Best type of chicken for kids to raise...

[mom2chicksandpups]

My sweetest chickens that let my daughter hold them are my bantam
Cochins, followed by Easter Eggers, then Silkies. I really expected the Silkies to be the calmest after reading about them, but the Cochins are the tamest chickens that we have by far. And they are so cute!!

 

[anthonyjames]

My Girls are 3 & 4 and we have

4 Easter Eggers
2 Star Red
2 Plymouth Barred
2 Austrlops

And the Easter Eggers and Plymouth Barred are by far the most friendly at all times. But when treats are around they are all friendly and my girls pick them all up after chasing them down at times.

 

[Jambruins]

Thanks for all the replies. I won't be getting any chickens until next spring but I think I will be getting Buff Orpingtons and/or Barred Rock. Thanks again.

 

[mom2chicksandpups]

I personally wouldn't recommend Barred Rocks for children. We have had several and they are not very friendly. We raised some up from chicks and also got some older ones from a friend who handles his chickens frequently. None of them are very friendly.

 

[rhodiegal]

I also have young kids and my experience has been that it depends more on the personality of the bird than the breed. I have had birds that were supposed to be a human-friendly breed and turned out skittish and vice versa. If you get an entire flock of the same breed of bird, you will find some enjoy people more than others.

As for cold weather - just get some good heavy breed layers and you may even get eggs all winter (we live in the south and get eggs all winter - however, it usually never gets any lower than the teen's). Some examples already mentioned in other posts - Buff Orp, Rhode Island Red, Barred Rocks, etc. are good. Get a few different breeds if possible, and you will find ones you really like.

Most important is have the kids get used to handling them. When they are chicks, have the kids hold food out with their hands flat and near the ground. The chicks should eventually hop up on their hands to eat on their own accord. They start realizing that 'the hand' is not so bad. As the chicks get older and are outside - have the kids feed bread to them at the same time as calling something out such as "here chick, chick" while they are getting the treat. In no time the birds will come running (and sometimes flying) to you when called - even from far away. This is extremely handy if you are going to let the birds out once in a while to free-range - you can easily call them back into the coop if you need to close it up earlier than nightfall (which is when they naturally will come back to the coop).

Sorry so wordy! Hope this helps!

 

[The Breaker]

I would sugest the road Island red it is one of the best egg layers and its very prety in my opinyen

 

[The Breaker]

Quote:
evry chicken is difrent each one has a difrent persanalty no materwich breed.

 

[shober]

My barred rocks are super docile and sweet! I have 1 Buff Orpington that is shy! The barred rocks are the sweetest in this latest batch of mine. They will be 4 weeks on Tuesday and are very sweet. My daughter holds and kisses them all the time.

 

[RedDrgn]

Our barred rock and dominique are clearly the "people chickens" of our flock. Not that any of our others are anti-social by any means - those two are just the first into a lap or on a shoulder for a nap and neither mind a bit if they are picked up or pet.

 

[Flockstar]

I would say Silkies, My silkies are very calm when held, and my pullet is the best, She falls asleep in my hand, and especially loves kids. She is fluffy, and children enjoy combing her like a barbie doll