Backyard chickens continue to increase in popularity, and here's a roundup of gift ideas that are sure to please someone who loves chickens. You'll find unique ideas for a friend, coworker, family member or for a white elephant gift-exchange.
Gift Ideas for People Who Love Chickens
Chickens are often referred to as "gateway livestock." They are often one of the first animals a new homesteader or urban gardener/farmer brings home.
Then most chicken keepers are struck with a phenomenon known as "chicken math" where the poultry keeper doesn't know (or won't admit) how many birds are really in their coop.
Because more is better, right?!
The number of backyard chickens has risen incredibly in the US in the past few years.
No numbers exist on the current population of chickens kept as pets, but online communities such as Backyard Chickens are booming. Backyard Chickens has grown in membership from about 25,000 people in 2009 to over 400,000 today.
Likewise McMurray Hatchery, one of the largest poultry hatcheries in the US, reported that it sold 1.7 million chicks in 2009 and 3 million in 2016. Feed stores, farm supply chains and even pet stores also sell chicks in the spring and often in the fall as well.
The American Pet Producers Association estimates that roughly 10% of American households had chickens in 2018, and that the trend seems to be increasing in popularity.
That's a lot of chickens - and a lot of chicken lovers!
Chicken-loving gift list
So chances are - especially since you're here reading this post - you know someone who has chickens and/or someone loves chickens. Maybe that person is you, or maybe it's your spouse, a relative, a coworker, or your best friend.
If you're looking for holiday gift ideas for that person, look no further than their love for chickens.
Chicken items abound these days, in an assortment of items for the home, for the chicken lover, or for their birds.
I've gathered together a number of items for your consideration. I hope you'll find the perfect gift idea!
You can read my disclosure here.
Home goods that feature chickens
Whether or not your chicken-loving friend actually has poultry in their backyard or homestead, the farmhouse decorating trend is still hot and chickens are a big part of that.
Chicken-themed items for the kitchen are extremely popular, such as this set of chicken measuring spoons.
Sometimes you just need a "little something" as a gift for someone, and this coffee cup will fit that need. If the recipient isn't necessarily a coffee drinker, remember that hot cocoa and other drinks are just as much fun.
You'll find chickens on kitchen towels and Swedish dishcloths too. Believe me, you can never have too many dish towels with chickens on them.
Fresh eggs - you've got 'em, so flaunt 'em
Your chicken-loving friend might or might not have eggs for sale, but this sign would be perfect to hang on the front gate if they have eggs for sale at $3.00 per dozen.
What to do with those eggs - carrying, storing and using
Of course, your chicken-loving friend (or you) will need someplace to put all those eggs, even if the eggs might be from the grocery store or farmer's market.
This cute chicken basket will make gathering eggs from the coop safer as well as delightful. No more dropped and broken eggs! It would be very cute on the counter of a farmhouse kitchen too.
This spiral egg holder, or egg skelter, keeps eggs in date order, with the oldest eggs at the bottom so they are used first.
And how about a cookbook of egg recipes? Lisa Steele, the blogger behind Fresh Eggs Daily®, has written The Fresh Eggs Daily Cookbook: Over 100 Fabulous Recipes to Use Eggs in Unexpected Ways. You'll inspire your chicken lover to put all those eggs to delicious use!
Calendars, cards and notepads
With this Extraordinary Chickens 2024 calendar, you'll be treated to some of the most unusual and beautiful chickens each and every month.
Do you ever wonder if chickens have names for each other? Melissa Caughey of Tilly's Nest answers this and other questions in her book, How to Speak Chicken: Why Your Chickens Do What They Do & Say What They Say.
This cute chicken 4"x6" sticky notepad will help keep track of your chicken lover's To Do list in a fun way. Rise and shine and get to it!
These chicken notecards are blank inside and can be used for any occasion. Each 4" x 5.12" card in this General Tso's collection features a lovely image of a spectacular rooster. The box contains 10 cards and includes a red envelope for each card.
The Card-A-Doodle-Do note card collection from the same company features vintage style chickens on blank cards with white envelopes.
Gifts for the chickens
Chicken moms and dads need equipment for their birds too, so don't overlook a new waterer or other item as a gift idea.
Or choose something that the recipient might not splurge on, or a fun treat for her (or his) chickens.
Here are the basic items your friend's chickens need in their coop.
A 7-gallon waterer so you don't have to fill it as often! Since my coop is far from our water spigot I have to haul water, so this is a real step-saver for me.
But it was a splurge item that I'd put off for quite a long time, one that I'm really glad I finally bought for myself.
I also have a 3-gallon waterer, so I can have ten gallons of water available for my girls. That's invaluable in our very-hot summers.
By the way, I discovered a simple way to keep my chickens' water from freezing during the winter. Not only is my coop far from the water spigot, it's also too far away from the house to run electricity, so I can't use an electric heat source to keep their water thawed.
You'll find my solution and the rest of my winter chicken-keeping tips here.
The lack of electricity also means I don't have lights in my coop. This is by design, because I don't like my coop over the winter to push the hens into laying all year round. I think their bodies need a rest.
But with the short winter days, it's often rather dark in the coop when I shut the girls in for the night. This solar coop light would sure be helpful - with just enough to do the evening chores. (It's on my wishlist!)
Your favorite flock of chickens would love a snack of black soldier fly larvae, especially this time of year when bugs are scarce.
Black soldier fly larvae are especially rich in calcium, with 75% more calcium than mealworms. They'll help chickens grow strong feathers - especially important during molting season - and produce hard-shelled eggs.
I have a special savings code for you when you order black soldier fly larvae from GrubTerra. They offer free shipping, plus if you use the code OHH at checkout you'll save 10%.
GrubTerra's black soldier fly larvae are grown in the USA and Canada. Every pound of larvae produced saves 20 pounds of food waste from entering our landfills.
Chicken apparel - chickens you can wear!
Your favorite chicken lover might appreciate a pair of Sloggers chicken boots when the weather is cold, muddy or snowy.
Sloggers are great to wear in the chicken coop, garden or barn and can be hosed off if needed. Mine still look great after several years.
Choose boots or shoes in barn red or daffodil yellow with cute chicken prints.
This casual t-shirt is adorable, and it's available in several colors and additional prints.
Chicken socks are fun to give and fun to wear, great as a stocking stuffer or "gag gift" too.
These fun earrings are sure to make your chicken lover happy.
Chicken fun for kids
You know chickens are popular when even Barbie has some! This Barbie chicken farmer playset includes a chicken coop/henhouse, 3 chickens and 2 chicks.
This play set from Schleich will be fun for all farm kids aged 3-9 years old. It includes a chicken coop and run, rooster and hen, 2 chicks, nest and eggs.
The fluffy, soft faux feathers on this stuffed toy chicken are adorable. Every child needs a chicken to hug.
Kids love puzzles, and this 100-piece rooster jigsaw puzzle is perfect for kids aged 5 and older. The oversized pieces are easy to handle, and the puzzle includes some fun, educational facts about chickens too.
Did you find some great ideas on this list? Share this list with your chicken-loving friends (you could even drop a hint if there's something you want).
You can find everything you want to know about keeping chickens here, plus a list of chicken FAQs.
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