Toys for chickens

Feb 11, 2021
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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).
 
Well they survived the night and are spunky as ever today. Right now it's in the forties and they seem perfectly fine. But I have the window shut and the door to the run closed of course. When it gets a bit warmer I'll take the photos, but right now I just want to keep them draft free
 
They just got the seed bell today. The feather toys are what I made myself. They like jumping up and tugging on the feathers or staring at them. It's great for breaking up boring wood color as well. Then I found two of my cats' old ball toys they weren't playing with anymore and cleaned them up then gave them to the girls
 

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I hope you'll continue to post toys as you think of them! I like the idea of the seed bell and the upcycled cat toy/ feathers - my cat never played the one I bought but maybe the chickens will!
I will! I enjoy making them. Also, check the bird aisle in the pet stores! I've seen so many cool toys in those aisles that chickens would love. Just be aware that straw based toys are not ok. Your chickens could impact their crops by eating that stuff. But I did find cool toys with shredded paper for them to pull out and make a mess with. And they seemed pretty affordable. Almost all the ones I saw were well under 20 bucks. Some were 6 or 9 bucks even. But nothing beats the fun of making up toys yourself
 
I will! I enjoy making them. Also, check the bird aisle in the pet stores! I've seen so many cool toys in those aisles that chickens would love. Just be aware that straw based toys are not ok. Your chickens could impact their crops by eating that stuff. But I did find cool toys with shredded paper for them to pull out and make a mess with. And they seemed pretty affordable. Almost all the ones I saw were well under 20 bucks. Some were 6 or 9 bucks even. But nothing beats the fun of making up toys yourself
I have made up many toys for my parrotlet but haven't had much success with my chickens. They just seem overly bored with whatever I come up with 😆 so I appreciate your ideas!
 
I have made up many toys for my parrotlet but haven't had much success with my chickens. They just seem overly bored with whatever I come up with 😆so I appreciate your ideas!
Of course! Also, keep in mind chickens are normally are not going to be outgoing and brave with a new item in the coop. They have a much higher sensitivity because they are prey animals. And have to be on alert to make sure a new thing isn't a new danger. So they won't be immediately appreciative of a toy. Just give them time to warm up to something. And if you have especially sensitive girls then try and stay away from the cat balls. Unless they don't jingle
 

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