Chicken Enrichment Ideas to Keep Your Flock Happy

We all want our chickens to live their best lives — not just fed and safe, but truly happy. That’s where enrichment comes in! Enrichment is simply finding ways to let your hens do what they naturally love most: peck, scratch, forage, perch, and explore.

Without enough stimulation, chickens can get bored… and bored chickens often turn to bad behaviors like screaming, bullying, and even egg eating. Luckily, it doesn’t take much to keep your flock busy and content. With a few fun additions to your coop and run, you’ll have healthier, calmer hens — and endless entertainment watching their antics!

Why Enrichment Matters

Adding enrichment isn’t just about spoiling your flock (okay, maybe it is a little 😉) — it’s about giving them outlets for natural behaviors. Benefits include:
✅ Less aggression, pecking, and resource guarding
✅ Happier, healthier hens with stronger immune systems due to lower stress
✅ Fewer noise complaints (busy hens are quieter hens!)
✅ Pure chicken-keeper joy watching your birds have fun

Safety First

Chickens are curious and will peck at just about anything, so keep these safety tips in mind:
🚫 Skip junk food or anything too salty, sugary, or greasy
🚫 Avoid avocado, citrus, chocolate, onions, coffee, and nightshade plants
🚫 Don’t give grass clippings or yard waste treated with pesticides
✅ Always double-check toys for sharp edges, loose strings, or unstable perches

Fun Enrichment Ideas for Your Flock

Here are some simple, budget-friendly enrichment activities your hens will love. Tip: make sure you rotate these enrichment items every month or so - chickens will get bored with each one after a while. 

We created our monthly Flock Box subscription box to include a new enrichment toy or treat every single month to make providing enrichment easy!

Treat Block – Keeps hens busy pecking for goodies instead of each other. (DIY with suet in winter or frozen fruit in summer!)

Hanging Treats – String up veggies or greens like a “chicken tetherball.” 

Chicken Swing – Adorable and practical; just make sure it’s sturdy and low to the ground to encourage your birds to use it.

Mirror Time – Hens are surprisingly fascinated with their own reflections.

Seed Sprouts – Protected trays of sprouts let your hens graze fresh greens without tearing everything up.

Logs, Stumps & Perches – Simple, natural places to climb up and roost.

Chunnels (Chicken Tunnels) – Encourage exploring instincts with play tunnels or covered wire runs, if free ranging is not an option. 

Hanging Tree Branches – A great wintertime “forest” for hiding and scratching in winter, and a source of extra shade in summer.

Yard Waste Piles – Leaves, mulch, or alfalfa hay = scratch heaven. Grass clippings are a popular choice, but they do come with risk of crop impaction if your chickens eat it.

Enrichment doesn’t need to be fancy — most of the best ideas are free or easy DIY projects. A little creativity goes a long way in keeping your flock entertained, calm, and healthy.

So, whether you give your hens a swing, a foraging toy, or just a pile of autumn leaves, you’ll not only improve their day, but yours too. Because let’s be real: watching happy chickens is one of life’s simple joys. 🥰

Happy chicken keeping!