Single hen

[i_want_the_good_life]

I am really keen to keep chickens and so is my 3 year old son. Can anyone suggest what breed to choose that is child friendly? Also a breed that does not mind being in Eglu run during day and free ranging it in the evenings and weekends.

 

Thanks

 

Adam

[Boybeck]

I have three ISA Browns. They are really tame and docile. They are extremely good layers too, they are producing an egg each virtually every day. Got them from a local farmer at £9 each.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

All of mine are quite friendly but Maisie, our Columbine, is the happiest to be held and is the cheekiest. She has a cute topknot of feathers and lays green eggs (they can lay blue as well!) .

 

Sometimes friendliness can be down to personality rather than breed .

[jomaxsmith]

My traditional 'little brown hen' is the friendliest of the bunch - she's a Rhode Star but they do come in many different recipes!

 

Jo

[Patricia W]

I have three bantams - just the right size for a small child to carry around like a fashion accessory

[tania]

We have 3 chickens all from Omlet, 2 Gingernuts & 1 Miss Pepperpot. We'd not had chickens before so I trusted Omlet to give us a good hen, which they did. Aretha (one of the Gingers) is the most friendly and I'd go as far to say that she's possitively affectionate! Martha is the next friendly and Diana (the Pepper) is the least of them all. They are laying an egg each a day now, and are such fabulous pets I can't imagine life without them. Great with little ones as well.

[Mrs Webmuppet]

We have a mix of chickens, bantams, mini chooks and a Columbine.

 

The two bantams don't seem to lay very often ( nothing yet this year ) but don't mind being picked up and cuddled, our mini Orpington is friendly and likes a cuddle, but the Maran and Wyandotte are pretty anti social, Bumble (the Columbine) doesn't mind a cuddle but she's a bit big for a 3 years old to handle.

[pearcie]

out of our five our miss pepperpot from omlet is so friendly my 3 year old walks right up to her smooths her picks her up she dont seem to mind at all, a bit of mixed corn now and then seems to tame most chickens in my experience..........

[Hangman]

In my experience, Araucanas, and White Sussex/Rhode Island Red crosses are the friendliest of breeds.

 

Just make sure you persistantly tame them

[Cooks]

I was always told amber stars were a docile child friendly hen.

[Guest]

All of mine are quite friendly but Maisie, our Columbine, is the happiest to be held and is the cheekiest. She has a cute topknot of feathers and lays green eggs (they can lay blue as well!) .

 

Sometimes friendliness can be down to personality rather than breed .

 

 

Day 4 with mine and i did a post of bluebelles recently asking for comments as I had reservations?? and out of the three i have she is the most friendliest and i have just fed her out of my hand for the first time..she is really great and as ANH said above completely agree...as i was concerned about bluebelles..this bluebelle has proved me wrong..indeed have really taken to her as has my youngest son..his favourite

 

As its early days the speckledey hen is the most nervous darts past me if i get near...the other is half and half getting their (she is a plymouth rockx rhode island)

Am getting 2 from omlet next week and got to say havent read a bad thing about Gingernut rangers so far...good luck as its a big selection out there..thought i would start with hybrids first to see how i get along