Chickens are inquisitive and playful animals that need mental stimulation and exercise just like any other pet. Providing chicken-safe toys allows chickens to engage in natural behaviors like scratching, pecking, and foraging. This keeps them active, reduces stress and boredom, and promotes better health. But with so many options out there, how do you know which chicken toys are best?
What to look for in chicken toys
When shopping for chicken toys, there are a few key factors to consider:
- Safety – Toys should be made of chicken-safe materials that won’t easily break into sharp pieces if pecked or scratched at. Avoid toys with small parts that could become choking hazards.
- Durability – Chickens can be rough on toys, so look for ones that are sturdily constructed from tough materials.
- Interesting textures – Chickens use their beaks to explore so toys with varying textures will keep them engaged.
- Encourages natural behavior – The best toys allow chickens to scratch, peck, forage, and exhibit other instinctual behaviors.
- Size appropriate – Make sure toys are sized right for your chickens. Too small and they could swallow them, too large and they may not interact with them.
Recommended materials for chicken toys
Chicken-safe materials to look for include:
- Untreated wood – Chickens can safely scratch and peck at untreated wood without risk of ingesting anything toxic. Look for wood that won’t easily splinter.
- Rope – Natural fiber ropes are great for tugging, pulling, and shredding.
- Straw and hay – Excellent for scattering in their enclosure to satisfy foraging instincts.
- Cardboard – Simple cardboard boxes, tubes, and egg cartons make for endless entertainment.
- Sand or dirt – Filling a shallow box with sand or dirt supports natural dust bathing behavior.
- Stones – Larger smooth stones and pebbles can be used for scratching. Avoid small stones that could be accidentally swallowed.
- Metal – Galvanized metal poultry feeders, buckets, and other containers are ideal for pecking at and making noise.
Avoid toys made with plastic, fabric, rubber, or foam as chickens will likely shred and ingest the pieces.
Top 10 recommended chicken toys
Based on safety, durability, interactivity, and encouragement of natural behaviors, here are 10 of the best chicken toys:
1. Treat ball
These are balls that can be filled with treats or scratch grains and pecked at to make the goodies fall out. Keeps chickens happily occupied and satisfies foraging instincts. Look for a ball made of hard plastic or wood.
2. Pecking stones
Interesting rocks, bricks, and stone provide endless scratching, pecking, and clawing opportunities. Scatter a variety in their run. Smooth river rocks or pumice stones work well.
3. Wooden block swing
A wooden block or plank suspended on rope becomes a fun swinging perch. Position low enough for them to easily jump on and off. Helps keep active.
4. Treat ladder
Ladders with rungs made of wood or metal can be hung and stuffed with treats. Chickens will forage up and down pecking treats out. Satisfies their vertical nature.
5. Suet cakes
Nutritious suet cakes provide peckable texture and added protein. Hang them with string at pecking height.
6. Pecking blocks
Blocks of wood with holes, knots, and grooves carved into them make for endless pecking play. Place a few in their run.
7. Mirror
A shatterproof acrylic mirror affixed low on a wall becomes a fascinating toy as chickens peck at their own reflections. Provides solo entertainment.
8. Dust bath box
Containers filled with dirt, sand, or peat allow chickens to dust bathe to keep feathers clean and deter pests. They’ll flip and flutter in it with glee.
9. Straw bales
Scatter straw bales or a pile of loose straw in their enclosure and chickens will happily scratch and scatter it searching for stray seeds and bugs. Satisfies foraging desire.
10. Worm dig box
Fill a box with dirt and add some nightcrawlers. Chickens will have a blast scratching through the dirt to catch wiggly worms and other insects. primitive foraging fun.
DIY Chicken Toys
Don’t want to buy toys? Here are some easy DIY options:
- Tie cabbage, lettuce, or kale leaves to string and hang around their run for peckable greens.
- Stuff toilet paper tubes with treats and block the ends with wood dowels or corks.
- Hide treats in a paper lunch bag and let them shred it to pieces to get to them.
- Suspend a head of cabbage or lettuce from string for a piñata-style treat.
- Gather pine cones and sprinkle scratch inside for them to peck out.
Use your imagination and items around the home to create endless toy combinations to stimulate your flock. Just be sure they’re chicken-safe.
Conclusion
Keeping backyard chickens enriched with toys may seem silly to some, but it’s very beneficial for their health and happiness. Allowing chickens to express their natural behaviors helps reduce stress and prevent developing bad habits like feather pecking. Provide a variety of interactive chicken toys made from safe materials that encourage pecking, scratching, foraging and exercise. A mentally and physically stimulated flock will be healthier and lay better too. It’s worth the small investment to keep your chickens actively engaged with their surroundings. Happy pecking!