Background information

The hen pecker is an old traditional design that was popular in both the victorian era and throughout the 20th century.  

Simple and portable, it presents scientific principles in a fun way. Based on the principles of levers and motion, the wooden hens would peck the ground as the movement of the weight below pulled their strings.

An unsophisticated design, it was cheap and easy to make from wood. It soon became one of the most common home-made toys in 20th century britain, with children often carrying them around in their pockets.