Yes, I said “chicken toys.” I know. It’s ridiculous. However, it seems to be a growing industry. Why didn’t I think of it? I ask myself this question every day. As your chickens stabilize (which for me means they stop dying), I guess it’s time for us to climb Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (see Mom, I did learn something in college). Chickens begin to need “things.” Ok, somebody’s chickens need things anyway. I don’t think mine are that smart.
The first chicken accessory I saw was a chicken sweater. Uh huh….a sweater for your chicken. It popped up on an advertisement while I was on Facebook as an “item you might like.”
I do like it. But I’m not paying $14 for one. Or rather $112 for eight of them. I mean, how could you single out one chicken with a sweater? That’s like saying, “Hey? You up there, Mr. Hawk! Please eat ME! I’m wearing a really cute, bright sweater.” Not the best plan.
Next, I read about cabbage toys. Apparently, chickens get really bored in the winter. This was a HUGE news flash to me. First of all, I’m really curious about the people that sit around and watch their chickens all day and determine they’re bored. I peek at my chickens occasionally during the day, and never have I seen one twiddling her thumbs….or claws…or whatever. They eat, drink, poop, lay eggs and roost. That pretty much sums it up.
But after I read it over and over, I started to feel guilty. Maybe they’re out there in the coop just praying for a little fun. So I did what the books said: I went to the grocery store, bought some cabbage, chopped it in half and hung it from the top of the chicken coop with a string. Sounds like something a chicken would like, right? Well….not my chickens. They just sat, stared at me and blinked. That’s all I got. And I tried it twice.
Sounds like I’m pretty negative on the chicken toys, doesn’t it? I was a total non-believer until I saw….the Chicken Swing, the best chicken toy EVER No matter how silly it sounds, I swear that in every advertisement I’ve ever seen with a chicken in a swing, that chicken looks ecstatic. If a chicken could smile, it would be doing just that while swinging happily back and forth. Seriously…Google it. You’ll see the look of pure joy. I will be investing in one of these very soon. Do you think the eggs taste better when they get a daily ride on the swing? Can’t hurt, right?
So to summarize my thoughts on chicken toys: they are totally adorable but they are totally for you, not the chicken. As long as you realize that, go crazy. Buy eight chicken sweaters. Knock yourself out. And if you do, would you please, please, PLEASE send me a video of you putting the sweater on the chicken? That, my friends, would be entertaining.
Hugs and blessings always,
LITTLE JEN in the BIG WOODS
Always enjoy your blogs. Want to see pictures when your chickens get their swing.
I’d also like to see pictures of your chickens on the swing. 😀 Love your blog btw.