Halloween is around the corner and the Rahimi household is gearing up for the spooktacular Halloween festivities.
For me, Halloween is among my top 5 holidays, although I’m a big scaredy-cat. By the time I arrived in the United States, I was already too old to trick or treat – meaning I’d never truly experienced the boundless joys of taking home a bucket-full of candy or pumpkin carving. But nevertheless, my children will be sure to experience these joys, even if I hadn’t… And by my children, I mean my chickens!
If you have or raise chickens, be sure to incorporate your flock into the halloween festivities in these creative and ‘egg-citing’ ways:
Pumpkin Carving Fun with Chickens
As Seen on #ChickTok, this chicken pumpkin carving trend is actually so wholesome and fun for everyone involved. And the best part? Not only is it low-effort, but the chickens will be obsessed and enriched for daaaayyyss…
Step One: Selecting the right Pumpkins
Chickens have tough beaks, but some pumpkins have even tougher skins. When selecting a pumpkin, especially for your youngins – do a scratch test with your fingernails to make sure that your chickens wont have a hard time pumpkin pecking.
Don’t complicate things any further – just step up to the pumpkin patch at your local grocery store and pick out the one you like the most. I was lucky to find a massive pumpkin this year for $1.45 at my local Aldi (I went back and bought more – my chickens will be enjoying pumpkin carving well into November!)
Step Two: Stabby-stab Your Anger Out
After giving it a thorough washing. Go to town like you’re Michael Myers and stab the pumpkin with a fork. Let all your anger out! The indents from the fork will give the chicken beaks something to grab on to. You can help your feathered friends further by grabbing a knife and “peeling” the jack-o-lantern’s face.
Final Step: Let the Chickens do the Work!
Don’t expect your chickens to warmly embrace your jack-o-lantern with open arms. Once you take it outside, you may have to prove to your chickens that the pumpkin is for their pecking. Mimick the pecking with your fingers, tapping loudly with your fingernails near the fleshy part of the pumpkin – or place some of their feed/treats in the ridges to encourage pecking.
But that’s it! Once they get the hang of it, your chicken friends will have endless entertainment and enrichment for days to come! Once satisfied, you can take your jack-o-lantern, and put it on display – or let the chickens eat away the whole thing!
Cute Halloween outfits for Chickens
Can chickens wear Halloween costumes too? I didn’t think it was possible, but in the wise words of 2011 Justin Bieber – “never say never.”
After some deep ADHD-fueled Amazon-searching, I found a few cute, but most importantly, safe, halloween costumes for Chickens:
Caution: Chickens at work!
$19.99 on Amazon
These adjustable high-visibility vests are not only a fun Halloween costume but are very functional too. Keep them around to protect your chicken from excessive pecking, it'll even fit your small dog for visibility during a late night walk.
$8.99 on Amazon
Combine the sign with the costume... there, you've got a theme!
Classy Ladies and Classy Looks:
From $8.99 on Amazon
The ladies are off to church! These tiny hats look cute and come in a variety of colors and styles. Just be careful not to irritate the chickens by having them on for too long. (Just long enough to snap some pics, please!)
$11.99 on Amazon
For the cottage-core lovers: These chicken aprons protect them from rough peckers and roosters, but they're too adorable not to use as a halloween costume, too!
Conclusion
Incorporating your chickadees into your homestead’s Halloween celebrations is a really cute idea that adds a ton of fun and creativity to the spooky season. From dressing up your chickens in adorable Halloween costumes to creating a festive coop atmosphere and pumpkin carving, these Halloween activities for chickens are a must-try for any homesteader. Remember to prioritize your chickens’ safety and comfort.
Happy Halloween!
