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Chicken Toys - Shiny Things?

post #1 of 21
2/28/12 at 7:10pm
Thread Starter 

Can anyone recommend some fun toys for chickens?  My chickens, for example, love to play with my car keys.  I throw them at a distance and they run to them and peck around at their shininess.

 

I'm trying to think of some other things like keys I could give them to play with?  Any ideas?

 

Has anyone ever built a chicken toy such as the one described in this link below?  I think it's a great idea, and I'd like to try to build one:

 

http://communitychickens.blogspot.com/2011/05/boredom-buster.html

 

All ideas will be appreciated.

 

Clare

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post #2 of 21
2/28/12 at 7:17pm

Bright large plastic. I would flip a heavy horse bucket over and they would play king of the top of the bucket. It was strange how much they liked it.

Much love!
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Much love!
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post #3 of 21
2/28/12 at 7:24pm

Try laser pointers.  Works for cats and fish.

Make every effort to understand your chicken's biology and the environment that supports it.
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Make every effort to understand your chicken's biology and the environment that supports it.
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post #4 of 21
2/28/12 at 9:48pm

A small parakeet mirror with a hanging bell.  Hung one up with 6 week old chicks.  Everyone of them reacted to the new chick in the mirror. They play with the bell time to time. 

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post #5 of 21
2/29/12 at 10:39am
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the great ideas!

 

Do you think the little plastic spherical "cages" with a bell in them, that cats like to chase would be a good toy, or would the chickens break the plastic when chasing it and possibly swallow it?  Maybe if I watched them closely as they played with it?

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post #6 of 21
2/29/12 at 5:59pm

Not sure how chickens would react to the cat toy wire ball but my adult hens have a great time with the wire Happy Hen Treat Balls.  I hang them about head high. Whole tomatoes in the wire ball terrified them, chunks of raw corn on the cob keep them well entertained.  A head of cabbage in a big 2'' deep plant tray also keeps them busy, the cabbage rolls around but stays relatively clean in the dish. Be forewarned, red cabbage makes for brilliant green pooh.  sickbyc.gif

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post #7 of 21
2/29/12 at 6:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by centrarchid View Post

Try laser pointers.  Works for cats and fish.

Does not work for my chickens, I've tried gig.gif

LES Farms

Breeder of nothing right now.Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Lost everything in a barn fire 2/11/13. Can't even pull it together.

Thank you for all the condolences and all the support and donations given to help us rebuild. You are all so special to us.

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

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LES Farms

Breeder of nothing right now.Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Lost everything in a barn fire 2/11/13. Can't even pull it together.

Thank you for all the condolences and all the support and donations given to help us rebuild. You are all so special to us.

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

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post #8 of 21
2/29/12 at 6:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by aoxa View Post


Does not work for my chickens, I've tried :gig


What was their reaction?  If some, then train them to follow light to hidden treats.  Once they figure it out you will have loads of fun.
 

 

Make every effort to understand your chicken's biology and the environment that supports it.
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Make every effort to understand your chicken's biology and the environment that supports it.
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post #9 of 21
2/29/12 at 7:54pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks, PeepACheep, for the great ideas!

 

I have cauliflower balls for the hens, and they love that.  Will go through a whole cauliflower in just a few days.

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post #10 of 21
3/2/12 at 11:36am
Thread Starter 

I'd like to try the laser pointers.  Thanks for the fun idea!

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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying › Chicken Toys - Shiny Things?