps them busy for a few hours. I love using dried-up leaves in all of our pens on the homestead.
Remember, keeping your chicken’s health up to par means you’ll continue to get eggs. And while these DIY toys might not transform your coop into a chicken amusement park, they’ll certainly add some much-needed fun to their routine. Plus, the sight of chickens playing with toys you crafted? That’s priceless.
So, here’s to happier, busier chickens and an end to the monotony of endless pecking at the ground. Let the chicken games begin!
6. Sunflower Heads
Throwing in scratch grains keeps them entertained, but if you grow your own sunflowers, saving some sunflower heads for them in the winter is a great idea. Make sure you properly dry it, or it can get moldy.
7. Corn Husks
In the fall, we save much of our corn to feed the chickens in the winter. Pecking at it seems to take a little longer than just tossing some corn kernels.
I hope these ideas gave you something to either buy or make on your own!
Quick, Cheap, and Healthy Make-Ahead Breakfast Ideas
How does my neighbor get her 4-7 chicken hens to quit pecking on bottom 1-2 hens. Mostly peck at their backs so now have small bald areas.
My parents use to sprinkle something onto the chicken everyone picked on but I can not remember what they sprinkled!!
Oh man that stinks. Can you try vaseline?