Raising young kids, I remember working so hard to feed them healthy food, teach them responsibility and have them grow up to be respectful. So far so good! I didn’t say it was perfect, but we have 5 years left with our little Wings at home. We try to make the most of our days and our time together.

Part of this is raising dogs and chickens! This gives us a lot to talk about, work together on and also laugh about. Pets are absolutely wonderful. We’ve raised everything from dogs, to rabbits, to goats, to hamsters and even had a couple of birds! Our kids have learned the value of life, how hard it is to lose a pet and hard work and responsibility along the way.

This brings me to my next thought. I often get asked if there are specific chicken breeds that are great for kids.

I have a lot of people, kids included, that come visit my chickens. I’ve always wanted this to be a pleasant experience for our guests, so having friendly chickens is a huge part of that!

Overall, I have a no rooster rule. I know there are some pretty friendly roosters out there! But, for our family, we’ve only had a couple. I currently have 3 little Mille Fleur d’Uccles roosters that are so far super friendly. If they start to show any aggression, however, they’re out. Don’t be afraid to adjust your flock to suit your family.

This is my personal opinion. You could have just about any breed of chicken, and they could be super friendly, not so friendly or a bit skittish. It really boils down to how much time you’re willing to put into your relationship with your flock.

But, if I were going to recommend a few breeds, these are the ones I would recommend:

• Barred Rocks

• Brahmas

• Polish

• d’Uccles

• Orpington

I have about 20 different breeds in my coop. All of my chickens are friendly. But the breeds I’ve listed seek out my attention even if I don’t have treats! They love to be held, petted and are great with kids!

I recommend people raising their flocks from the chick stage. This allows you to develop a bond with your flock. Chickens have individual personalities, and you will learn them much better by spending time with them.

Our kids have enjoyed getting to help me name my chickens, helped with the hard work and have snuck in a chicken snuggle here and there. It’s a decision we have never regretted! The eggs are awesome, but the laughs and memories we have with our chickens are priceless.

Until next time,

–The Wing Lady