Poll on flock toys — please answer if possible!

[SwampPrincessChick]

I have seen plenty of chickens enjoy toys, especially if they are kept in a confined area, but most of their enjoyment comes from finding themselves food, because food is the most important thing for their survival. Chickens are not really interested in doing things that do not relate to survival, unless (again) they are confined, and even with that the toys have to have a meaningful reward to be used. I have given mine non-food toys and they kind of stare at it for a bit but then it ends up not getting used at all and they just either poop on it or avoid it, depending on what it is. I put a tambourine in the Gemstone Flock pen once. Jasper stared at it and walked sideways quickly like it was scary. Quartz was wary of it and also walked away. Ruby did not pay any attention to it. Meanwhile I have seen other chickens enjoy toys. I say, if it has some kind of reward to the chickens, get it.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

My chickens never played with the toys I got them. They prefer benches and things to sit on. They did not like the swing I got them!

 

[The Welch Chickens]

My chickens never played with the toys I got them. They prefer benches and things to sit on. They did not like the swing I got them!

Thanks for the feedback; could you put your answer in the poll? Thank you!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I've never done "small toys," they seem content with the larger clutter in the run and occasional garden trimmings and piles of dried leaves or cropped dried grass.

 

[Se7en]

I bought a mirror which they broke and buried. I gave them a xylophone and they buried it also. They now get hanging treats and in the yard they have logs to jump on. If it doesn't have anything to do with food they are not interested.

 

[TinyRaptorDodos]

My babies lose interest once they’re in the grass (they graduate from brooder to chick run at 1mo, they graduate to free ranging with the flock at 2-3 months depending on breed)
They LOVE beads and bells. Anything they can jump and try to grab. Mirror had some interest for a short time- SUPER helpful when you have few chicks and want them to feel like a bigger flock. Xylophone they didn’t care one bit for

 

[Coffetym]

I guess my feathered friends are to much like me, old fashioned!
they have a mirror, a xylophone, & a hanging toy with colored blocks that spin on a string. I know, calm yourselves, it sounds so exciting I think I’ll go play with them all night.
I did build them a swing & all have only seemed to glance in the general direction of these items.
I would have to say give them something to climb & perch on & they are enthralled. When I let ours out for free range I have an 8 ft folding ladder by my shed & they will easily go up 3-5 ft.
A few days back, I cut the tall grass around our pond & raked up a large pile of this & threw it in their run. They were entertained with this for at least three days.

 

[Loving my girls]

This is a really interesting and helpful article. My girls free range but they are also spoilt brats and so Christmas is a big thing (yeah I know ) I was going to try them on something for their pouallier, perhaps next to the feeder, but now I won’t, I will stick with can of sweetcorn and tuna and mealworms.

 

[Sally PB]

Three years ago, I got a string of red, silver, and green jingle bells for the chickens as a Christmas present.

Sparkly! Jingly!

They ran away, terrified. After a few days, their terror slacked off to mere indifference.

 

[Clucking Caper]

my wife put a mirror in the coop at ground level and we have watched them play with quite a bit. They peck at it (not hard, almost a gentle kiss) and they do this head bob up and down in front of it, its fun to watch them interact with them selves.