Friendliest Bantam for Child's Pet?

[eggsamillion]

I am researching bantam breeds as a potential 4-H project and pet for my 9 year old daughter. She's very calm and good with animals, and responsible, so she won't be handling her chicken roughly or anything like that (I know that's a concern with smaller breeds). She's quite small for age, so I really think that a bantam would be the best fit. I want to get her the breed that's most likely to be a friendly, easy to handle and even sweet/cuddly pet. It seems like the two best bets would be a Silkie or a D'Uccle. In your experience, do you think one of these two breeds would be better suited than the other, or are there other bantam breeds that I should consider? Thank you!

 

[Granny Hatchet]

silkies are the friendliest i know. of course it depends on how their raised.

 

[NYREDS]

I judge a number of 4H shows/County Fairs every summer & am often asked this question. My answer is always the same: Modern Game Bantams. They seem to be natural pets. With very little handling the tame down, not that they're flighty to begin with, they're not. I know when judging them that tend to walk out into my hand when I open the show cage door.
The other big advantage for children is their size. They're very small & easy for small hands to control. People often recommend Silkies & Cochin Bantams, both of which are larger than the Moderns & can be difficult for children to handle easily when doing Showmanship.

 

[eggsamillion]

@nyreds thank you so much for this thoughtful input. I honestly hadn't ever considered a bantam game hen. I was under the (apparently erroneous!) assumption that all game-lineage birds are somewhat flighty, and prefer less handling in general. So thanks!

Any other suggestions out there?

 

[speckledhen]

Though I wouldn't necessarily recommend a Belgian D'Anver rooster for a child, the hens are super sweet pocket pets and very small as well. You won't find a sweeter hen than those. The males are usually feisty, though.

 

[NYREDS]

@nyreds thank you so much for this thoughtful input. I honestly hadn't ever considered a bantam game hen. I was under the (apparently erroneous!) assumption that all game-lineage birds are somewhat flighty, and prefer less handling in general. So thanks!

Any other suggestions out there?

To be clear I recommend MODERN Games not OEGBs.

 

[speckledhen]

I caught that NYReds said Modern Game Bantams, which are the very lithe ones with long legs, not the Old English Game Bantams, very different birds.

 

[eggsamillion]

Thanks for the important clarification.