Let's face it, bored chickens are a real problem. We're talking feather pecking, bullying, egg-eating, pacing, and crankiness. Chicken toys aren't just cute; they help keep your flock healthy, relaxed, and entertained (especially during our long Montana winters)! Speaking of winter, you may find this How to Keep Chicken Water from Freezing post helpful as well!
In this guide, I'm sharing the best chicken toys that actually work, not gimmicks, not overpriced nonsense, just flock-approved fun!
And while we're talking chickens, be sure to spoil your girls with homemade chicken treats!
Jump to:
- Why Chickens Need Enrichment
- 1. Treat Balls (The All-Time Favorite)
- 2. Hanging Cabbage or Greens
- 3. Foraging Boxes
- 4. Chicken Swings & Perches
- 5. Mirrors
- 6. Pecking Blocks
- 7. Winter Enrichment Ideas
- 8. Dust Baths (Day Spa)
- 9. DIY Toys That Cost Nothing
- 10. Musical Toys For Chickens
- Pro Tips
- FAQ
- Final Thoughts
- More Homesteading Posts
- Comments
Why Chickens Need Enrichment
Chickens are curious, active animals that spend most of their time foraging, scratching, pecking, and exploring. When their environment lacks stimulation, or when they are stuck in a coop in winter due to freezing temperatures, they can quickly get restless. Enrichment chicken toys give them something productive to do and help mimic those natural behaviors. The benefits of chicken enrichment toys include:
- Reduced boredom and bullying.
- Healthier, more active birds
- Lower stress and improved egg production
1. Treat Balls (The All-Time Favorite)
Treat balls are basically chicken soccer balls filled with goodies. The flock will roll them around, peck at them, and chase them as treats fall out. It keeps them moving and mentally stimulated. Treat balls are effective and wildly entertaining, but not always cheap.
If you don't want to spend money, you can make one with a plastic water bottle. Just make some cuts/slits/holes in it and fill it with their favorite treats. Then toss it on the ground and let the chasing begin. Treat balls are one of the easiest forms of chicken enrichment because they combine movement, problem-solving, and food rewards.
What to Fill Them With
- Meal worms
- Scratch
- Herbs
- Cracked corn
- Crumbled treats
2. Hanging Cabbage or Greens
This classic boredom buster is always a hit. Suspend a cabbage, romaine heart, or head of lettuce from a rope or chain in the run. The swinging motion turns snack time into a game.
Bonus: Keeps their food clean and off the ground, until they knock it down that is...😃
3. Foraging Boxes
Foraging boxes are simple, DIY, and endlessly customizable. Just fill a low tote, crate, or box with straw or shredded paper and any of the following:
- Mealworms
- Seeds or scratch
- Dried herbs
- Corn, peas, or veggie bits
Let the hens scratch through it like they're hunting buried treasure.
4. Chicken Swings & Perches
Some chickens act like swings are beneath them, others hop on and swing like they're auditioning for a chicken circus, especially the young ones. Even if just a few use it, swings add height and interest to the coop. Perches, branches, and logs also count as "chicken toys," and they're free!
5. Mirrors
Chickens love to check out their reflection. For single hens, shy birds, or small flocks, a mirror provides company and stimulation. Just be sure to secure it safely so it doesn't break, or better yet, get an acrylic mirror as I did.
6. Pecking Blocks
Think of these as hard, compressed "flock granola bars." Chickens peck at them for hours, especially on snowy or rainy days when free-ranging isn't an option. They can help redirect pecking behavior toward something productive. You can make these from scratch using my homemade treats for chickens recipe or purchase them.
7. Winter Enrichment Ideas
Here in Montana, winter boredom is real. When your flock refuses to step foot in the snow, enrichment becomes essential. Try some of the following:
- A covered "dig box" filled with straw
- Daily treat balls
- A few added perches
- Apples hanging from chains or just tossed into the coop.
Small things make a big difference during the long, cold months.
8. Dust Baths (Day Spa)
Dust bathing isn't just a hygiene routine; it's one of your chickens' favorite activities. Give them an irresistible dust bath setup, and they'll happily spend half their day in there, rolling, fluffing, and throwing dirt around.
Dust baths count as enrichment because they're social, interactive, sensory, and mentally stimulating. They also reduce stress and keep them busy for long stretches of time, especially in winter when outdoor fun is limited.
What to add to make their dust bath extra fun and beneficial:
- Fine sand - lets them fluff deeper
- Wood ash (from clean, untreated firewood) helps to deter mites
- Diatomaceous earth (food grade, use sparingly) boosts parasite control
- Dry soil
- Dried herbs like mint, thyme, rosemary, and sage (bonus aroma therapy)
- Peat moss: It's super soft, and chickens LOVE tossing it everywhere
Where to put it:
- A kiddie pool
- A deep bin, tote, or old planter
- A covered corner of the run
- Under the coop where it stays dry
- An old tire
- Rubber feed bowl
9. DIY Toys That Cost Nothing
You don't need to spend a dime to keep your hens busy. Some of the best enrichments are completely homemade:
- Pinecones smeared with peanut butter and rolled in seeds
- Old logs or stumps to hop on
- Hanging CDs (shiny = chicken entertainment)
- Pumpkin halves after Halloween
- A simple pile of leaves (pure joy)
Chickens love anything that lets them investigate, peck, or scratch.
10. Musical Toys For Chickens
If you've ever wondered what happens when a flock of curious chickens meets a musical instrument... wonder no more. Chickens LOVE anything that makes an unexpected sound, and musical toys are an easy way to keep them entertained.
Xylophones are a classic. Lay one flat on the ground or mount it securely to a low board, and your girls will peck out their own... let's call it abstract barnyard jazz. Don't expect Mozart, but do expect a whole lot of proud clucking.
Retired wind chimes are another winner. Hang them low enough that a chicken can bump them with their chest or peck them. Every little breeze or curious hens sets them off. It adds a gentle soundtrack to the coop and keeps the flock stimulated.
These musical "instruments" give your birds sensory enrichment, reduce boredom, and might even distract the troublemakers from plotting their next escape. Plus, let's be honest, what could be better than watching a chicken play the xylophone?
Pro Tips
- Rotate toys weekly so they don't lose interest.
- Bossy hens love to hog toys, so spread things out.
- Stick to safe materials: Untreated wood, natural fibers, metal, food-safe plastics.
- Avoid choking hazards or anything fragile that can break into sharp pieces.
- Buy crickets from a pet shop and let them loose in the coop!
FAQ
DIY chicken toys are easy to make using simple, safe items you already have around the house. Chickens love toys that move, make noise, or hide treats. Try hanging a cabbage or apple from a string, threading vegetable scraps onto a skewer, tossing a small mirror into the run, or repurposing a plastic bottle with holes cut out for scratch grains. Just make sure all materials are non-toxic, sturdy, and free of sharp edges.
Providing chickens with toys reduces boredom, bullying, and negative behavior. It also gives you healthier, more active chickens.
Chicken toys can help reduce egg eating, but they aren't a guaranteed cure. Egg eating often starts due to boredom, stress, overcrowding, or lack of stimulation. Providing chicken enrichment, such as treat balls, foraging boxes, dust baths, and swings, can keep hens mentally and physically occupied, which can lower the chances of boredom-related egg eating.
Final Thoughts
Chickens may not need much, but they need stimulation. A little chicken enrichment goes a long way toward keeping your flock happy, calm, and productive. Whether you buy a couple of treat toys or repurpose what you already have around the homestead, your chickens will appreciate it and reward you with better behavior and hopefully more eggs!
More Homesteading Posts
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Lori Ross says
I love this, I’m definitely gonna try some of these!
Hilda Sterner says
Thanks, Lori! My chickens are having a ball with their new toys!