I’m sitting here giggling as I write this blog because I have a confession. Are you ready? I have always loved toys. Obviously, as a young child, I did, but the joy that toys bring has never left me. I’m a grown, adult woman and yet, a stroll down the toy aisle to see what’s new will still bring me joy. Now, before you think I’m crazy, I don’t buy myself toys (that would be weird), but I love providing new adventures for my chickens!
I think the general public would get a good chuckle that many of us buy or create toys for our flocks. And many large-scale chicken operations probably don’t even give buying toys a thought. On the other hand, backyard chicken keepers are a whole different group of people! We collect chickens, cute t-shirts about chickens and chicken décor, and we are always on the lookout for anything chicken! Am I right? So, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to any of you that I’m always on the lookout for toys or items that will keep my chickens entertained.
Why is this important? Chickens love to forage and explore. If there aren't toys or other things to keep them busy, they will get bored. Boredom leads to picking on each other, which can lead to injury or even death. Sound dramatic? It’s not, I promise!
Over the years, I have narrowed down my top three favorite "toys". I’ve tried just about all of them, and these are the ones I love the most. Before any of you ask, I have tried the chicken xylophone. I maybe didn’t introduce it early enough, but my girls leave it alone for the most part. I’m waiting for a spectacular version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, but so far, that hasn’t happened! Ha!
Without further ado, here are my top three toys for backyard chickens!
Hanging Treat Ball
An inexpensive and long-lasting idea is the hanging treat ball. My girls love a good head of cabbage or lettuce, and they will peck at this for hours! You can also put other foods in there just make sure they're safe for chickens to eat! They love trying to figure out how to get every last piece. Hands down, this is my favorite toy. Here’s a list of foods you shouldn’t feed your chickens.
Chicken Playset
The next toy requires a little more effort and planning. However, you wouldn’t have to build it as large as we did. One day, as I was scrolling through different boredom busters, a picture of a chicken playset popped up. I sent the picture to my husband and daughter, and by the time I got home that day, they had the thing built! This has provided hours upon hours of entertainment for our girls.
Bird Playground
When we get little chicks in the spring, I always buy little cat toys that are safe for them to play with. They love it! However, I also have a playground that’s meant more for domesticated birds such as cockatiels or canaries. This little playset is something the chicks go wild over! That way, they’re not spending their days pecking the eyeballs of their brooder mates either. There are always plenty of things to do in our brooder!
Now, if spending money on chicken entertainment isn’t your thing, that’s no problem! Nature is full of “toys” that cost nothing. I have put little sticks, large logs, leaves, and produce from the garden in the coop, which also provides a lot of entertainment for our girls! The secret is to switch it up every once in a while so they don’t get bored. A tiny bit of effort on our part will go a long way with our flocks!
Until next time,
-The Wing Lady