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

[M@M@2four]

Quote:

I'm not quite sure what this poster is getting at...but I think it's GREAT that he is showing an interest early in raising and showing birds! I have four children--9, almost 8, 6 1/2, and 4 1/2 and ALL of them show and have been showing for the past 3 years! My youngest who is 4 now has been showing since he was 3! Believe it or not, he even does showmanship and talks to the judges about his breed of chicken being shown. He knows the basics--color, sex, type of comb, what type of feed they eat, etc and does an amazing job with his little self! Here are just a few pics of my four children over the past year showing:

Landon(3 years old) showing his OEGB Fawn Duckwing, "Belle" at the Susquehanna show last year:

Landon(3 years old) winning 3rd place in showmanship at the DE show last year:

Landon(now 4) doing showmanship with his bantam silver penciled rock this past weekend at the Frederick Show in MD:

Miss Riley(5 years old) doing showmanship with her LF White Ameraucana cockeral at the Susquehanna MD show last year:

Regan(6 at the time) who LOVES to show her LF black Ameraucanas was too shy to do showmanship, but snapped a quick pic with mama--she has even won BB this past year at the York PA show and she showed against adults:

Logan(8 years old) doing showmanship with his white leghorn cockeral at the MD Susquehanna show last year:

Logan(8 years old) at the DE show last year receiving first place for showmanship:

Logan(9 years old) this past weekend at the Frederick show doing showmanship:

 

[salunra]

Thanks for the suggestions, folks!!

I think the first responder may have been concerned that I am playing to the whims of a child. Which while somewhat true. It is regulated.

We have pets already, cats, fish, a lizard. He helps with their care every day. Knows their needs and is gentle with them.

My husband is a carpenter who is already looking at plans for a good sized coop.

We have five acres of land. I am doing my research and plan on keeping a mixed flock of standard sized hens for eggs and some bantams for him to work with and show. We'll be singing up for the apa-aba youth program and 4H (and yes, they do have programs for 5 yr olds).

I am not planning on picking up one chick and keeping it in a cage in his room

I was just hoping to get some ideas so I could steer him in an appropriate direction before we go to the show and get overwhelmed by over 6,000 birds being shown there.

Thanks again,
Tiffany

 

[tobin123]

Good for him. We started our son early and he can't stop.He loves all of our girls but the silkies are the best for a little kid to work with.We have lots of silkies and they just run in the coop inside of our barn.we have a small heat lamp for them.I say if he wants to show then give him the chance to go for it.

 

[tobin123]

M@M@2four :

Quote:
My son wants to go to the show in Connersville ,Indiana BUT I am not sure what to expect for him to do or how many birds to let him show.

What kind of ???'s do they ask a 10 yr old,how many birds,what is the cost to show

Your kids did great I bet your a proud mama hen.

I'm not quite sure what this poster is getting at...but I think it's GREAT that he is showing an interest early in raising and showing birds! I have four children--9, almost 8, 6 1/2, and 4 1/2 and ALL of them show and have been showing for the past 3 years! My youngest who is 4 now has been showing since he was 3! Believe it or not, he even does showmanship and talks to the judges about his breed of chicken being shown. He knows the basics--color, sex, type of comb, what type of feed they eat, etc and does an amazing job with his little self! Here are just a few pics of my four children over the past year showing:

Landon(3 years old) showing his OEGB Fawn Duckwing, "Belle" at the Susquehanna show last year:
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/tboguski/febmarch2010252.jpg

Landon(3 years old) winning 3rd place in showmanship at the DE show last year:
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/tboguski/febmarch2010218.jpg

Landon(now 4) doing showmanship with his bantam silver penciled rock this past weekend at the Frederick Show in MD:
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/tboguski/silkies019.jpg

Miss Riley(5 years old) doing showmanship with her LF White Ameraucana cockeral at the Susquehanna MD show last year:
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/tboguski/febmarch2010258.jpg
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/tboguski/febmarch2010260.jpg

Regan(6 at the time) who LOVES to show her LF black Ameraucanas was too shy to do showmanship, but snapped a quick pic with mama--she has even won BB this past year at the York PA show and she showed against adults:
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/tboguski/febmarch2010251.jpg

Logan(8 years old) doing showmanship with his white leghorn cockeral at the MD Susquehanna show last year:
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/tboguski/febmarch2010245.jpg
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/tboguski/febmarch2010249.jpg

Logan(8 years old) at the DE show last year receiving first place for showmanship:
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/tboguski/febmarch2010219.jpg

Logan(9 years old) this past weekend at the Frederick show doing showmanship:
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/tboguski/silkies022.jpg​

 

[M@M@2four]

Quote:
Not a problem!

You might want to try starting him with something bantam sized as they are usually easier to handle for the little ones. Many breeds come in bantam sized! Good luck!!!

 

[FlipFlopFarmer]

bantam because it is easier for him to handle, and i would personally get a bearded silkie or a polish because they dont see as well as those with less face feathering, and as a result dont usually run off from kids, also, i would get him a pullet, just to avoid the possibility of an aggressive roo.

 

[danielle82]

m@m@2four, love the pics of the kids showing their chickens! I bet you are a very proud mama!


OP let us know what heand you decide on! Showing chickens is very fun and low stress compared to showing other animals (i.e. horses)

 

[Kittymomma]

M@M@2four :

Quote:

I'm not quite sure what this poster is getting at...but I think it's GREAT that he is showing an interest early in raising and showing birds! I have four children--9, almost 8, 6 1/2, and 4 1/2 and ALL of them show and have been showing for the past 3 years! My youngest who is 4 now has been showing since he was 3! Believe it or not, he even does showmanship and talks to the judges about his breed of chicken being shown. He knows the basics--color, sex, type of comb, what type of feed they eat, etc and does an amazing job with his little self! Here are just a few pics of my four children over the past year showing:

Landon(3 years old) showing his OEGB Fawn Duckwing, "Belle" at the Susquehanna show last year:
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/tboguski/febmarch2010252.jpg

Landon(3 years old) winning 3rd place in showmanship at the DE show last year:
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/tboguski/febmarch2010218.jpg

Landon(now 4) doing showmanship with his bantam silver penciled rock this past weekend at the Frederick Show in MD:
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/tboguski/silkies019.jpg

Miss Riley(5 years old) doing showmanship with her LF White Ameraucana cockeral at the Susquehanna MD show last year:
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/tboguski/febmarch2010258.jpg
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/tboguski/febmarch2010260.jpg

Regan(6 at the time) who LOVES to show her LF black Ameraucanas was too shy to do showmanship, but snapped a quick pic with mama--she has even won BB this past year at the York PA show and she showed against adults:
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/tboguski/febmarch2010251.jpg

Logan(8 years old) doing showmanship with his white leghorn cockeral at the MD Susquehanna show last year:
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/tboguski/febmarch2010245.jpg
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/tboguski/febmarch2010249.jpg

Logan(8 years old) at the DE show last year receiving first place for showmanship:
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/tboguski/febmarch2010219.jpg

Logan(9 years old) this past weekend at the Frederick show doing showmanship:
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/tboguski/silkies022.jpg

Thanks for sharing! I love when people get their kids involved. My DD used to show rabbits and we loved going to the shows. Health/mone/time all cut into that, but both my kids are still very involved with the farm animals. It's great to be able to share that with them.​

 

[mommyofthreewithchicks]

My Daughter showed two silkie chickens last year- one was still chick size. They actually let the boys help so I was glad that they let her bring two (Boys are 4 and 5, Rachael is 7). Really I would say for 5 go with a bantam size bird. Since the silkie chickens had a dog accident I told the kids that they could pick out a chicken to raise for next year, I am guessing we will be getting colorful silkies. (we still have one white silkie and I am hoping she makes it through the winter- she is really missing her buddies)

My daughter also made a poultry poster and did a demo on "how to raise a chicken". All of the above was through 4-H. I think the experience at the fair was really positive- she didn't know about the $ until a few weeks later when they sent her a check for $8.

 

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

Okay, at the risk of being a threadjacker - but now I'm curious:

Are there any breeds you would definitely AVOID for children?

(We had an aggressive Australorp roo that terrorized the grandkids. He's gone, but the kids won't go near his shy and gentle replacement look-alike.)