Suitable chickens

[noviceveggrower]

Hi,
Well I have just done something fairly stupid. Quite a few weeks ago we took the kids to a working farm. Little girl held a baby chick which she a bit nervous about, think she was worried she might hurt it, then she held a slightly bigger one. She was confident about holding it and thought it was the funniest thing ever when it pooed on her.
She quite likes reading my magazine especially the last pages about the bees and the chickens.
Well since then she has asked about having chickens. I have said if she saves up her money then I'll ask our landlord wether we can have some or not.
So I'm just wondering so she realises how much she is going to have to save is:-
What breed would you recommend?
Would be looking at two or three chickens.
What sort of housing and run would you recommend?
Have told her it wont be til next year as we go away in August and the chickens can't be left alone. I know she wont of save her money up yet but I think she needs to know that chickens cost time, money and she needs to be responsible for them.
Chickens aren't my main problem. Little boy wants a tortoise.

[Scarlet]

It's when they want snakes it's a problem. Your friends don't come to stay cos the snake is on the loose again! They forget to shut the door....

I'd choose Bantams for a little one, a fully grown chicken is much harder to cuddle than a young one. It's surprising how big they are.
Think long and hard whether you want chickens though because they hold a kids interest for about a week.

[Scarlet]

Look on the sticky threads for housing or browse the threads on here. There are loads to choose from and it all depends on budget and what room you have available. Creocote the house when you get it, inside and out to prevent red mite. You need to ensure its fox proof, sit the run on slabs or bury the wire in the ground.

[Small pumpkin]

I can't recommend a breed of chicken, because I know nothing about children.
But the advice I can give. is give them as much outside space as you can. Be prepared to become obsessed by them and want more and more ( maybe that's just me). You should never have only 2 chickens because if one dies you have a lonely chicken and as they are sociable birds this would be very unfair. If you do get more birds in the future never introduce just one, sociable they may be but they don't like new comers very much and pick on them, so introduce 2 minimum.
Good luck

[noviceveggrower]

I have had experience with chickens before. When my mom and dad did their version of the Goodlife in Scotland they had chickens. I had the great job of cleaning them out every Saturday morning. I don't know what sort they were apart from very big and white.
Not bothered about egg numbers just that the chicken is a friendly type for the kids.
Believe me the novelty wont wear off. Asked at the school library if they had any chicken books and was quite disappointed when they said no.
She keeps pestering me if there are any jobs at the moment if she can help with for money.
Has managed to get her grandma to buy her a knitting set so the chickens can keep warm in winter.
We have quite a big garden. Got grass and gravel area. So various things can be moved about.

[snakeshack]

It's when they want snakes it's a problem. Your friends don't come to stay cos the snake is on the loose again! They forget to shut the door....

I'd choose Bantams for a little one, a fully grown chicken is much harder to cuddle than a young one. It's surprising how big they are.
Think long and hard whether you want chickens though because they hold a kids interest for about a week.

Nothing wrong with snakes as far as I'm concerned it's when I can't see the tarantula in the cage cos it's hiding under the bark that I get worried


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[Scarlet]

Nothing wrong with snakes as far as I'm concerned it's when I can't see the tarantula in the cage cos it's hiding under the bark that I get worried

Ha! That brought back some memories, my friend lost his tarantula... Good old granny found it - landed in her lap!!!

[Scarlet]

Got me thinking now...when he moves on to uni, I'll be left with the snake to look after too. Not that keen on snakes. Do you breed them Snakeshack?

[snakeshack]

Got me thinking now...when he moves on to uni, I'll be left with the snake to look after too. Not that keen on snakes. Do you breed them Snakeshack?

Have had rat snakes for years but currently don't have any snakes after 30 years plus as a breeder do still have a bearded dragon , a chilli rose tarantula (which is technically my sons), some giant millipedes , a dog and various fish.
I'm a big carnivorous plant fan too



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[Scarlet]

They tried the carnivorous plants too ...I think I killed them with tap water! My son has a corn snake, very pretty caramel and peach colours. Very easily handled too. He's had it nearly 10 years, since he was 6. My brother kept a rat snake as a kid. (Yellow tailed?) He had boas now which I'm really not keen on.

[veggiechicken]

Meanwhile, back with chooks - I've had 4 since Easter - all different breeds of which the Speckledy and the Black Maran are very friendly. They jump up on my lap for strokes (and food).
I don't know how old your little girl is, but a full size hen is quite an armful compared to a chick. Do you know anyone with friendly hens that she could meet and feed?

[bearded bloke]

What about bantams or silkies if bird size is likely to be an issue if not & your daughter wants to knit some "body warmers" how about some rescued "batties"

[Guest]

If they are pets then ex-batts - they are usually really friendly and will follow and fuss, but can have a short life span.
For young children - fancy bantums such as pekins and silkies, but egg laying can be poor.
General all rounders welsummers, legbars, aracuanas, marans (pretty coloured eggs too)

Check out breeds on www.omlet.co.uk and see what works for you.