Good breeds for kids thread

[growyourbrew]

I'm doing some research on breeds for a book I'm working on. I was wondering if anyone can give me some input on what breeds they like for kids?
I have cochins and and silkies which I think are absolutely awesome. I also had Speckles Essexes which were pretty darn cool but at the time I had them, I didn't have kids. What are you guys' thoughts/suggestions?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The following two charts will give information on the personality of chickens and which breeds are docile. That said, children are a different issue. They're small, move fast and can be mistaken for predators.

http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html

http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/chickenbreedcomparison.pdf

 

[PluckyClucker99]

I own Barred Rocks and Rhode Island pullets and they are angels around my 4-8 year old cousins, except for the RIR cockerel. Cockerels of this breed are known to be aggressive (and he is) but the hens are quite docile.

 

[WaterfowlWierdo]

If your wanting a calm easy to handle breed, I recommend Sultans hands down, My bantam sultan hen is the calmest bird I've ever owned. She loves people, likes to be picked up and held, and is always in a good mood, not to mention they look funny which kids like. I Have a page started on Facebook called "Sultan Chickens" It has become a decent sized network of sultan owners, they can give you tons of info on the breed

 

[growyourbrew]

Thanks for the list CC, it's very helpful!

 

[growyourbrew]

Do you guys think bantams tend to be more docile? All the bantam hens I've had have been nice. However, they were all docile breeds. I did have a Seabright who was nice but not super friendly, as she won't come hang out with you.

 

[growyourbrew]

Yeah! I'd love to join your FB page, WW, can I get your FB link?

 

[dretd]

Hi growyourbrew!

We started with chickens after seeing a friend's little girls interact with her chickens. Little Kira came up to me and asked "Could you get Penguin for me and put her on the swing?" I thought she meant her stuffie, but after some quizzing turned out she wanted me to fetch her Barred Rock named Penguin; I put her next to Kira on the porch swing and swing they did! Adorable!

Her best breeds for the little ones were Bared Rock, an Australorp and a Red Sex-link. But Cochin, Easter Egger and Seabrights not so much.

Of the breeds I have had, my best recommendations for a very friendly chicken are in order of recommendation: 1) Brahmas (I have had Light and Dark) and they will let the little kids come up to them, pick them up and carry them around 2) Salmon Faverolles--exceptionally gentle and friendly breed but can be bullied by the other chickens so best kept with other docile breeds or as a single breed flock-my daughter's favorite 3) Speckled Sussex (I think that's what you meant with the Essexes that you mentioned)-they have been very friendly with people but the 2 I have had were definitely bossy-boots with the other hens 4) Barred Rock-good, solid all around breed and the ones I have had or interacted with have been very friendly.

There are other breeds I have that are nice and friendly, but are more lively than the above and so may not be as suitable for small children including Easter Eggers, Cream Legbars and Welsummers--love the breeds, but not cuddly.

eta-in my limited experience with bantams, they are not as docile as the large breeds.

 

[WaterfowlWierdo]

Yeah! I'd love to join your FB page, WW, can I get your FB link?

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sultan-Chickens/323603467654844

 

[growyourbrew]

Thanks so much for all you guys' input! Yes! The Speckled Sussex is the breed I was thinking about! I had 2. One was more friendly than the other and she was such an awesome bird. I had 2 Faverolles but gosh, for the longest time in their pullet days, we had to separate them in another pen because they would just get so clobbered by the other chickens. I don't think I'll get them again. Mine were OK birds but not super friendly