10 Fun Chicken Toys to Make Your Run More Exciting
Looking to add a little excitement to your chicken run?
Look no further!
In this article, we bring you 10 fun and ea
sy-to-make toys that will turn your chickens' run into a playful paradise.
From swinging perches to treat-filled piñatas, these creative ideas will keep your feathered friends entertained and engaged, ensuring they have a cluckin' good time.
So, put on your DIY hat and get ready to transform your chicken run into the ultimate playground!
Natural Materials
Hay Bales
Hay bales can be a great source of entertainment for your chickens.
Not only can they peck and scratch at the hay, but they can also climb on top of the bales and use them as a vantage point to survey their surroundings.
Hay bales also provide a cozy place for chickens to take a nap or even lay their eggs.
Additionally, if you scatter treats on or inside the hay bales, your chickens will have a blast foraging for their food.
Logs
Logs are another natural material that can be used to create fun and engaging toys for your chickens.
You can place logs of varying sizes and heights in their run, allowing them to jump on and off them or even perch on top. Logs can also be hollowed out and filled with treats or nesting materials, turning them into interactive foraging toys.
Branches
Branches offer both entertainment and exercise for your chickens. You can hang branches at different heights in their run, creating a natural jungle gym for them to explore.
Chickens love to hop from one branch to another, testing their balance and coordination.
In addition to this, branches provide an opportunity for chickens to peck at any bugs or insects that may be hiding on them, providing a natural form of pest control.
Pine Cones
Pine cones are a simple and inexpensive toy that can keep your chickens entertained.
You can scatter pine cones around their run or hang them from string or wire so they swing and move when pecked.
Chickens enjoy exploring and pecking at the pine cones, as they provide both mental and physical stimulation. Plus, pine cones can also be stuffed with treats, making them a fun foraging toy for your feathered friends.
DIY Treat Dispensers
Puzzle Feeder
A puzzle feeder is a great way to keep your chickens mentally stimulated while also providing them with a tasty treat.
You can easily make a puzzle feeder by drilling holes of varying sizes in a PVC pipe or a plastic container.
Fill the pipe or container with their favorite treats and watch as they try to figure out how to get the treats out.
This not only provides them with a fun challenge but also helps prevent boredom.
Bottle Feeder
A bottle feeder is a simple yet effective way to dispense treats to your chickens. Take an empty soda or water bottle and poke small holes in the sides.
Fill the bottle with their favorite treats and hang it in their run. Your chickens will enjoy pecking at the bottle to retrieve the treats, keeping them entertained and engaged.
Hanging Treat Ball
A hanging treat ball is a fun and interactive toy that your chickens will love. You can make one by filling a wire mesh ball or a mesh bag with treats or vegetables. Hang the ball or bag from a tree branch or inside their run.
As your chickens peck at the ball or bag, the treats or vegetables will slowly fall out, providing them with a rewarding and engaging experience.
Foraging Box
A foraging box is a fantastic toy to encourage natural foraging behavior in your chickens. Take a shallow container or a cardboard box and fill it with straw, hay, or wood shavings.
Hide treats or vegetables within the material and let your chickens explore and peck around to find their rewards. This not only keeps them busy but also mimics their natural behavior in the wild.
Swings and Perches
Wooden Swing
A wooden swing is a classic chicken toy that can provide hours of entertainment for your flock.
You can easily make a swing by attaching a wooden perch to some sturdy ropes or chains. Hang the swing in their run at a height that is comfortable for your chickens to hop on and off.
Your chickens will love swinging back and forth, and it also helps to keep their leg muscles strong and healthy.
Tire Swing
A tire swing is a unique twist on the classic wooden swing. Take an old tire, drill some holes in the bottom for drainage, and attach it to some ropes or chains.
Hang the tire swing in their run and watch as your chickens hop in and enjoy the ride. The swinging motion provides both physical and mental stimulation, making it a fun addition to their playground.
Branch Perch
A branch perch is a simple and natural addition to your chicken run. Find a sturdy branch that is the right size for your chickens to comfortably perch on.
Trim off any small branches or twigs and securely attach the branch to the sides of their run. This provides them with a place to rest, groom, and observe their surroundings.
Plank Perch
A plank perch is another option for providing your chickens with a comfortable resting spot.
Take a wooden plank or board and attach it securely between two posts or trees in their run.
Make sure the plank is wide enough for your chickens to comfortably perch on. This elevated platform allows your chickens to relax and provides them with a different vantage point.
Pecking and Preening Toys
Mirror
A mirror is a simple and inexpensive toy that can provide entertainment for your chickens.
Hang a small mirror in their run at their eye level, making sure it is securely fastened. Your chickens will be fascinated by their own reflections and may even peck at the mirror, thinking it's another chicken.
This can be a great way to alleviate boredom and provide visual stimulation.
CD Shiny Spinner
A CD shiny spinner is a fun and shiny toy that can capture your chickens' attention. Hang a CD from a string or wire in their run, making sure it spins freely.
As the CD spins, it creates flashes of light that can be intriguing to your chickens.
They'll enjoy pecking at it and watching the light reflections, adding some excitement to their day.
Dust Bath
A dust bath is a natural behavior for chickens, and providing them with a designated area for dust bathing is both fun and necessary.
Fill a shallow container with sand, dirt, and dry wood ash, and place it in their run. Your chickens will instinctively start scratching and rolling in the dust bath, cleaning their feathers and keeping them healthy.
It's an essential activity that can also help reduce parasites and mites.
Feather Duster
A feather duster can be a source of amusement for your chickens. Attach a feather duster to a string and hang it at a reachable height in their run.
The movement of the feathers will catch their attention, and they'll enjoy pecking and playing with the feathers. It's a simple toy that can provide endless entertainment for your feathered friends.
Ball Toys
Ping Pong Balls
Ping pong balls are lightweight and perfect for chickens to play with. Toss some ping pong balls into their run and watch as they chase and peck at them.
They'll enjoy the challenge of catching the moving balls and can even engage in a game of "soccer" with their fellow chickens. These balls are safe and easy to replace, making them a great addition to their toy collection.
Whiffle Balls
Whiffle balls are similar to ping pong balls but with holes, making them great for chickens to grab with their beaks.
They can roll them around, peck at the holes, or even push them with their feet. The versatility of whiffle balls allows for various play styles, keeping your chickens entertained and active.
Tennis Balls
Tennis balls are a larger alternative to ping pong balls and whiffle balls. While they may be harder for chickens to catch or grasp with their beaks, they can still provide hours of fun.
Your chickens can push them around, attempt to peck at them, or even indulge in a game of chicken soccer.
Just make sure to supervise them while playing, as larger balls can pose a choking hazard.
Soccer Balls
Soccer balls are a larger and more interactive toy for your chickens. While they may not be able to play a proper game of soccer, they can certainly enjoy kicking and rolling the ball around with their feet.
The size and shape of a soccer ball make it challenging for chickens to handle, adding a level of excitement and physical activity to their playtime.
Mazes and Tunnels
Cardboard Box Maze
A cardboard box maze is a great way to keep your chickens engaged and mentally stimulated.
Collect several cardboard boxes and cut holes in different places to create a maze-like structure. Place treats or vegetables at different points within the maze and let your chickens navigate their way through to find the rewards.
This can be a fun and challenging activity that sparks their natural foraging instincts.
Tunnel Tube
A tunnel tube is a toy that your chickens can run through, creating a sense of adventure and exploration.
You can purchase plastic or fabric tunnel tubes designed for small animals or children. Place the tunnel tube in their run and watch as your chickens investigate and run in and out of it. This adds a new dimension to their play area and keeps them active and entertained.
Chicken Run Maze
A chicken run maze is an elaborate toy that can provide hours of entertainment for your chickens.
Create a maze-like structure using garden fencing or chicken wire, making sure there are multiple pathways and dead ends.
Place treats or vegetables at different points within the maze and let your chickens navigate their way through to find the rewards. This will challenge their problem-solving skills and keep them engaged.
Hay Tunnel
A hay tunnel is a simple and natural toy that your chickens will love. Take a long piece of PVC pipe or a cardboard tube and stuff it with loose hay or straw.
Place the hay tunnel in their run and watch as your chickens explore and scratch inside it. The texture and scent of the hay provide sensory stimulation, and it can also serve as a cozy hiding spot for nesting or resting.
Dangling Toys
Rope with Vegetables
A rope with vegetables is a fun way to provide both entertainment and nutrition for your chickens.
Attach a sturdy rope or string to a tree branch or inside their run and string vegetables such as cucumbers, zucchinis, or lettuce heads onto it.
Your chickens will be able to peck and peck at the vegetables, trying their best to reach them. It's a rewarding activity that also encourages healthy eating.
String with Corn Cob
Similar to the rope with vegetables, a string with a corn cob can be a delightful toy for your chickens. Attach a string to a tree branch or inside their run, making sure it's securely fastened.
Tie a corn cob to the end of the string, hanging it within their reach. Your chickens will enjoy pecking at the corn kernels and trying to remove them from the cob. It's a tasty treat and a playful activity rolled into one.
Feather Dangle
A feather dangle toy can mimic the natural movement of prey, piquing your chickens' curiosity. Attach a feather or a bunch of feathers to a string or wire and hang it at a height that is reachable for your chickens.
The feathers will sway and move with even the slightest breeze, captivating your chickens as they peck and play with the dangling toy.
Bells and Beads
Bells and beads are simple and engaging toys that your chickens can enjoy. Attach small bells or colorful beads to a string or wire and hang them within their reach.
The jingling sound of the bells and the bright colors of the beads will catch their attention and provide auditory and visual stimulation.
Your chickens will have a blast playing with and exploring these simple yet entertaining toys.
Puzzle Toys
Color Sorting
Color sorting puzzles are an excellent way to engage your chickens' cognitive abilities. Take a shallow container or box and place different colored objects, such as wooden blocks or plastic balls, inside.
Train your chickens to recognize specific colors and place them in corresponding containers or designated areas. This not only encourages problem-solving skills but also provides mental stimulation and rewards their efforts.
Pecking Board
A pecking board is a puzzle toy that challenges your chickens to find hidden treats or food. Take a piece of wood or a plastic board and drill shallow holes in it.
Insert treats or small amounts of food into the holes and watch as your chickens try to peck their way to the rewards.
This type of puzzle toy not only keeps them entertained but also encourages their natural foraging behavior.
Nesting Boxes
Nesting boxes are a functional and interactive toy for your chickens. Take a series of different-sized boxes and stack them inside each other, with treats or straw placed in each box.
Your chickens will have to navigate through the boxes, opening and exploring each one to find the hidden treats. This provides mental stimulation, engages their problem-solving skills, and rewards their persistence.
Shape Sorting
Shape sorting toys challenge your chickens' ability to recognize and match different shapes. Take a shallow container and cut out various shapes from cardboard or plastic.
Attach each shape to a small peg or string and place the corresponding shape cutouts in the container. Train your chickens to recognize specific shapes and match them to the corresponding cutouts, rewarding them for their efforts.
This keeps their minds active and helps develop their cognitive abilities.
Interactive Toys
Water Dispenser
A water dispenser can provide both entertainment and hydration for your chickens.
Take a small plastic container, such as a soda bottle, and attach it to a secure base or hang it from a tree branch. Drill small holes in the bottom of the container and fill it with water.
As your chickens peck or push the container, water will trickle out, encouraging them to interact and hydrate themselves.
Sand Bath
A sand bath can be a fun and interactive addition to your chickens' run. Fill a shallow container with fine sand or dry dirt and place it in a shaded area.
Your chickens will instinctively start scratching and rolling in the sand, cleaning their feathers and removing any mites or parasites. It also provides them with a sensory experience and a natural way to groom themselves.
Obstacle Course
An obstacle course is a fantastic way to challenge your chickens physically and mentally.
Use various items such as logs, wooden blocks, or even an old ladder to create different obstacles for them to navigate around or over. You can also incorporate tunnels or small ramps for them to climb or descend.
Your chickens will enjoy the challenge and it will help keep them active and engaged.
Solar Powered Toy
A solar powered toy can be a unique and eco-friendly addition to your chickens' run.
There are various solar-powered toys available, such as spinning windmills or chimes that activate in sunlight.
Hang or place these toys in their run and watch as they are mesmerized by the movement and sound. It's a great way to add a touch of whimsy and entertainment to their environment.
Hide and Seek Toys
Cornhole Game
A cornhole game can be repurposed as a fun hide-and-seek toy for your chickens. Take a cornhole board and cut holes in various places.
Hide treats or vegetables inside the board and let your chickens peck and search for the rewards. This adds a challenge to their playtime and encourages their natural foraging instincts.
Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt can keep your chickens engaged and entertained. Scatter treats or vegetables in different areas of their run and create a map or clues for your chickens to follow.
This will encourage them to explore their surroundings and hunt for their food. It's a stimulating activity that taps into their natural instincts and provides mental and physical exercise.
Buckets with Holes
Buckets with small holes can be an entertaining and rewarding hide-and-seek toy for your chickens.
Take small buckets or containers and drill small holes in the sides or bottom. Fill the containers with treats or vegetables and hang them in their run.
Your chickens will have to figure out how to retrieve the rewards through the holes, keeping them engaged and mentally stimulated.
Worm Digging
Worm digging is a natural and entertaining activity for chickens. Create a designated digging area in their run, filling it with loose soil or compost.
Add some worms or mealworms into the soil and let your chickens scratch and dig for their tasty snacks. It's a rewarding and engaging activity that satisfies their natural instincts and promotes healthy foraging behavior.
By providing a variety of chicken toys in their run, you can keep your feathered friends entertained, engaged, and mentally stimulated.
From natural materials like hay bales and logs to interactive and puzzle toys, there are endless options to make their run more exciting. Remember to always supervise their playtime and ensure the toys are safe and suitable for chickens.
With a little creativity and some DIY spirit, you can create a fun and enriching environment for your chickens that will keep them happy and entertained.