If you were not in Colorado, I would suggest orpingtons and sussex. THe two lines I have came from Meyers. Very kid friendly girls. Orpingtons tend to be gentle males and not hold up well to other breeds like my Easter Egger males. So overall my BO are very gentle types and verypretty. THe other bird is my speckled sussex-- my boys raised those chicks and we enjoyed them as hens, always trying to help us in the garden.
Because of the comb issues, I am adding buckeyes. SO I can't speak first hand about the temperament, but I have read wonderful reviews and I talked to a friend that raises them and he has had the since he was a youngster.
None of mine are lap chickens but they don't fuss about being picked up.
Ditto about what Karen said aobut the easter eggers-- great combs for winter weather, pretty eggs ( my EE are the Meyers line) and mine all lay blue eggs-- all. I have males from a breeder nd they are fine for my kids to deal with ( no attacks or threats) but willevade being picked up.
Our best results are keeping the chicks in the house in a large brooder that my kids could sit in. Being boys they created agame where chicks were sorted by color and were named: the FBI, the Police and the hmmm I can't remember now. They played for hours at a time, and now 3 yrs later they can still pick out individual hens and name them . . . . the easter eggers still did not accept being caught as adults. FIne to hold once caught.
If you are only getting hens no rooster, go for the buff orpingtons or speckled sussex. THeir combs are too small to get frostbite.
Because of the comb issues, I am adding buckeyes. SO I can't speak first hand about the temperament, but I have read wonderful reviews and I talked to a friend that raises them and he has had the since he was a youngster.
None of mine are lap chickens but they don't fuss about being picked up.
Ditto about what Karen said aobut the easter eggers-- great combs for winter weather, pretty eggs ( my EE are the Meyers line) and mine all lay blue eggs-- all. I have males from a breeder nd they are fine for my kids to deal with ( no attacks or threats) but willevade being picked up.
Our best results are keeping the chicks in the house in a large brooder that my kids could sit in. Being boys they created agame where chicks were sorted by color and were named: the FBI, the Police and the hmmm I can't remember now. They played for hours at a time, and now 3 yrs later they can still pick out individual hens and name them . . . . the easter eggers still did not accept being caught as adults. FIne to hold once caught.
If you are only getting hens no rooster, go for the buff orpingtons or speckled sussex. THeir combs are too small to get frostbite.
