15 Chicken Boredom Buster Ideas To Keep Them Entertained In Winter!

Winter blues got your chicken coop down? Those fluffy friends might be looking for some fun! Chickens get bored, especially during the long, cold winter months when they can’t roam around as much.

Now, what could be the best chicken boredom busters for them? You can offer toys, treats, a run area, a mirror, a chicken swing, Plants, dust baths, and more. These activities not only keep them busy but also help them stay healthy and lay more eggs.

Don’t worry, there is more you can do to keep your feathered friend entertained. By trying out some boredom busters, it’s a win-win for everyone involved.

Chicken Boredom Buster: Why Do They Need It?

Chickens are natural-born foragers. They spend most of their days scratching, pecking, and searching for food in the wild. This constant activity keeps them mentally stimulated and physically fit.

Here, boredom busters can play a big role for chickens during winter. Here’s how –

• Prevents Unhealthy Behaviors: Boredom can lead to destructive behaviors. For example – feather pecking, aggression towards other chickens, and even egg-eating. These can cause injuries and stress to your flock.
• Mental Stimulation: Boredom busters provide mental challenges that keep your chickens engaged and active. This helps prevent them from becoming listless and depressed.
• Promotes Physical Activity: Boredom busters can promote their physical activities. So, it encourages your chickens to move around. Call it physical exercise for their overall health and well-being.
• Happy Hens, Healthy Eggs: Happy and stimulated chickens are more likely to lay eggs consistently. Boredom can actually lead to a decrease in egg production.

How can you tell if a chicken is bored?

Your chickens won’t come right out and tell you they’re bored. But there are some telltale signs to watch for. 

• If you notice your chickens are pecking at themselves or each other excessively.
• When chickens stand around listlessly for long periods, they might be lacking mental stimulation.
• Chickens are having unusual clucking and cooing seems quieter.
• A sudden drop in egg production can sometimes be linked to boredom and lack of stimulation.

Here are some additional clues to consider:

Are they constantly looking for ways to escape the coop? This could signify they’re seeking more space and activities to explore.

Do they seem overly interested in you when you approach the coop? Excessive attention-seeking behavior indicates they’re looking for some entertainment.

How Do I Stop My Chickens from Boredom in the Winter?

With a little creativity and boredom-busting ideas, you can keep your chickens happy, healthy, and entertained. But what ideas to utilize during winter for chicken care? Here’s a list of boredom-busters for you!

1. Expand the Run Area

Winter can be tough on chickens, leading to boredom and stress due to limited space. Expanding their run area is a fantastic way to enhance their happiness.

A larger area allows chickens to indulge in their natural behaviors like roaming, scratching, and pecking, keeping them entertained.

The extended space increases their chances of enjoying the winter sun. It’s crucial for vitamin D and overall well-being.

A bigger run means more opportunities for chickens to forage. It keeps their minds active with the hunt for food and treats. More room helps minimize territorial behaviors, leading to a calmer, happier flock.

Related Article: Why Should I Free Range My Chickens

2. Construct a Chicken Jungle Gym

Winter can be boring for chickens, but you can make it fun by building them a jungle gym! Here’s what you need and how to do it.

What You’ll Need:

• Wood (for the posts and perches)
• Plywood (for platforms, but this is optional)
• Safe, clean branches
• Screws or nails
• Sandpaper
• Rope (if you want to hang toys)
• Tools like a drill, hammer, and maybe a saw

8 Steps to Build Jungle Gym for Chickens

1. Plan It Out: Draw your jungle gym idea. Think about how big your coop is and how many chickens you have. Try to make it with lots of levels and perches.
2. Make a Base: If you’re using plywood, cut a piece to make a stable bottom.
3. Build the Frame: Cut your wood to make the upright posts. Use screws or nails to put them together so they’re strong.
4. Perch: Attach your wood pieces and branches to the frame as perches. Place them at different heights.
5. Add Platforms: If you like, make platforms with plywood or branches for more space to rest and play.
6. Smooth Edges: Use sandpaper to make sure there are no sharp edges.
7. Decorate: Hang up some fun toys or treats with the rope.
8. Put It in Place: Make sure your jungle gym is stable in the coop or run area so it doesn’t fall over.

3. Install Perches, Ladders, and Roosts

Chickens are natural-born climbers and roosters. To keep them happy and healthy, providing them with perches, ladders, and roosts inside their coop is essential.

Perches

Bring variety! Install perches at different heights, offering resting spots and climbing opportunities. Use natural branches or rounded wood for comfortable gripping.

Aim for 1-2 inches in width, perfect for chicken feet.

Ladders

Ladders connect different levels within the coop, encouraging climbing and exploration. Secure them sturdily to the walls, creating a safe and fun pathway.

Roosts

This is where your chickens will sleep at night! Roosts should be higher than other perches, offering a sense of security. Similar to perches, use rounded wood or thick branches for comfortable roosting.

Hanging CDs as wind chimes can be a great idea as well!

4. Hanging a Treat-Filled Bag

Make a Pecking Piñata for your chickens to bust boredom! Here’s a simple way to keep them entertained and engaged:

What You Need?

• A cardboard box (about the size of a shoebox or bigger)
• Chicken-safe treats (like grains, veggies, or mealworms)
• String or rope
• Scissors (if needed)

How to Make It?

1. Put your chosen treats inside the cardboard box. Mixing in some crumpled paper makes it more challenging and fun.
2. Close the box well. Use staples or tape to make sure it stays shut.
3. Make two small holes at the top of the box. Pull the string or rope through these holes to make a loop.
4. Attach the Pecking Piñata to the coop where your chickens can reach it easily.

Additional Tips

• Try boxes of different sizes for variety.
• Use sturdy containers like plastic canisters with holes as a reusable option.
• Change up the treats and where you hang the Piñata to keep your chickens interested.

5. Incorporate Natural Debris

Natural debris is a boredom-buster winner. Reasons include –

1. Leaves, twigs, and branches in their coop make them feel like they’re in nature.
2. Hidden treats among the debris help their foraging behavior.
3. Scratching through leaves and twigs gives them exercise.
4. Use only natural materials, not stuff treated with chemicals.
5. Make sure the debris is big enough so they don’t swallow it.
6. Use dry and clean debris to avoid mold.

What debris can be great?

• Fallen leaves like oak or maple are great for scratching.
• Give them different shapes and sizes to climb and peck.
• Fill them with treats like mealworms for a fun challenge.
• Stuff debris with treats for a festive activity.

6. Introduce a Xylophone or Safe Instruments

How about trying brightly rainbow-colored xylophones or bird-safe instruments? It can be a great auditory enrichment. Just ensure they’re safe from pecking and avoid small parts that could be choking hazards.

Here is a video for you!

7. Create a Homemade Treat Ball Feeder

Upcycle a plastic container with holes punched in for a fun food dispenser. Fill it with treats and watch them work together to roll it around the coop, getting rewarded for their efforts.

8. Offer Frozen Treats

On a hot day, frozen fruits or herbs in their enclosure are a refreshing and stimulating way to keep them cool. Here are the tips –

• You can offer fruits like watermelon, strawberries, or grapes. Freeze them and hang them in the coop for pecking fun.
• Blend chicken-safe fruits and veggies. For example – watermelon, cabbage, cucumber, or bell peppers. Freeze them in molds, and add a stick for easier holding.
• Mix chopped herbs with water, and freeze them in cubes for a healthy treat.
• Tie fresh herbs together, and dunk them in water and chicken feed.
• Mix plain yogurt with water and freeze for a protein-rich snack.
• Freeze mealworms into ice cubes for a fun challenge.

Special Treat: Get creative and craft a block filled with their favorite treats like seeds, mealworms, and crushed grains. It’ll keep them busy pecking and foraging for delicious rewards.

The following video is a clear insight into hanging treats for chickens.

9. Add Mirrors for Reflection (Optional)

While some chickens find their reflections fascinating, be cautious of territorial aggression. Start with a small, shatterproof mirror and monitor their behavior.

10. Create a Confetti Ball

Fill a clear ornament or ball with colorful paper scraps. Hanging it in the coop provides a visually stimulating decoration and a tempting target for pecking.

11. Clear Snowy Paths for Exploration

If you live in a snowy climate, clear a path in their run for them to explore and exercise during winter. But be sure they don’t stay for too long. It can carry the risks of Frostbite in Chicken.

12. Designate Sunbathing or Dust Bath Areas

Chickens love sunshine! Create a designated area in the run with minimal obstructions for them to soak up the winter sun. It’s essential for their Vitamin D intake.

You can also provide a dust bath! It’s more than just fun for them to roll around in. Dust baths help chickens clean their feathers, fight off pests, and socialize with their coop mates.

To create a dust bath paradise, find a sunny spot, and fill it with sand or dirt (or both!). Make sure it’s big enough for them. Regularly refresh the dust with clean material to keep it working its magic.

13. Add Greenery to the Enclosure

Fresh herbs like parsley or basil planted in pots provide a tasty treat. Plus the smell they get is relaxing to lessen mental stress. So, a bit of green in their environment, especially during colder months is a blessing!

14. Set Up a Foraging Straw Bale

A whole or half bale of straw placed in the coop creates a natural digging and foraging paradise. Hide treats within for an extra challenge. You’ll help them to forage.

15. Social Hour (Optional)

While not directly related to physical or mental stimulation, supervised interaction with other chickens. But it’s from a safe distance that can provide social enrichment.

This is a separate consideration as it focuses on social interaction rather than boredom-busting activities.

Related Read: Heat Lamp For Baby Chicks

FAQs

Here you can get more related queries about chicken boredom busters. Get more things to care for chickens during winter.

Final Word

Ensuring your chickens are happy and healthy during winter is important. With 15 ideas of chicken boredom busters, they’ll be content. Not necessary to give all boredom busters,  but toys, treats, and some other activities that can keep them active always. These ideas provide mental stimulation, encourage movement, and make for a happy flock.

I prefer to offer healthy frozen treats. Besides, the roosting area and toys are something that makes my poultries always happy! You can go for the ideas as well.