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How To Keep Your Chickens Entertained & 3 DIY Toys!

How To Keep Your Chickens Entertained & 3 DIY Toys!

Gold Cochin February 20, 2016

Before I start on this article I want to be clear on the subject of what chicken do when they are bored.

When your chickens sit in one place and they are not pecking or playing it does not mean that they are bored, but that they are enjoying life.

We have all felt that moment when you just want to sit and relax.

They sit and relax their muscles and simply watch some of the entertaining parts of the world around them that we humans have forgotten to enjoy. What chickens do when they are bored they start going at each other, in most cases bullying the ones at the lower end of the flock.

They get aggressive towards each other and towards the other animals around them because of the extra energy they have.

So what we at the typesofchicken.com team are going to do is help you to keep your chickens from going at each other.

Table of Contents

  • How to react when they start going at each other
    • Why is making some DIY toys for your chickens a great idea?!
  • The thing on a string.
  • A Chicken Swing
  • The pecking bottle

How to react when they start going at each other

What I have seen most people do when their chicken get aggressive is start running into them and scaring them off.

I do not approve this method because I don’t consider fighting violence with more violence at all productive. This will make your chickens even angrier and most likely they will feel the need to run off on you the moment you are not watching them.

Remember chickens have their own way of communication.

What you should do is give them something else to do, get them something new to peck at – straws, some new food or treats. In other words, try to keep them as busy as possible.

When they get tired a bit they will go back to their former selves in no time.

Why is making some DIY toys for your chickens a great idea?!

As much as any pet you can have chickens also enjoy their toys, so as a part of this article we at typesofchicken.com decided to give a few toy ideas for your chickens of any age.

The thing on a string.

cabbage on a string
via Pinterest

The title says it all, get some cabbage or something round that they enjoy pecking at and put it on a string – lift it as high as your chickens are and watch them peck away at it.

The sight of them just going around and passing it to each other is similar as when you watch children playing with a ball. You can also attach a bell below the cabbage or whatever you are giving them to peck.

A Chicken Swing

Many of the chicken enthusiasts that I know are very satisfied from the simplicity and usefulness of this toy, you will need a chain, some tree branch or some long piece of wood and some nails.

chicken swing
via Pinterest

Attach the chain at the sides of the branch or the piece of wood then attach the chain on something higher and make sure the branch is as horizontal as possible and above the ground enough so your chicken can jump on it.

Also, it would be great if the wood is long enough so two or three of your chickens can jump on in and swing together.

The pecking bottle

Get a plastic bottle and fill it with their favorite treats until it’s half full, then make a few bigger holes on one side of the bottle and let them play with it, so when they turn the bottle around the treats will fall off.

The pecking bottle
via Pinterest

This is also one of the funniest things to watch chicken do.

Be patient when introducing your flock to their new toys, they will need some time to figure out how they work – but when they do you will have the pleasure of watching playful chicken at their finest.

For more fun and enjoyment with your chickens, check our article on Chicken Toys Part 2.

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15 Comments

  1. Lorraine Galloway

    Have to try all of these. I think my girls will enjoy all of them. Thank you for sharing.

    February 22, 2016
    • Barbu d'Uccle

      Hello Lorraine

      Thank you for your feedback. I hope this article helped you a lot.
      Have a great day.

      February 22, 2016
  2. Jayne Butler

    This is great! I don’t even have chickens, but can see how beneficial play can be for them!

    March 26, 2016
    • Barbu d'Uccle

      Thank you Jayne!

      January 12, 2021
  3. Kim Storey

    I am introducing new chooks to the pen this week so I’m hoping these toys will stop the older ones from hassling hem too much.

    April 3, 2016
    • Barbu d'Uccle

      Good luck Kim!

      January 12, 2021
  4. Nathalie Klinge

    Just made the swing and the bottle. They’re now outside in the field, but can’t wait till they’re back in their pen!

    April 3, 2016
    • Barbu d'Uccle

      Hey Nathalie,

      I hope everything went well for your chickens.
      Thanks for your comment.

      Cheers,
      Barbu

      January 12, 2021
  5. Heather

    At what age is it good to introduce chicks/chickens to toys. Mine are in that teenage phase and whenever I add something new to their pen (they are not yet outside) the ones who are not super friendly with me still run around and squawk. I just don’t want to stress them too much.

    April 20, 2016
  6. Nicola

    My girls love the cabbage, thank you, I wouldn’t of thought of hanging it up 🙂

    April 21, 2016
    • Barbu d'Uccle

      Hey Nicola,

      Thanks for the comment!

      Cheers,
      Barbu

      January 12, 2021
  7. Diane Brandt

    I found kids toys like a colored Xylophone for on wall of coop, foil pie
    plates on strings also used for pecking. Mirrors, balls. it all entertains.
    We leave the radio playing to entertain and keep the predators away.

    July 10, 2019
    • Barbu d'Uccle

      Hey Diane,

      All this things are good for chickens. Hope they love the music on the radio!

      Have a great day,
      Barbu

      January 12, 2021
  8. Mubasher

    Hello…
    Well you please explain how to improve the immune system of chicken

    May 14, 2020
    • Barbu d'Uccle

      Hello Mubasher,

      We have a category related to Chicken Health. You can check a valuable articles there.

      Have a great day,
      Barbu d’Uccle

      January 12, 2021

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