Breed for a 9 year old girl

[Jtp79]

Ok, Ive jumped off the deep end and went and bought a used 8 by 12 mennonite built chicken coop. We were going to get 4h chickens but that is still a few months away.

Are chickens like dogs? Where some breeds or varieties are calmer than others? What breed chicken would be best for a young child? We know nothing about any of them. Should we buy chicks and raise them? I would like to have some eggs sooner than later, lol

thanks

 

[Hazelbunny]

Silkies are very sweet chickens and do very well with children, but they are bantams so they don't lay eggs as well as larger breeds and they are small so if you are not careful silkies can become a meal for a predator. I've heard that brahmas are gentle and they are good winter layers, we might get brahmas in the spring. Most chickens are usually gentle and calm if you spend time with them when they grow up.
Good luck finding your Chickens!

 

[thudson]

Welcome! In a way most chickens are calm if you raise them and take care of them properly.We all love the eggs of course but for a young one to raise chickens I would start with chicks. That way they can grow and build a bond together. It will be laying soon enough. As for the breed I would recommend Easter eggers. Pretty chicks, hardy breed, definitely calm and docile, plus they lay blue/green eggs. The best of both worlds your child gets a Easter egg hunt everyday and you get wonderful fresh eggs! Good luck, I hope the best for you and your little ones!

 

[SonoranChick]

I would recommend buff orphingtons. In my opinion, they seem to think they are puppies instead of chickens Mine enjoys being handled and does not squirm when picked up. She's friendly, calm, and sweet.
Hand raising your chickens from the time they are hatched will be the most important way to make sure they are people-friendly, no matter what breed you choose! Good luck!

 

[Trish1974]

I would recommend buff orphingtons. In my opinion, they seem to think they are puppies instead of chickens Mine enjoys being handled and does not squirm when picked up. She's friendly, calm, and sweet.
Hand raising your chickens from the time they are hatched will be the most important way to make sure they are people-friendly, no matter what breed you choose! Good luck!

X2!

 

[chuckachucka]

I can also recommend cochin bantams or pekins. They are just so fluffy and cuddly and they have very calm, docile personalities. My six year old adores ours.

 

[happyhens1972]

I would recommend buff orphingtons. In my opinion, they seem to think they are puppies instead of chickens Mine enjoys being handled and does not squirm when picked up. She's friendly, calm, and sweet.
Hand raising your chickens from the time they are hatched will be the most important way to make sure they are people-friendly, no matter what breed you choose! Good luck!

x3.....Orpingtons are a large breed and their size may seem daunting but they are, as mentioned, like the puppies of the chicken world. Buffs in particular for some reason. I used to work in a school and had a flock of 24 chickens that I used as 'therapy' animals for kids with special needs and emotional issues. Obviously the chooks needed to be very calm and docile to play their role and my hand raised Orps were just the trick. And when I say they were like pups, I mean they sat in my lap to have their comb and wattles stroked, followed me around the pen, wanting attention and actively sought out my company whenever it was available. They were fabulous with the children, allowing strokes and handling and hand feeding without squabbles and aggression.

 

[RiverOtter]

I've found Easter Eggers to most easily make themselves into pets, but when we personally look for birds mainly as pets, bantams are the way to go. If you get a good size rabbit hutch you can keep a few banties in there - nice and safe!! And that way you have your big coop for the 4H chickens.

A word of warning; The reason we do banties in a secure little place of their own is because naming chickens is like the kiss of death. EVERYTHING will happen to the named/favorite/pet chicken. That's the one that drowns in the water trough, that's the one that gets sick, that's the one the hawk/roaming dog/raccoon nabs.
Every
Single
Time
We went through a few years of tears and heartbreak before I switched my flock to Leghorns and their descendants. I'm not touching those birds but neither is anything else!

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Ok, Ive jumped off the deep end and went and bought a used 8 by 12 mennonite built chicken coop. We were going to get 4h chickens but that is still a few months away.

Are chickens like dogs? Where some breeds or varieties are calmer than others? What breed chicken would be best for a young child? We know nothing about any of them. Should we buy chicks and raise them? I would like to have some eggs sooner than later, lol

thanks

Brahmas, Orpingtons, Cochins, and Silkies are very sweet gentle breeds, although if you raise any breed from a chick and socialize them a lot they will be very friendly.

 

[FowlStuff]

Ameraucanas for any age...no bout adoubt it.