Keeping chickens as pets or for egg production requires more than just providing them with food and shelter. Chickens, like all animals, also need mental stimulation and entertainment. That’s where DIY chicken toys come in. In this article, we will explore the importance of toys for chickens and the benefits of creating your own DIY chicken toys.

Importance of Toys for Chickens

Chickens, despite their simple nature, require mental stimulation to prevent boredom and behavioral issues. Toys play a crucial role in keeping chickens engaged and entertained. They provide opportunities for physical activity, problem-solving, and natural behaviors, all of which contribute to the overall well-being of the chickens.

Benefits of DIY Chicken Toys

Creating DIY chicken toys has several benefits for both the chickens and the chicken keepers:

1. Cost-effective: DIY chicken toys can be made using simple and affordable materials that are often readily available at home or in local stores. By making your own toys, you can save money compared to purchasing pre-made toys.
2. Customization: DIY chicken toys allow you to tailor them to your chickens’ specific needs and preferences. You can create toys that cater to their natural behaviors, such as pecking, scratching, and foraging. Additionally, customization allows you to adapt the toys as your chickens grow and develop new interests.
3. Environmental Enrichment: DIY chicken toys provide environmental enrichment, which stimulates the chickens’ senses and encourages natural behaviors. Toys that involve pecking, scratching, or foraging mimic the activities chickens would engage in if they were free-ranging. This not only keeps them entertained but also helps prevent negative behaviors, such as feather picking or aggression.
4. Bonding and Interaction: DIY chicken toys can foster a bond between chicken keepers and their flock. Spending time creating and playing with the toys allows for interaction and socialization, which can enhance the relationship between humans and chickens.

Simple and Cheap DIY Chicken Toys

Homemade Foraging Toys

Foraging toys provide mental stimulation and entertainment for chickens while encouraging natural behaviors. Here are two easy DIY foraging toy ideas:

1. DIY Treat Dispensing Toy

Create a treat dispenser by puncturing holes in a plastic container or PVC pipe. Fill it with your chickens’ favorite treats, and watch as they peck and roll the container to retrieve the treats. This engages their natural instinct to search for food.

2. Hanging Veggie Basket

Hang a wire basket filled with leafy greens or vegetables from a sturdy branch or coop ceiling. The chickens will peck at the greens, providing entertainment and a nutritious snack. Make sure the basket is securely attached to prevent accidents.

Upcycled Toy Ideas

Upcycling household items into toys not only provides cheap entertainment for chickens but also helps reduce waste. Here are two upcycled toy ideas:

1. DIY Cardboard Box Maze

Create a maze or obstacle course using cardboard boxes. Cut holes and tunnels in the boxes, leaving enough space for the chickens to navigate through. Arrange the boxes in a challenging layout, creating a fun and engaging environment for the chickens to explore.

2. Bottle Cap Pecking Toy

Collect bottle caps and attach them to a piece of wood or a sturdy board using screws or nails. The chickens will enjoy pecking at the shiny caps, which provides mental stimulation and encourages natural foraging behaviors.

DIY Puzzle Toys for Chickens

Puzzle toys provide an excellent way to engage and entertain chickens, stimulating their natural behaviors and keeping them mentally active. DIY puzzle toys are not only cost-effective but also customizable to suit your chickens’ needs. In this section, we will explore two DIY puzzle toy ideas for chickens: the egg carton treat puzzle and PVC pipe toy ideas.

Egg Carton Treat Puzzle

1. Creating an Egg Carton Treat Dispenser: Start by collecting an empty egg carton. Cut holes in the bottom of each cup, making sure they are large enough for your chickens to peck at the treats. Fill the cups of the egg carton with their favorite treats, such as mealworms or corn kernels. Close the egg carton and watch as your chickens peck and work their way through the openings to access the treats. This puzzle toy provides mental stimulation and rewards their problem-solving efforts.
2. Challenging Chicken Puzzle Feeder: Take a larger plastic container with a lid, such as a yogurt container. Cut small holes around the sides of the container, leaving enough space for chickens to access the treats. Fill the container with their favorite treats, close the lid, and place it in their coop or run. The chickens will have to peck at the holes to retrieve the treats, challenging their problem-solving skills and keeping them entertained.

PVC Pipe Toy Ideas

1. Building a PVC Pipe Puzzle Feeder: Gather PVC pipes of different lengths and diameters. Cut the pipes into various segments, ensuring they have openings large enough for your chickens to access the treats. Connect the pipes using PVC connectors or elbow fittings to create a maze-like structure. Fill the pipes with their favorite treats and place the puzzle feeder in their coop or run. Watch as your chickens navigate the maze, pecking and working their way through the pipes to reach the tasty rewards.
2. DIY PVC Pipe Swing: Create a unique swinging perch for your chickens using PVC pipes. Cut a long piece of PVC pipe and create a “U” shape by attaching two elbow fittings at each end. Attach another short piece of pipe to the top of the “U” shape, creating a handle or perch. Hang the swing from a sturdy structure in their coop or run, ensuring it is at a height that allows the chickens to comfortably swing on it. This PVC pipe swing provides entertainment and a unique perching experience for your feathered friends.

In conclusion, DIY puzzle toys provide mental stimulation and entertainment for chickens. The egg carton treat puzzle and PVC pipe toy ideas offer customizable options that cater to your chickens’ needs. These DIY puzzle toys challenge their problem-solving skills, encourage natural behaviors, and keep them mentally active and engaged. So, unleash your creativity, gather the materials, and provide your chickens with stimulating puzzle toys that will keep them entertained and happy.