Nest box opening

[Ridgerunner]

Any chicken can become aggressive.
Small children's exuberant movements and high pitched loud voices can make chickens nervous/stressed and more likely to bite or scratch if pursued/touched by said children.

If you read enough stories on here you will see that any Silkie, Orpington, Rhode Island Red, Sussex, or any other breed can be a cuddly supersweet pet. You will also find stories where those breeds and all others are either super-aggressive toward the rest of the flock or are human aggressive. I'm sorry but you cannot go by breed on this.

I have another concern too, nothing to do with them being aggressive. This does not happen often but you can find stories about this on this forum also. Chickens investigate things by pecking them. Adults or children's eyes may get pecked. That's not because the chicken in aggressive or anything like that, just curious. They may peck other body parts and even draw blood but the eyes are my main concern. You occasionally read about dogs attacking young kids too. Not often, but it happens.

Personally I'd be careful about supervising young kids with chickens. As chicks I'd be worried about the kids hurting them by squeezing. When the chicks are older, I'd be careful about the pecking.

 

[Eggzacatly]

If you read enough stories on here you will see that any Silkie, Orpington, Rhode Island Red, Sussex, or any other breed can be a cuddly supersweet pet. You will also find stories where those breeds and all others are either super-aggressive toward the rest of the flock or are human aggressive. I'm sorry but you cannot go by breed on this.

I have another concern too, nothing to do with them being aggressive. This does not happen often but you can find stories about this on this forum also. Chickens investigate things by pecking them. Adults or children's eyes may get pecked. That's not because the chicken in aggressive or anything like that, just curious. They may peck other body parts and even draw blood but the eyes are my main concern. You occasionally read about dogs attacking young kids too. Not often, but it happens.

Personally I'd be careful about supervising young kids with chickens. As chicks I'd be worried about the kids hurting them by squeezing. When the chicks are older, I'd be careful about the pecking.

I didn't think of the eyes. I will be mindful of this thank you !

 

[Eggzacatly]

What is an appropriate amount of space of either side of the roost bar for them have in order to get up there? I think I'm just be overly cautious now but what to make sure they have enough clearance to fly up.

 

[NatJ]

What is an appropriate amount of space of either side of the roost bar for them have in order to get up there? I think I'm just be overly cautious now but what to make sure they have enough clearance to fly up.

Up is not usually an issue.

For being comfortable once they are on the roost: at least a foot on each side so their heads and tails have a place to go.

For getting down: at least as much space sideways as there is to go down. So if a roost is 2 feet high, at least 2 feet on one side to get down. If a roost is 6 feet high, at least 6 feet on one side to get down.

By the time you have that much space, getting up is no problem.

For small coops with high roosts, it's good to check if there is enough space for a chicken to spread her wings open to fly. I see that your coop is 3 feet by 6 feet, which should be big enough in each direction. Given that your roosts are lower than 2 feet, the hens may just jump without opening their wings all the way, but it's nice for them to have the option.

 

[aart]

Salmonella is another concern with kids and chicks/chickens.
Kissing chickens and not washing hands after handling can be an issue.

It's recommended that there be 12" of roost length for each bird so they have space to spread their wings when flying up to roost.