Chickens are intelligent, sensitive creatures who can suffer from boredom and depression just like any other. If you’re raising a flock of your own, it’s important to offer them “boredom buster” options to keep them engaged and entertained.
In this article, we’ll suggest ten toys, accessories, and other options to help keep your beautiful birds as happy as possible.
1. Chicken Swing
Did you know that chickens like to play on swings? This probably shouldn’t be surprising since studies have shown that chickens are smarter than the average four-year-old child, and kids (as well as most adults) love to play on swing sets, tires, and so on.
Pick up one swing for every five or so chickens in your flock and watch as they take turns on it. You’ll get bonus points if you offer a variety of swings of different shapes and sizes.
Qinfly makes swings just for chickens with wood beads to further entertain them. Snag one for your birds at Amazon.
2. Suspended Woven Treat Nets
Suspending treat nets from various heights is a great way to keep chickens both fed and entertained. If you have a large flock, consider getting some hanging nets like these by Suplklz, or else make your own out of household twine.
It doesn’t take long to whip these together, and then you can fill them with radishes, lettuce, tomatoes, watermelon chunks, or whatever else your chooks enjoy snacking on.
In fact, this could be a great DIY project that helps you clear out some of your yarn or twine stash while also creating fun boredom-buster toys for your beloved birds.
Get some great macrame tips and patterns for homestead projects in our article.
3. Hanging Fruit or Veggie Skewers
Chickens love to peck at things, so hanging snacks from skewers on chains can keep them occupied for hours at a time.
This boredom buster can be adapted to suit your chickens’ preferences. You can hang lettuce heads, halved watermelons, corn cobs, quartered pumpkins, apples, or whatever else your birds like best.
They’ll peck at the fruits or veggies that are hanging down, causing them to swing or move around. Needless to say, they’ll keep after them to continue pecking, which can provide them (and you) with hours of entertainment and engagement.
Grab some pre-made skewers at Amazon.
4. Swinging Treat Dispenser
Most chickens are totally food-motivated, so a boredom buster that keeps them entertained while also offering them snacks is a win-win.
A swinging treat toy like this one from Amazon can be filled with seeds, blueberries, mealworms, or whatever else your chooks like to chew on. All they need to do is peck at them to swing them around, thus dispensing the treats as desired.
If you do get a toy like this, make sure to clean it regularly. Food scraps may get trapped inside and start to rot, which can make your birds ill if you’re not diligent.
5. Foraging Puzzle Toy
Remember how we talked about how intelligent chickens are? Well, since they’re such smart birds, many of the toys that are marketed for parrots are also ideal for hens and roosters.
One of these options is a foraging puzzle; a boredom buster with treats and snacks tucked into little pockets that the birds have to slide, pull, or twist to open.
Puzzles like these are ideal for smaller flocks, as your chickens won’t fight each other too much to play with them. You can fill the compartments with seeds, mealworms, or other snacks and watch as your birds take turns opening the doors to get at the snacks within.
Pick up one or a few at Amazon.
6. Xylophone Boredom Buster
Chickens are naturally inquisitive, playful creatures, and most seem to enjoy music, too. Offering them a musical instrument that they can use to create interesting sounds is a great way to keep them engaged.
You may not have considered how a child’s musical instrument can double as a boredom buster, but as the chickens peck at the xylophone keys, they make happily little sounds that make the birds quite happy.
Heck, you may even find that they play together as a group and might even get a band started out in the yard.
Xylophones can be suspended vertically or horizontally, and you can even do one of each if you have a large enough flock.
7. Bell Balls
Not all chickens will enjoy these toys, so they might be hit or miss with your flock. But that applies to all these toys. Rather than rolling these boredom buster balls around around the yard, chickens prefer to fling them or pick things out of them.
Try stuffing them with some of your chickens’ favorite treats, so they jingle and roll slightly as the birds help themselves to the tastiness inside. Oatmeal balls or suet blocks are ideal, as they’ll retain their shape inside and give the chickens a challenge while they’re snacking.
For more healthy chicken treat ideas, check out our DIY recipe article. Then, pick up a three pack of balls at Amazon.
8. Mirrors
Most birds love mirror toys, and that’s as true for chickens as it is for parrots. The mirrors should be acrylic so there’s no chance of the birds breaking glass and injuring or killing themselves. As for accessories, you can buy colorful mirrors or paint around your own.
Many commercial bird mirrors also have bells and/or pumice pieces dangling from them for extra fun and engagement. The pumice can be a good, natural source of grit for birds, and pecking at it can also keep the birds’ beaks in great condition.
9. Luffah (Loofah) Shredder
Anyone who has raised free-range chickens has noticed that the ground where they forage ends up being shredded and pecked clean.
Chickens love to tear things apart, so make sure to offer them a boredom buster (or seven) that they can annihilate. By offering them one of these, they’ll be less likely to tear your lettuces and cabbages apart.
Luffah (loofah) sponge toys are all-natural. They’re actually made out of a type of gourd that you can grow in your own garden. So chickens can shred and peck at them to their heart’s content.
If you’d like to cultivate luffa gourds for your chickens (or as natural personal care items), check out our comprehensive growing guide. Or just buy them at Amazon.
10. Frozen Treat Wreath
This is a summertime boredom buster that serves the triple purpose of keeping your birds entertained while also ensuring that they stay hydrated and don’t get overheated.
In a large bowl, mix together an assortment of seeds, treats, fresh blueberries, and mealworms. Then grease a bundt cake pan well with a bit of melted suet, and add the treat mixture. Spread this around evenly, and add water until it just about covers the contents.
Freeze the pan for 12-24 hours, then release the frozen treat ring by running hot water over the outside of the pan.
Now, you can either place the ring on a mat and let your birds peck at it or suspend it from above with some twine. As they peck for treats, they’ll also be ingesting little flecks of ice, which will help to keep them cool and well-hydrated.
As you can see, boredom buster toys don’t need to be expensive. In fact, most of the options listed here can be quick DIY projects that just need to be filled with tasty treats.
Mix up the toys every so often to keep your birds entertained—especially during the winter months—and you’ll end up with all-around happier, healthier chickens (and more eggs, as a result).
