Chickens make the best pets for your growing children. A flock of chooks provide love, a sense of responsibility and teach our kids the importance of compassion and care. They are super cute and affectionate and make great backyard pals for toddlers to teenagers and all in between. If you want your kids to have the best when it comes to pets - check out our top 5 breeds to choose for your kids below and get cluckin' on that family flock!
Orpington
These heavy-set, fluffy and cuddly ladies are super friendly pets for kids. Their docile and curious natures make them the perfect backyard companion - happy to follow your kids around and assist on their garden adventures. For the grown ups, Orpington ladies will make an eggs-traordinary addition to any chicken lovers flock, giving you good sized eggs on a regular basis. Stick your beak into the top 5 reasons we have fallen absolutely head over heels in love with Orpington chickens here.
Pekin
Pekins are docile and gentle-natured girls who are cute to boot! Their small stature makes them an adorable and easily handled pet for small children. Not to mention their beautiful full plumage which will delight young and old as they busily forage around the backyard. Have a little peck at their particulars here.
ISA Brown
The humble ISA Brown chook may be a common sight amongst farms and backyards, but that doesn't mean they exist to lay eggs alone! These amber-hued girls make wonderfully affectionate pets for children with their calm temperaments and curious outlook on life. Give an ISA Brown chicken a good home and some space to forage and you will have a friendly and faithful backyard companion to keep you and your kids company for years to come - not to mention a great supply of delicious eggs! Stick your beak into our 5 reasons to love these ladies here.
Silkie
These cute and quirky girls love nothing more than being tucked under your arm for a little bit of TLC. Silkie chickens are the very definition of all things cute and gentle. Easy to handle and easy to love, these girls are a great addition to any backyard flock and make calm and compliant pets for young chicken keepers who are learning to look after some laying ladies. Want more fuzz? Have a peek here.
Plymouth Rock
These laid back chooks make for chilled and cuddly pets for kids! The Plymouth Rock chicken will let them practice their hen holding skills, is very relaxed about being showered with kid kisses and isn’t fazed by the missteps in proper hen handling procedure that kids will inevitably take. Curious about these girls? Have a look at more here.
If you are ready to take the plunge and get your kids some feathered friends for the backyard, it's important to supervise them on initial interactions to make sure both your chook and your child get along well. While most breeds are true to temperament, each chook is an independent woman and may go against the grain! Once a relationship is established, your kids will adore keeping their chook charges well fed and loved up for many years to come!
When looking for family-friendly breeds, there are so many amazing ones to consider for your fabulous flock. It can be eggstremely overwhelming to find the perfect fit for you and your family. From looks, to traits to egg-laying talents - where should you begin?
Cluckily, our friends over at Chickenpedia have created an amazing Chicken Breeds Course. This extensive online course shares valuable advice on choosing the right chickens for you as well as size & frequency of eggs laid. You will even learn about their individual personalities, and be able to use their family-friendly compatibility scale through this well-structured program. It really is an great way to find your perfect backyard buddies which is why I highly recommend them to all of my readers! The courses are beginner-friendly and filled with vital information to help you raise a happy, healthy flock.
As chicken keepers, we want to do an eggcellent job when caring for our feathered friends. Unfortunately, many of us struggle to handle chicken health or behaviour issues, especially in the first few years of having a flock. Chickenpedia have a full range of comprehensive online courses that cover everything you didn’t know you need to know and then some more! From healthcare to raising baby chicks to feeding and behavior, get the knowledge and confidence to successfully look after your chickens like an eggspert!
As a member, you will get access to ALL their fantastic courses. So, no need to wing it, become a confident chicken keeper. Click here to check out Chickenpedia today!