Do you think chickens would like a playhouse?

[Gypsi]

I have an old playhouse in the backyard with open windows and when I used to let the older girls loose to forage the back yard they would perch in the windows some times. I'd have to go collect them to take them back to the run now and then

 

[Sherry68lynn]

When I had my big brooder inside my run (with no chicks in it), my chickens liked to jump up onto it, go inside it for shade, settle down next to it, etc.

So I can see a playhouse making a useful bit of run clutter -- maybe even as a shelter for a feed/water station.

We have a big run with a play house that was given to us for our goats but they didn’t use it so I put it in the coop. When it rains I throw their scratch in there. They love it and sit in the windows. Keeps them shaded a bit too. Actually my hens are always in there hanging out.

 

[Double Yolked]

I think chickens would adore a playhouse for a coop and the chicken enhancement toys would rock their world. The house below isn't mine, but my first DIY chicken house was built on a similar design with a little less decoration.
The one below was built from a kids plastic play house and as you can see, it translated extremely well into a chicken house.
The nice thing about it? Easy to clean and easy to get pests like chicken mites out of since they don't have places to hide and breed like mites can in wooden structures.

 

[Kriscam]

Don't laugh, please but I'm in full on run renovation and I'm wondering whether chickens would use a playhouse at all. I'm adding a large sheltered dust bathing area, compost heap and have plans for a tree roosting platform, as well as pallets, roosting bars, tires, swing etc. Yes, I've gone a bit overdrive, but it happens, right?! Building the run is turning out to be such an arduous and lengthy task that I need something fun to focus on at the same time . We have a very old playhouse we found on Freecycle years ago that's kind of big, and it's super open and doesn't provide much shelter so they pretty much ignore it, wander through but that's about all mostly except on very rainy days they shelter in it a bit if it's not windy. My guys have two Eglu coops which they use ONLY to lay and go to bed (they really don't like them much), and I'm not looking to convert a playhouse into a coop, but I was wondering whether they would enjoy using something like the photo attached, just for the sake of using it....could possible elevate it and put a floor on it? I found this one at a very good price for a playhouse so thought it might be worth giving it a whirl? Input as well as your favorite run features appreciated

I've been wanting to build a play structure for mine, or repurpose a kids playset. I found this on Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.com/pet/pdp/coops-feathers-roosting-bars-frames-cofe1010.html

 

[mcchapin]

Don't laugh, please but I'm in full on run renovation and I'm wondering whether chickens would use a playhouse at all. I'm adding a large sheltered dust bathing area, compost heap and have plans for a tree roosting platform, as well as pallets, roosting bars, tires, swing etc. Yes, I've gone a bit overdrive, but it happens, right?! Building the run is turning out to be such an arduous and lengthy task that I need something fun to focus on at the same time . We have a very old playhouse we found on Freecycle years ago that's kind of big, and it's super open and doesn't provide much shelter so they pretty much ignore it, wander through but that's about all mostly except on very rainy days they shelter in it a bit if it's not windy. My guys have two Eglu coops which they use ONLY to lay and go to bed (they really don't like them much), and I'm not looking to convert a playhouse into a coop, but I was wondering whether they would enjoy using something like the photo attached, just for the sake of using it....could possible elevate it and put a floor on it? I found this one at a very good price for a playhouse so thought it might be worth giving it a whirl? Input as well as your favorite run features appreciated

My girls here in Hawaii love the play structures we put in the run. What else does one do with them when the grandkids out grow them? They provide shade, private time, activity and they seem to play hide and seek too.

 

[clumberfam]

My girls have one of those Little Tykes play houses in their run and they like it! They sit in the 'kitchen' windows, rest inside on the 'counter' when it rains and generally spend time running in and out of it. Makes a nice outdoor shelter for them and something else interesting in the run.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Ugh now I want a little plastic playhouse to add to my run, I think the flock would enjoy it. Hopefully a neighbor will dump one on the curb someday so I can snag it.

 

[countryladyNH]

Although this isn't in the league of an actual large 'playhouse' for hens, my hubby created this little "fort" with $1. worth of popsicle sticks from the Dollar Store a few years ago for our new baby chicks when they arrived. It was a "playhouse" for them and they loved it! They spent a lot of time playing in and on it.
Now, we have 3 baby chicks arriving tomorrow, and the little fort is already in the brooder for them!
I think chicks and hens love to 'play' with things!

 

[Sherry68lynn]

I've been wanting to build a play structure for mine, or repurpose a kids playset. I found this on Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.com/pet/pdp/coops-feathers-roosting-bars-frames-cofe1010.html

Wow, that is an elaborate one! Nice, your chickens are very lucky... we just have a play school one.

 

[Nicky S]

We have a big run with a play house that was given to us for our goats but they didn’t use it so I put it in the coop. When it rains I throw their scratch in there. They love it and sit in the windows. Keeps them shaded a bit too. Actually my hens are always in there hanging out.

sounds perfect!