Sponsored Post Backyard chickens are a kid's best friend

[Sylvester017]

Yeah they are past laying age and it is a farm... so pet or no pet they all go. And good riddance to those leghorns too. Worst mistake anyone ever made was to buy themselves one of the brown ones, though any color is just bad.

As a kid all I ever knew were white Babcock Leghorns on Mom's farm so when I started backyard chickeneering I added a White Leghorn pullet. She was hatched and raised by 4H teens so she was somewhat tame when we acquired her. She was a kind alpha to our two Silkies for 3 years and put the mean Marans in her place but eventually our sweet White Leg went bonkers as we added more hens to the flock so we re-homed her after trying to give her a chance to settle down. We also re-homed the Buff Leghorns who were even more aggressive which surprised us -- we were hoping they would be calmer but no such luck. My DH found a place to re-home them all since the Legs were all good layers.

Now, I just want a peaceful backyard mix. I loved our Ameraucana with her pretty blue eggs but we lost her last year from complications brought on by our horrible heatwave. She was just too heavily underdowned and never fared well in our humid climate. We recently lost our sweet Black Silkie to ovarian cancer and lost our beautiful gentle Blue Bredas but our Cuckoo Breda seems to be a hardier variety and still with us. 3 new Dominique chicks will soon be big enough to transfer outside permanently with the two adult hens we have left -- a Cuckoo Breda and older Partridge Silkie.

61/2 year-old Partridge Silkie

Year-old Cuckoo Breda (tassle crest, feathered legs/toes)

2-month-old Dominique chicks - very pesty-friendly breed

 

[shawthorne44]

When I was first considering chickens a mom friend of mine said, "Get Chickens only if you want your child injured". Fortunately, I didn't listen to her. Her family had chickens when she was growing up, and apparently they were aggressive and drew blood from her when she was little. Of course, her mom wasn't the best. A stray dog crawled under their house and died. Its body was never removed, and stunk up the neighborhood for a long time.

 

[Xlcandylx]

4 Tips for raising chickens and children in one happy backyard.
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Peanut butter and jelly. Milk and cookies. Macaroni and cheese. Some things are just better together. The same holds true for kids and their pets.

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Pets provide unforgettable memories – from greetings at the front door to backyard adventures. Today, these family moments are made with an unconventional pet: backyard chickens.

“Chickens are popular urban and rural pets, providing benefits for the entire family,” says Patrick Biggs, Ph.D., a flock nutritionist for Purina Animal Nutrition. “Kids love chickens because they are friendly and filled with personality. Parents value the lessons they teach about responsibility and where food comes from.”

Here are four tips if you are considering a family flock:

1. Choose a kid-friendly breed

Just like kids, each chicken has a unique personality. There are a few chicken breeds that are especially patient with children.

Silkies, often called the lap dog of chickens, are a top choice for families looking for affectionate birds. They have a sweet and caring nature, with soft, fuzzy feathers. Orpingtons and Plymouth Rocks are quiet, gentle birds and can lay up to 300 brown eggs per year. Other kid-friendly chicken breeds include: Cochins, Brahmas, Australorps, Polish and the colored egg-laying Easter Eggers.

“If you have kids, these are all good starter breeds,” says Biggs. “They typically have mild temperaments and enjoy human company. No matter the breed, start with four to six chicks and teach children how to handle and care for them. As you grow in your chicken journey, consider adding other breeds to your flock.”

2. Celebrate each milestone

Once you choose a breed, you’re in for many fun milestones as chickens grow quickly. Be sure to celebrate each moment as shown in this list from Purina Poultry Facebook fan Kathy Evans and her granddaughter Tensley:

• Pick out chicks together
• Learn how to hold chicks gently
• Name your new chicks
• Watch them grow through the teenage stage
• Build the perfect coop
• Run out in the morning to check for the first egg
• Celebrate the first egg at week 18

“Tensley’s chicks quickly became some of her best friends,” says Kathy. “We’ve collected at least 200 eggs. She’s as excited about them laying eggs today as when they first started.”

3. Practice safe and healthy handling

Raising chickens can also teach about the importance of biosecurity. Kids learn valuable lessons to keep their birds and themselves safe and healthy.

Biggs recommends these three tips:

• Wash hands thoroughly before and after collecting eggs or working with birds.
• Wear clean clothes and wash shoes with disinfectant before spending time with birds. Consider providing your kids with “chicken shoes” they only wear out to the coop.
• Clean and disinfect equipment, including any tools that come in contact with your birds or their droppings.

4. Make daily caretaking fun

“Daily chicken chores can be fun and rewarding,” says Biggs. “A hen produces about one egg each day, so it’s quick to see the results. Kids can help care for the birds and see their work pay off with farm fresh eggs.”

Dana Adkins, a mom in North Carolina, says raising a mixed poultry flock has brought her family together through shared responsibility.

“We started raising chickens, ducks and geese because I wanted my kids to learn where their food comes from,” says Dana. “The kids help with everything, from cleaning the coop to collecting eggs. We enjoy each step of the way together, from hatching chicks to having fresh eggs to eat.”

Ready to add backyard chickens to your family? Visit your local Purina retailer this fall for Purina® Flock-Tober® festivities, visit www.purinamills.com/chicken-feed or connect with Purina Poultry on Facebook or Pinterest.

My seven year old had a bone marrow transplant December 28, 2017. When we was able to come home she was getting bored a lot. We decided to get chickens and it's one of the best decisions we made. She's so excited to get up and check on them. We go out and look for eggs and take care of them.

 

[Sylvester017]

When I was first considering chickens a mom friend of mine said, "Get Chickens only if you want your child injured". Fortunately, I didn't listen to her. Her family had chickens when she was growing up, and apparently they were aggressive and drew blood from her when she was little. Of course, her mom wasn't the best. A stray dog crawled under their house and died. Its body was never removed, and stunk up the neighborhood for a long time.

What a story! So many weird people in this world! So glad you were able to find joy in chickeneering. How many do you have? We're zoned for only 5 hens/no roos but we're happy because some cities around us don't allow poultry at all!

My seven year old had a bone marrow transplant December 28, 2017. When we was able to come home she was getting bored a lot. We decided to get chickens and it's one of the best decisions we made. She's so excited to get up and check on them. We go out and look for eggs and take care of them.

I assume you meant to say December 28, 2016? It is such a joy to hear when a child has found fun with chickens -- so many persons think "Oh, they're just chickens" and never realize how much personality and functionality there is in raising such easy pets. Well wishes and good health to your 7-year-old!

 

[room onthebroom]

I always enjoy your posts sumi.

 

[shawthorne44]

What a story! So many weird people in this world! So glad you were able to find joy in chickeneering. How many do you have? We're zoned for only 5 hens/no roos but we're happy because some cities around us don't allow poultry at all!

Well, thanks to chicken math we have 19. I was originally thinking of 10. They allow 5 where we live, but if you have an acre you are allowed 10. It is so rural in our town, pretty sure there are more farm animals than people, that I didn't check beforehand. They are bringing us joy, just now DH brought SuperChicken inside so he could talk to me while holding her. My friends scare story might have made me prioritize non-mean chickens. But then I can't stand mean, so I probably would have anyway. Our former city doesn't allow chickens.

 

[Cynthia12]

I wish I had photos of my Grandmother and her chickens..and with me in a photo with her..with them! ha..it's because of her, that I have a love for them. I remember her showing me a big red hen on a nest of eggs..I mean a nest .. full..of eggs. Then grandma told me why, we don't count our chicks before they hatch, once the mama was up and about with her chicks. There were still quite a few eggs in the nest that didn't hatch.

Now I'm the grandma. I do have photos of my grand kids with chickens, but none of me with them..and the chickens..what? I need to fix that! Here are a few of my favorite photos, me teaching 3 of our grandchildren how to hold a chick. They were being so careful

 

[memphis]

The breed I own that is best with kids are my Speckled Sussex. They are sweeties.
HOWEVER....my turkeys are absolutely wonderful with kids!

 

[Sylvester017]

Such cute pics! Never thought of turkeys as sweet around kids but there you go! My favorite breeds are Breda, Dominiques, and Silkies. Getting all as chicks and raising them up with family members makes them especially sweet. Kids can tame just about any bird!

 

[Glitterchicks]

My 3 boys all love the chickens. Especially Walker, he helps me feed and care for them daily- never letting them go without extra treats!