Gentleness

[Cyndee]

Sorry if this has been talked about.....I have 7 grandbabies 8 yrs and younger. Can you tell me a few breeds that would be gentle enough for them to help with? I just have visions of them being pecked at and chased...YIKES!

 

[NovaAman]

Hi. I'd personally suggest that toddlers are not around roosters unless they are proven friendly... That being said, I have silkies and faverolle roosters, both are friendly enough even to my 3 yr old. Not my faverolle anymore, I just buried him this morning. BUT, my choice for my kids when I was choosing chickens went thusly...
Docile
Lays well
Hearty in both cold and heat...

I ended up with Silkies firstly. They lay every other day for the most part. I get 4-5 eggs a week. Faverolles, also good layers, and they are DP so, if you ended up with to many cockerels, you have Sunday dinner. Then I also got wyandottes, a bit more flighty, but good layers. A few cochin bantams, good broodies and lays 4-5 eggs a week also. The most you need to be picky on is the roosters... Some are more tolerant, like silkies... Some less, like wyandottes. I have no wyandotte roos after being attacked by the neighbors, I decided that wasn't one for my yard with little kids. Buff Orps are also pretty friendly.

 

[canesisters]

Just like any other animals, there are super gentle and super aggressive individuals in any breed.
That being said, I have heard numerous people say that Salmon Faverolles are super docile and always at the bottom of the pecking order. I don't have any myself but they may be worth looking into as a possibility for your flock.
They're super cute too - with 'fuzzy feet' and huge poofy beards and muffs - also have extra toes!

 

[Cyndee]

I am going to have so much fun!!!! I don't think I want a rooster...just hens. I want egg layers...ones that are docile and non flighted. Is 3 or 4 an okay number? Also what age do they start laying eggs?

 

[canesisters]

Anything over 2 is perfectly fine. I've been told that they seem happiest with at least one chicken friend.
All chickens CAN fly - at least a little. But some breeds are more prone to stay on their feet and some are more prone to catching a little air. Again, Fav's seem to fit your needs. They aren't particularly fond of flying. Most breeds will start laying around 18-20 weeks old, give or take a little.

 

[Whittni]

I only sell chickens in pairs in my flock if I sell any at all. Breeds I highly recommend as pets for young kids (because they are the ones people are drawn to when they see my flock) are Silkie Bantams, Naked Necks and Cochins All can be extremely friendly and tame chickens when raised from baby chicks. But to find exactly what you want try looking here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds

and seeing which chickens are recommended and why.

 

[kidcody]

There are a lot of different breeds that a very friendly, some breeds are friendlier then others. I would suggest picking a breed you really like and do a lot of handling with them and that way they will be friendly. If you don't have the time to do a lot of handling I suggest the English Orpington very docile, very friendly, sweet and beautiful!