Keeping your chickens happy isn’t just about food and shelter, it’s also about fun and enrichment.
Homemade chicken treats are a simple way to keep your flock entertained, boost their health, and strengthen your bond with them.
From frozen snacks that cool them down on hot days to hanging veggie feeders that encourage natural pecking, these DIY ideas turn treat time into playtime.
Each project uses easy, wholesome ingredients you likely already have at home.
#1. Hanging Flock Treat Ball
If your hens could request entertainment, this hanging treat ball would top their list.
Packed with seeds, grains, and nutritious bits, it’s secured in a sturdy mesh bag and hung just high enough to make pecking a fun challenge.
As the treat swings gently, the chickens get both exercise and enrichment while enjoying every bite.
It’s perfect for keeping them active on long afternoons or during winter confinement.
#2. DIY Cinder Block Chicken Snack Feeder
Why not turn an old cinder block into a practical and mess-free chicken treat station?
This clever feeder idea keeps snacks like black soldier fly larvae, sunflower seeds, or grit neatly contained while preventing spills.
Simply set the block on level ground and fill each hollow section with different treats or supplements.
#3. Frozen Corn Ring Treats
Frozen corn rings are a refreshing summer treat that keeps your chickens cool and entertained.
Made by freezing sweet corn kernels in donut molds filled with water, they create a tasty challenge as the ice slowly melts.
You can hang them in the run for a fun pecking game or place them in a shallow bowl for a cooling snack.
Also, the natural sweetness of corn makes these treats irresistible, while the cold texture helps chickens beat the heat in the most delightful way.
#4. Frozen Berry Herb Refreshers
Hot day in the coop? Give your chickens a cool treat that’s as pretty as it is refreshing.
Frozen berry herb refreshers are made by freezing chopped strawberries, mint, and other safe herbs into ice cubes, then floating them in a shallow dish of water.
The icy texture helps lower body temperature while providing natural hydration and nutrients.
#5. Festive Chicken Treat Ornaments
Who says holiday decorations are just for people? These charming treat ornaments turn the coop into a festive playground your flock will love.
Made by mixing chicken feed with a binding agent like gelatin or peanut butter, the mixture is shaped into balls and tied with bright ribbons before hanging.
As they sway, your hens get a tasty challenge while pecking away.
#6. Hanging Watermelon Snack Platform
This bright and clever feeding setup keeps snack time fun and clean for your flock.
The hanging platform, made from a sturdy wooden frame and wire mesh, swings gently as chickens peck at juicy slices of watermelon.
It helps keep fruit off the ground, reducing waste and pests, while the movement adds an entertaining challenge for your birds.
#7. Swinging Veggie Snack Station
This clever hanging snack setup turns ordinary veggies into a fun pecking challenge.
Fresh corn and cucumbers dangle from the tabletop, gently swinging as the flock pecks away.
Plus, the movement keeps the birds active and entertained while also promoting healthy eating.
#8. Hand-Fed Banana Treat Time
Ever tried sharing a snack with your flock? Chickens absolutely adore bananas, and this photo captures the simple joy of hand-feeding them.
Soft, sweet, and packed with potassium, bananas make a healthy occasional treat that your birds will eagerly peck at.
It’s also a fun bonding activity, especially for kids who love interacting with animals.
Just hold the banana firmly and let the hens take gentle bites, it’s surprisingly entertaining to watch.
#9. Hanging Pumpkin Pecking Toy
This playful hanging pumpkin feeder is a seasonal favorite that doubles as enrichment and nutrition for your chickens.
Simply carve a few openings into a fresh pumpkin, run some sturdy twine through the stem, and hang it at head height.
As it swings, the flock gets both exercise and a tasty challenge.
Pumpkins are full of vitamins, minerals, and natural antioxidants, making them a healthy snack choice.
#10. Hanging Seed Roll Treat Feeder
This fun DIY treat keeps your flock entertained while offering a healthy snack.
Made from a simple cardboard roll coated in peanut butter and rolled in mixed seeds or grains, it’s an easy way to create an engaging pecking toy.
Hang it from a string in the coop or run, just at head height for your hens.
As the feeder swings, it challenges them to peck and balance, reducing boredom and encouraging natural foraging.
#11. Hanging Cabbage Swing Treat Station
Wow, this clever setup turns snack time into playtime for your flock!
A simple head of cabbage tied to a string becomes a swinging treat toy that keeps chickens entertained while promoting exercise.
The A-frame perch beneath adds an extra layer of fun so hens can climb, balance, and peck from different angles.
#12. Hanging Corn Cob Feeder Rack
By stacking sliced corn cobs inside a hanging metal holder, you create a fun and functional feeder that keeps your flock entertained for hours.
The swinging motion makes pecking a little challenge, stimulating natural foraging instincts while providing a sweet, crunchy treat.
Corn is rich in carbohydrates, perfect for giving your hens extra energy during chilly days.
#13. Sunflower Seed Head Snack
If you grow sunflowers, don’t toss those seed heads, your chickens will thank you for saving them!
Once the flowers dry, they become natural feeding platters filled with nutritious seeds.
Simply cut them down and hand them over for pecking fun.
Moreover, the seeds are rich in protein and healthy fats that support glossy feathers and strong eggshells.
#14. Hanging Lettuce Feeder Tube for Chickens
Using a wire mesh tube or old suet cage, you can create a vertical snack station filled with leafy greens like kale, spinach, or lettuce.
Hanging it just above beak height encourages natural pecking behavior and helps reduce boredom in the coop.
It’s also a tidy way to feed greens without scattering them across the ground.
The gentle swinging motion makes it even more entertaining, keeping your flock active and happy.
#15. Frozen Veggie Block Treat
This frozen veggie block is the perfect way to cool them down while keeping snack time fun.
Simply mix chopped greens, tomatoes, berries, and seeds into water, then freeze it solid in a shallow dish.
Once unmolded, it becomes a colorful ice block packed with nutrients and hydration.
As it melts, the chickens peck through the ice to get the tasty bits inside.
#16. Fresh Wheatgrass Chicken Bar
Growing a tray of wheatgrass or barley sprouts is an easy way to give your chickens a boost of fresh greens, especially in winter when foraging is limited.
Simply sprout grains in a shallow tray for several days until they form a lush mat of green shoots, then place it in the run.
Chickens love pecking through the soft blades, and the roots stay intact longer for repeated munching.
#17. DIY Jar of Mealworm Delights
You can see a jar of dried mealworms is like candy for chickens, packed with protein and irresistible crunch.
Just twist open the lid, and watch your hens come running.
You can sprinkle a few directly onto the ground for foraging fun or use the jar as part of a reward routine for taming and training.
#18. Sweet Corn Feast for Happy Hens
Fresh corn on the cob makes a simple yet irresistible summer treat for backyard chickens.
It’s full of natural sugars, vitamins, and energy that keep your flock active and healthy.
You can serve it straight off the cob, mix it with grains, or even freeze it on hot days for a cool snack.
Chickens love pecking at the kernels, and it also encourages natural foraging behavior.
#19. Hanging Suet Ball Feeder
Need an easy way to keep your flock busy and well-fed? A hanging suet ball feeder does the trick beautifully.
Packed with seeds, grains, and natural fats, these suet balls offer both nutrition and entertainment.
Hanging them inside a wire cage keeps things tidy and adds a fun challenge as the chickens peck away at the treat.
#20. Frozen Fruit Cooling Snack Tray
These bright orange spheres could be apricots, persimmons, or even golden plums, all packed with natural sweetness and hydration.
Simply wash and freeze the fruits whole or halved in a shallow pan filled with water.
Once frozen solid, place the tray outside and let your flock peck and nibble to their hearts’ delight.
Plus, the fun of pecking at icy treats adds a bit of entertainment to their day.
#21. Chicken Fruit and Veggie Skewer Bar
If your hens love a good pecking challenge, this fruit and veggie skewer will keep them clucking with excitement.
Apples, strawberries, and crisp lettuce leaves are stacked along a sturdy stick or rod, creating a colorful, healthy feast that swings gently as they nibble.
It’s a brilliant way to use leftover produce while giving your flock a bit of exercise and enrichment.
Refer to: How to Build a Chicken Snack Patch
