Chicken | Swings | DIY | Frugal | Simple| Project | They're

Chicken swings…a simple and frugal DIY project. Who knew that chicken swings were a thing? I sure didn’t at first. But when I saw them, I just knew I had to make them for our chickens. Truth be told, I giggled most of the time that I was making them, because the concept is just so funny. I was also recalling a conversation I had with one of my daughters-in-law. I told her I was going to make a chicken swing. Her first response….”I didn’t know chickens knew how to swing”. LOL, gotta love her!! Though her thought was kind of right.

The chickens don’t sit on the swing and pump their legs back and forth to achieve a swinging motion (well, at least not while I was watching them…LOL!!). They actually perch on the swing. It elevates them off the ground, which they enjoy. So this was an exciting concept to me and I hoped for our chickens as well.

I couldn’t wait to finish the swings and rush to the chicken coop just to put one of our fluffy butt friends onto their new perch. Seriously folks, your life has to have this much fun in it!

Chicken swings aren’t just for chickens

Full disclosure…even though I made these for our chickens, the swings would also work for pet birds inside your home or for the feathered friends in your yard. Ooooo, now I have an excuse to make another swing for my favorite cardinals and mourning dove visitors in our front yard!

How this chicken swing idea came to be a DIY project for me…

It all started when I saw an ad selling chicken swings` for $17.95….say whaaaaaat? Totally adorable, but too much money for wood, rope and beads. I knew I could make them cheaper. And so the challenge began.

And ad for a premade chicken swing for $17.95

Searching for items to DIY a chicken swing…

My creative, yet frugal mind was hard at work as I perused our local Dollar Tree store. Sadly, the selections were poor and limited at the location closest to my home. So, I drove over an hour away to another Dollar Tree location. So glad I did, because they had a much better inventory for me to choose from. Though I still had to get a bit creative with items I knew I needed, but couldn’t find at either store. (Items I purchased are shown below)

Basic supplies were a fairly narrow…yet flat wooden perch, rope to hang the swings with, wooden beads and carabiner clips to join everything together and hang the swings.

Items I purchased to make the frugal chicken swings…

The cost to purchase the items for these 2 swings was approximately $9.00 (1 package of rope, 2 packages of carabiners, 2 packages of ponytail holders, and 4 wooden arrow shapes). Basically a total cost per swing…was about $4.50-such a deal! And, I still have some supplies leftover for other projects. In times like this, I’m so proud of my frugal and creative mind!

DIY also means getting creative…especially when searching for items to make chicken swings.

Since I could not find wood beads with holes in them at the store, I had to get creative. I’m pretty proud of myself for this ingenious idea….ponytail holders!! Sssssshhhh, I actually opened the package of rope in the store and pushed the end of the rope through one of the ponytail beads to make sure it would fit. Success, it did fit!

Note: I do not normally open packages in stores. And yes, I did purchase the package I opened.

Here’s the instructions for making my simple and frugal DIY version of chicken swings…

Step 1 to a frugal DIY chicken swing…

Remove the staples and the twine from the wood arrow shapes.

Remove the twine and staples from the wood arrow shapes

Step 2

Remove the UPC sticker from the wood arrows

Step 3

Apply permanent adhesive glue to one side of one arrow.

Apply liquid adhesive glue to one side of one wood arrow shape

Step 4

Apply hot glue to one side of the other arrow. Quickly put the two glued sides of the wood arrows together and hold in place until set.

Apply hot glue to one side of a another wood arrow shape

Note: The adhesive makes a permanent set, but it takes longer to dry and adhere. So, the hot glue assists with a quicker set that helps speed the process. This gives you time to finish the remainder of the project without waiting for the glue to dry.

Step 5-frugal DIY chicken swing tip-don’t waste anything!

Secure by wrapping the twine that was removed earlier and glue it in place. As you know, I don’t waste anything, so this is a good way to use that small portion of discarded twine.

Use the discarded twine to wrap around and secure the arrows-waste not!

Step 6

Use additional twine to wrap the arrows. This gives the project a stronger, more finished look. It also gives the chickens something to grab onto, so that they feel more secure when they are on the swing.

Wrap twine around the arrows for additional stability and a finished look

Step 7

Cut the rope into the length needed to hang from your desired location. Be sure that it is one full piece that is long enough to hang down, go under the wooden arrows and back up to the top again. You will need 2 lengths of rope for each swing-one for each end of the swing.

I made 2 swings for our chickens. One swing hung down approximately 4 feet and the other approximately 3 feet-including the lengths of rope and the carabiner length. Suffice to say, I used the entire package of rope for the 2 swings.

Step 8-another frugal DIY tip

Cut the elastic cord from the ponytail holders and remove the beads. Note: Save the elastic pieces for a use below to tie the ropes together along the sides of the swings. Again, I don’t waste anything. so yes…I used and saved the cut elastic pieces.

Ponytail holder beads work well in place of wood beads-the elastics will also be used

Step 9

Thread the bead portions of the ponytail holders onto the rope. Use as many beads as you like. I used 6 beads on each length of rope-3 on each side of the wood…for a total of 12 beads on each swing. I used the entire package of ponytail holders.

You will see how the beads are separated in the next step.

Step 10

Place the center of the rope length on the bottom of the wood arrow, leaving 3 beads on each side of the arrow. Glue the rope into place at the bottom of the arrow using the permanent adhesive and the hot glue.

Note: When using a hot glue gun, please get yourself some finger protectors (as I’m wearing below). They will save you a world of hurt from hot glue burns. I’m almost embarrassed to say how often I have burned my fingers with hot glue every single time I crafted. Seriously, every…single…time I used a hot glue gun, I burned myself…until I started wearing these protectors.

Use adhesive glue and hot glue to secure the rope onto the base of the chicken swing

My new glue gun came with finger protectors. But here is a link to others, if you are interested. I have not used these particular ones, so I can’t say they are the best…but some protection to your fingers from hot glue is better than none! https://www.dollartree.com/crafters-square-silicone-finger-protectors-3ct-packs/281436

Step 11

Bring the other end of the rope and beads upwards. Using the elastic pieces from the ponytail holders, tie the two lengths of rope together above the beads. Secure the rope to the side of the arrow near the twine with glue for extra stability and to keep the flat portion of the swing from rolling. Continue to tie the elastic pieces around the ropes joining them together about every 12 inches or so up to the top. This keeps the ropes together so the chickens don’t get caught in-between the ropes.

Tie the ropes together above the beads using the discarded ponytail elastics

Step 12

As with the steps above, do the same thing with the beads and rope at the other end of the arrow. So the swing is equal in rope length, beads and stability at each end.

Repeat for the other side of the chicken swing

Step 13

Using the carabiner clips…loop both ends of the rope on one side of the swing through the carabiner clip. Fold the ends of the rope and glue them together. Wrap twine around the rope ends for a finished look and additional stability as shown in the two photos below. Repeat for the other side of the swing.

The carabiners used to hang the chicken swings

Loop the rope through the carabiner, glue the rope ends together and wrap with twine for a secure and finished look

Step 14-time to hang the frugal DIY chicken swings

Using the carabiner clips, hang the swings from your desired location…making sure to be of a height that is easily accessible for the chickens to reach from the ground.

One chicken swing hanging in the chicken coop

The other chicken swing hanging in the chicken coop

Step 15

Place a chicken onto the swing to show her how fun it is to have a pretty and safe place to perch above the ground.

One of our chickens sitting on the chicken swing

Step 16-time to enjoy the frugal DIY chicken swings…

Taaa Daaah, the frugal DIY chicken swing project is complete! Sit back and enjoy watching your chickens have fun on their new perch!

Close-up of a chicken sitting on the chicken swing I made

In closing…

As my favorite coffee mug says…Life is better with chickens! And in my opinion, even better with chickens on swings!

My favorite coffee mug from @DollarGeneral

Now that I’ve made these simple frugal DIY versions of chicken swings and learned from them, I plan to make them even better. I shall find other ways using the power tools in my husband’s work shop to drill holes for the rope vs. using glue. I’d also like to use boards and branches around our house for more frugal and resourceful versions. Which also means…I also need to work on my knot tying skills. LOL! Stay tuned!

Thanks for taking the time to read this blog. Please share with others and help me build my following.

Take care folks. Be safe. Virtual hugs.

Chauncey

For more chicken blogging fun…

https://frugalanddelicious.com/category/pandemic-positives/

https://frugalanddelicious.com/category/chicken-feeder/

Chicken Swings…they’re a thing! Simple and frugal DIY project