Going to buy first chickens tomorrow morning. Hoping to learn and teach grandkids bout raising them

[Dino & Jo]

THANK YOU WE JUST PICKED THEM DECIDED TO GO WITH 3 reds and 3 yellow comets. Hope we’re doing right been flooded with info working on lil box now. Got wrong shavings so had to go back get bigger pine shavings instead working on it will post pics shortly

 

[Blooie]

Welcome! If raising chickens can be so beneficial to my granddaughters, it will probably be fantastic for yours as well. Both of my granddaughters have autism. Our older one, Katie, is not too bad at all on the spectrum, and she learned so well and enjoyed it so much that even when we left town for a week or so, she was totally in charge of the chicks and the chickens. She did an awesome job - we never even had to check things over when we got home. She was only 8 years old when she was left in total control the first time. She just turned 12 and is quite the chicken expert! She lived across the street from us, and was here as much as she was home, but we were comfortable because we knew if she ran into any problems Mom and Dad were right there. Frankly Katie took to it so completely that there isn't a single adult I can name who would have done it better, and she did it with no supervision!

Her little sister, Kendra is now 6. Kendra has much more severe autism and was born with Spina Bifida. She can walk a little bit with support, but uses her wheelchair more often than not. She also loved the chickens, but being mostly non-communicative, we had to find creative ways to involve her. We'd put the egg basket on her lap, push her out to the coop, and let her bring in the eggs. She thought she was hot stuff! One day her therapist walked her out there, and Kendra got to carry the egg basket and WALK to the house! What a day that was for all of us! She'd also sit in her wheelchair when the chickens were out in the yard foraging and toss them little tidbits, giggling and flapping her arms the whole time. She was always, always closely supervised, but she was also learning that that wheelchair didn't mean she couldn't help!

I have an article I wrote about raising disabled kids around chickens, if you'd like the link I've put it below. Granted, it deals with special little ones, but there are plenty of tips that any parent or grandparent can use introducing any kids to the joys of chickens! Again, welcome! Photos of those grandkids as they learn about these entertaining little critters are always fun to see - like this one of Kendra walking in from the coop with her basket of eggs for the very first time! We'd love to see yours, too!

Here's the link.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/kids-with-disabilities-can-enjoy-chickens-too.68187/