Do you ever get bored from being stuck doing the same daily routine? Of course you do; we all do eventually. People need new things added to our lives or we tend to become bored and eventually depressed. Chickens are no different. You might think you need to provide wide open spaces for a chicken to be happy, and while that is ideal, not everyone can provide such space. However, there are a lot of fun toys and objects you can add that will stave off boredom and create a healthier, happier environment.
Chicken Perches & Toys
Chicken perches and chicken swings: they like being above it all. High perches make for a great guard tower and resting place. You can also add a fun element to their environment like a swing. The rhythmic movement can bring a lot of added entertainment to their day. Some may love it more than others, so don’t be surprised if you have a chicken that claims it as their personal throne. Additional ideas for perches and toys I found with a simple search include:
- A-Frame Roost
- Jungle Gym
- Rocking Chair Perch
- Treat Tunnel
- Rolling Treat Dispenser
- Shiny Toys or Mirrors
- Bells
Natural Preferences
Shrubs and bushes provide a protective understory from birds of prey and a place to hunt bugs. You can set up your chicken run to include them or plant a few inside their environment. Doing so also provides shaded areas for them to make dust ruts in the ground which are important for controlling parasites.
Speaking of dust, designating an area of the chicken run for dust baths not only helps prevent parasites, it’s also a fun and relaxing activity for chickens. Chickens can get stressed just like humans and a nice dust bath is a good way to decompress, similar to a day at the spa for us.
Stumps, chickens love being perched above the ground so they can see more and watch for danger. Stumps also provide a great place to forage for insects and grubs.
A compost box is another great place for chickens to forage for insects among other organic material and will also help turn over the compost. They will also add to it, creating a richer and faster compositing site.
Hang Fresh Foods
Stringing up fruits or veggies like cabbages, cut squash or pumpkin, apples, and stone fruits make for great healthy treats. With all animals, variety in diet is not only important for physical health but is a factor in overall happiness. Eating the same food every day is boring, right? Why not spruce up your chickens’ diet. You can also save scarps of fruit and vegetables when you cook and throw the scraps in the chicken run. It’s a great way to add some flavor to their lives and helps compost waste. It can also in turn make for heartier eggs or richer meat. Hanging food also provides a bit of entertainment that can stave off boredom as well.
Add a Chicken Run
Create a run. I mentioned the term “chicken run” before when referring to a designated area for your chickens. A run is simply an enclosure where the chickens can roam free, forage for food, and get space from each other and wander or “run” if they desire. It’s also a great way to separate your yard from theirs. An area that is their own to control and where they can make a mess without you worrying about damage to your gardens.
