What would you recommend for a 5 yr old that wants to show chickens?

[Buck Creek Chickens]

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yes, leghorns, booted bantam that has not been handled allot, any 'flighty' breed

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Silkies or Old English Game Bantams. Cochins are also nice.

 

[tuesdays chicks]

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I think the 1st poster read it wrong and thought your dh was 5 lol

 

[tuesdays chicks]

I wont recomend a breed because you have your answers there but I would let your son choose out of the few you decide on.

 

[mommyofthreewithchicks]

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I think you can find aggressive chickens in any breeds but I vowed I would never get leghorn chickens because Grandma had them and they chased me and pecked at me as a child- Now 20+ years later my uncles finally fessed up that they would kick at these birds and turn them mean forgetting that they had little girls visiting every month to every other weekend. I think this is the reason my puppy got banned from coming to grandma's as she was found with a dead chicken, but she very well could have been protecting me from the MEAN rooster.

Any chicken that goes mean at my house ends up in the soup- I can't chance my kids. Hopefully I won't have a problem with this but I watch the kids closely when they are with the birds.

 

[catdaddy66]

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That's right, so it means he will need the help of his parents and any of us that can educate them on how to do it successfully. This will get the young boy on the road to build skills he will need later. I think it's a great idea for the parents to support him as much as possible. The cost (in money and time) should be low but the reward can be awesome !

 

[salunra]

Thanks everyone!!

We went to the Ohio Nationals yesterday. It was fun. My boy sat and watched the 6 and under showmanship judging. He focuses on each kid as the judge talked with them and watched how they watched the birds. It was cute. He can be such a serious little guy.

He fell in love with the golden sebrights and mille fluer d'uccle.

I will probably get him a millie and a silkie, as it is my understanding that sebrights can be a little flighty.

Do OEGs really make good "pet" chickens? I LOVE the look of them but I have read that they have a tendency to be a little more aggressive.

Thanks again for all the support and responses.
-Tiffany

 

[curliet]

Obviously I was way off base when I posted my remark, and I am sorry that it sounded so judgmental. I've been watching the two little boys down the street when they play out in the yard, chasing their dog with a stick, hitting and kicking one another, taking toys from ea other, screaming at each other etc. I know that's kids, to a point, but these kids are excessive and I think have made me forget what it was like when my own kids were little. I would never consider letting these two kids have any kind of responsiblility with an animal, but not all kids are like that and with the support of parents who are involved with their lives, your little boy should do wonderfully with his show chicken. Mea culpa, and have lots of fun with your young one and his pets.

 

[salunra]

Curliet,

I do appreciate your concern for the welfare of the birds. But kids are people, so they are all different. Not to mention that many people have different parenting techniques.

My kids would NEVER be allowed to chase an animal with a stick. We have 3 cats and my kids are so gentle with them that our one cat runs to sit with my 2yr old every time he sits down to watch TV and one of the other cats sleeps on my older boys chest every night. Last time we went to the zoo I spent two hours in the lorikeet house because my boy was feeding them nectar. By the time I made him leave he had 4 of them snuggled up his lap making little beak grinding contented noises.

Yes, my boys scuffle with each other. But I figure to some degree they can fend for themselves and they need to learn to work things out. Animals are a different story. If we bring them into our home, then it is our responsibiltiy to care for them and protect them to the best of our ability. That is taken seriously in our household. Which is why I am here. I want to learn what I need to learn to care for any chickens we may get. And to make sure that we pick the RIGHT types to work in our situation so that everyone can be safe and happy. Perhaps I should have given more details in my original post.

Anyhow, I do agree. Some kids should not be allowed anywhere near any animal, let alone a bird. And you are right to express that (perhaps a tad more diplomatically). But T has proven to me that he can be gentle and responsible and I will allow him (at an age appropriate level and with guidance) to manage his birds.

Thanks again to everyone!
Tiffany

 

[abhaya]

I would go with silkies they arew very friendly and easy to handel good luck