10 DIY Toys for Chickens

Chickens love to get busy. They enjoy running around, scratching, and pecking at things all the time.

Now when they can’t find anything that resembles those activities, they get bored. And when they do, it could lead to unhealthy behavior and cause serious health problems for your chooks.

Your chickens are going to peck each other, and pull at each other’s feathers (including theirs) which could get them injured.

Aside from you having to treat those injuries, situations like these are extremely stressful for chickens. When your chooks are stressed out, they won’t lay eggs and continue to be healthy, happy chickens.

This problem occurs more commonly in backyard settings since they are confined in (small) coops with not much to do. So if you are raising backyard chickens, it’s important to always make sure your pets have something they can ‘play’ with.

Any activity that allows for natural chicken behavior can be considered playing, so anything that encourages that can be called a toy! If you have chooks, then it’s best that you have several toys to keep them occupied.

Have a look at these 10 DIY toys for chickens that you can easily make to keep them entertained and healthy all the time… 

• Interactive Treat Dispensers
• Shredded Newspaper
• Perching Places
• Old Tree Stump/Branch
• Old CDs
• Compost Piles
• Dust Bath
• Pet Bird Toys
• Rope Swing
• Run/tunnel

1. Interactive Treat Dispensers

This is a very easy project that you can do using empty plastic containers. As much as possible choose a sturdy one, like soda bottles or a peanut butter jar.

Simply drill holes that are just big enough for the chicken treats to fall through. Make sure to remove any loose plastic pieces that your chooks might accidentally ingest. Fill it with chicken feed, put the lid back on and give it to your chickens!

2. Shredded Newspaper

3. Perching Places

Aside from the chicken roost inside the coop, they should also have a climbing structure outdoors which allows for some physical exercise.

You can easily do that by simply putting together some tree branches.

4. Old Tree Stump/Branch

Read more about “Which Chicken Breed Is Best For You?“

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5. Old CDs

Chickens see color better than we do. So if you still have some old broken CDs in your recycle bin, they will surely love this colorful recycled toy!

Simply hang it anywhere where they can reach it. You can also use broken ones by sticking the pieces to a softball.

6. Compost Piles

Chickens enjoy ‘work’, too! If you want to create your own compost they will gladly help. They will eat all the bugs and worms, and shred, turn and mix everything else! Definitely a win-win situation.

7. Dust Bath

Dust baths are a way for chickens to stay clean. But aside from that it also serves as a venue for socializing and ‘playing’.

Read more about it here.

Read more about “10 DIY CHICKEN TREATS that you can easily make for your flock”

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8. Pet Bird Toys

Just like with the old CD, anything colorful stimulates their curiosity will definitely entertain them. 

Now, these baby toys are really great for chicks, since it’s not really advisable to give them ‘food toys’.

9. Run/tunnel

We’ve shared the benefits of having a chicken run before, and this idea is definitely in this list.

You can also make a similar version for the chicks by using containers. Simply cut out the other end of the container, and your chicks will enjoy passing through it like little kids in a playground!

10. Rope Swing

Here’s another great exercise tool for their feet to help keep them on their roosts.

All you need is two cuts of ropes and a wooden rod or tree branch to create a swing.

Make sure the swing is level!

What other toys can I give my chickens to entertain them?

Except for the above chicken toys, you can kill your chicken’s boredom with:

• Set up a Mirror in your chicken coop (chickens love to investigate!)
• Attach Xylofowl to your wall (chicken can compose music too!)
• Create Chicken Playground (a little advanced but it’s 100% worth it)
• DIY Chicknic Table (you can also feed your chickens here)
• Old Bicycle Wheels (spin to win)

All credits are given to TheOwnerBuilderNetwork.co for this awesome content.

Shannon Stansberry

Shannon Stansberry has been engaged in the business of raising chickens for more than 12 years. In 2016, she accomplished the Agriculture & Natural Resources program at Mt. San Antonio College. At present, she tends to more than 80 chickens on her 4-hectare farm. Shannon regularly shares her insights and experience on how to raise healthy and contented chickens on the platform Typesofchickens.com