TheChickenGuardian
Chirping
- Feb 11, 2021
- 48
- 78
- 59
I have helped raise over a hundred chickens (and five or six ducks), and have never thought about toys and stimulation for them until now.
I have recently gotten back into the hobby after moving back to the city and selling/giving away all our birds. Now I have three pullets of my own.
I realized they were easily getting bored and just causing chaos in their bin. And then I introduced one of those cat toy balls. They don't seem enthralled with that but still peck at it now and then.
They had their first day in the coop today when I decided to make my own toy for them.
I took large colored feathers (the kind at craft stores), and glued them onto a fake leather twine.
Skyler (my Barred Plymouth Rock pullet), loves that thing! She loves pecking at it and just looking at the bright colors. So far the orpington girls don't seem too interested but it definitely keeps my most rambunctious girl happy.
Long story short, some chickens might benefit from toys and stuff to peck at!
Especially if they are unable to free range. Chickens can be intelligent birds and it makes sense they need some stuff to try and curve boredom!
(I'm not saying all chickens are smart. Actually, I've seen my fair share of just stupid chickens. I've seen a few just perch on a lit bbq until we had to shoo them off. My pullets seem to be the most intelligent I've seen compared to the free range chickens we used to have. But I'm sure from their past home they had plenty of heavy incest Lol).
I have recently gotten back into the hobby after moving back to the city and selling/giving away all our birds. Now I have three pullets of my own.
I realized they were easily getting bored and just causing chaos in their bin. And then I introduced one of those cat toy balls. They don't seem enthralled with that but still peck at it now and then.
They had their first day in the coop today when I decided to make my own toy for them.
I took large colored feathers (the kind at craft stores), and glued them onto a fake leather twine.
Skyler (my Barred Plymouth Rock pullet), loves that thing! She loves pecking at it and just looking at the bright colors. So far the orpington girls don't seem too interested but it definitely keeps my most rambunctious girl happy.
Long story short, some chickens might benefit from toys and stuff to peck at!
Especially if they are unable to free range. Chickens can be intelligent birds and it makes sense they need some stuff to try and curve boredom!
(I'm not saying all chickens are smart. Actually, I've seen my fair share of just stupid chickens. I've seen a few just perch on a lit bbq until we had to shoo them off. My pullets seem to be the most intelligent I've seen compared to the free range chickens we used to have. But I'm sure from their past home they had plenty of heavy incest Lol).