Gifts for Chicken Lovers (That Backyard Keepers Actually Use)
The best gifts for chicken people save a daily chore or make egg time more fun. Here are the ones keepers use every day, from big upgrades to stocking stuffers.
Top Picks (At a Glance)
Quick links to the products we recommend in this guide. Prices shown on Amazon at click-through.
NyPots Solar Coop Door
Solar-charged internal battery; timer and light-sensor modes, per the listing. Details below.
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Premier 1 Heated Waterer
100 W element, on below 40°F and off at 60°F; nipple drinkers and a hinged quick-fill cap, per the listing. Details below.
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Toplife Egg Skelter
Rotating spiral rack that holds 3 dozen eggs on the counter, per the listing. Details below.
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Storey's Guide, 4th Ed.
The classic reference on breeds, housing, feeding and flock health. Details below.
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RANZ Dried Mealworms
Whole dried mealworms; a high-protein treat hens rush for. Keep treats to a small share of the diet. Details below.
Check Price on Amazon →Big gifts that save a daily chore
Saves a chore daily
NyPots Solar Automatic Coop Door (model CD04)
Letting hens out at dawn and shutting them in at dusk is the chore that ties a chicken keeper to home. An automatic door does it on a timer or light sensor. Our coop door guide compares battery and solar models.
Why it made the list
- Ends the dawn and dusk trips
- Solar, no wiring
What to watch
- Still check at dusk that every hen is in
Best for winter
Premier 1 All-Season Heated Poultry Waterer, 3 Gallon
Breaking ice on the waterer every morning is the worst chore of winter. A heated waterer keeps water open on its own. More in our heated waterer guide.
Why it made the list
- Ends ice-breaking
- Nipples keep water clean
What to watch
- Needs power at the coop
Cuts feed waste
Grandpa's Feeders Automatic Treadle Feeder, 20 lb
A treadle feeder opens only when a hen steps on the plate, which keeps out wild birds and most rodents. See our feeder guide.
Why it made the list
- Less feed waste
- Fewer rodents
What to watch
- Hens need a few days to learn it
Small gifts and stocking stuffers
Best for the kitchen
Toplife Spiral Egg Skelter
A spiral rack that rolls eggs forward so the oldest get used first, and shows off the morning's colors on the counter.
Why it made the list
- Rotates oldest eggs to the front
- Looks good on a counter
What to watch
- Unwashed eggs only keep on the counter; washed eggs belong in the fridge
Egg gathering
Farmhouse Wire Egg Basket
A wire basket for the daily egg run. Simple, inexpensive and used every day.
Why it made the list
- Used daily
- Inexpensive
What to watch
- Line it with a cloth for fragile shells
Best book
Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens, 4th Edition
The standard reference shelf book for backyard flocks, good for both new keepers and people who have kept hens for years.
Why it made the list
- Covers nearly every question
What to watch
- Dense; it's a reference, not a quick read
Best stocking stuffer
RANZ Dried Mealworms, 2 lb
Hens will follow whoever holds the bag. Treats are just that, though: keep treats and scratch to roughly 10 to 15% of the diet so hens still eat their layer feed. See our feed guide.
Why it made the list
- Every flock loves them
What to watch
- A treat, not a feed
Quick gift picker
| If they... | Give |
|---|---|
| Hate getting up at dawn to let hens out | Automatic coop door |
| Live where water freezes | Heated waterer |
| Complain about rats or wasted feed | Treadle feeder |
| Are new to chickens | Storey's Guide |
| Have everything | Egg skelter, egg basket or mealworms |
Getting someone started with chickens? Our beginner's guide covers the full gear list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you get someone who raises chickens?
Something that saves a daily chore: an automatic coop door, a heated waterer for winter, or a treadle feeder. Smaller gifts that get used every day include an egg skelter, an egg basket and a bag of dried mealworms.
Are mealworms good for chickens?
As a treat, yes. Keep treats and scratch to roughly 10 to 15% of the diet so hens still get complete nutrition from layer feed.
What is a good gift for a new chicken owner?
A good reference book like Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens, plus a practical item they will use daily, such as an egg basket or a covered feeder.
Sources
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