How to explain chicken sex to young children

[Rodrad]

This happen to me. lol My grandson was just a little guy and he said, "Nana that rooster is hurting that hen!"
I said, "No, he's just trying to give her a kiss."
That satisfied him for a while and I mentioned that to his mom and dad. They laughed and said good thinking! My grandson was very small. As he got older it did not work anymore.

That is possibly a good, simple explanation, but he will not see the kiss he is a custom too!

May be another way (not factual at this age) is that he is just giving a hen a back massage!

 

[Boise-girls]

In my experience, most young children don't ask a follow-up question. Just hope your grandson isn't unusually precocious!

 

[Isadora]

Just hope your grandson isn't unusually precocious!

Why does it matter, though? I honestly don't get why people are so weird about keeping things like that secret from kids. I'm not talking about graphic and explicit and things that are over their heads, but basic education on how these things work is important.

 

[carriek]

My 6 year grandson comes often to visit us. He loves chickens, feeding them and gathering eggs.

I just dread the situation if he sees rooster mating a hen. I really don’t know what I should tell him.

Any advice is appreciated.

thanks

Just tell him the truth, he will grow up smarter its good for kids to not be sugar coated messages all the time they know that your doing it..when I was little I always knew and it always bugged me that they thought I couldn't handle the truth and I felt like it hurt me more than it helped

 

[Isadora]

Just tell him the truth, he will grow up smarter its good for kids to not be sugar coated messages all the time they know that your doing it..when I was little I always knew and it always bugged me that they thought I couldn't handle the truth and I felt like it hurt me more than it helped

For real. My husband told me that when he was around 6 years old he asked his mother where he came from. She pointed to a random picture on the wall of a boy leading a little horse and said that's where he came from. Huh? How is that helpful in any way?

 

[carriek]

I think at 6 years old they aren't very young aged anymore they are starting to mature a little and understand things, u can't understand things if ppl sugar coat it

 

[kurby22]

My daughter asked these questions about the quail we have. I was very factual about it and she said oh, okay. Then the other day I heard her telling the neighbor girls very matter of factly that Silvie (our silver quail) likes to “marry the lady hens to try to have babies” a lot. Kids are funny but they see it thru different eyes than we do!

 

[Rodrad]

Why does it matter, though? I honestly don't get why people are so weird about keeping things like that secret from kids. I'm not talking about graphic and explicit and things that are over their heads, but basic education on how these things work is important.

In general I agree with your opinion. But, I am pretty sure my grandson will ask how the egg is fertilized being in the shell. So, then it really becomes quite difficult to explain details how the chicken egg gets fertilized.

 

[Isadora]

In general I agree with your opinion. But, I am pretty sure my grandson will ask how the egg is fertilized being in the shell. So, then it really becomes quite difficult to explain details how the chicken egg gets fertilized.

Something broad such as "oh, it happens inside before the shell is formed" would be an appropriate answer. He would probably be interested to know that the chicken has to "make" the egg and it doesn't just pop out eggs whole and complete

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree just say, that the egg is not shelled yet, but now will get that part.

I have a lot of grandchildren, keep it short, keep it matter of fact, and keep it honest. They will trust you with the big stuff too. Lie to them, later on, they will figure it out and hold it against you.

Short, factual, honest and move on.