Chick Chick Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 Hello, my children are wanting some new hens and Im wondering which is the best breed to go for. They like the look of bantams because they are small and pretty they also like the look of silkies because they are fluffy and pretty 😁 Is one better suited for children over the other? Will either mix with my existing flock better than the other? Any opinions appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 I don’t really know anything about silkies, but generally speaking the Pekin bantams have been the friendliest chickens I’ve had. I think whether or not they’ll integrate with the rest of your flock probably depends on the individuals - I know some people have mixed flocks where the bantams are the boss. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick Chick Posted February 27, 2019 Author Share Posted February 27, 2019 Thanks @mullethunter, it's friendly Im looking for mainly, my current hens are quite nice and sorted out their own pecking order without much fuss so I'm hoping they would take to new hens well. Sorry if its a silly question but are they ok with the steps up to the cube? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 Mine have a piece of run skirt tied to the steps, and a perch at Cube door height outside the Cube. They usually fly straight up to the perch, walk along it and hop in. I know others have Pekins that manage the steps though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick Chick Posted February 27, 2019 Author Share Posted February 27, 2019 Thanks @mullethunter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 I have bantams and they cope fine with the steps into cube. My friendliest Bantam is Madonna, a pure white Polish Bantam. She thinks she’s a parrot! And flies like one. But the ex-bats I’ve had over the years have been wonderful with children too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick Chick Posted February 27, 2019 Author Share Posted February 27, 2019 Thanks @Patricia W, your Madonna sounds fantastic. To be honest my current hens are great with the children, they just saw some bantams and thought they looked lovely then saw some silkies when I was looking for bantams for sale and liked them too so couldn't decide which to get. The more I see of them (online searches) the more Im thinking we may need to get both 😁😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted February 27, 2019 Share Posted February 27, 2019 Bantams are just small chickens, Silkies come in bantam and large fowl size (though even those aren't very big!). Pekins and Wyandottes are good bantam choices. It may be easier to find your local stockist and see which breeds they have to make the decision easier 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 (edited) The other thing I’d say about Bantams is that the ones with feathered feet are a nighmare in mud! Other than that, they all lay lovely child size eggs. Our Polish also have the advantage they don’t go broody so my experience is that they lay more eggs than some of the others. The disadvantage of them is their feathered top knot which other chickens love to pluck! Edited February 28, 2019 by Patricia W 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick Chick Posted February 28, 2019 Author Share Posted February 28, 2019 Thanks @Patricia W definitely getting some Bantams and some Silkies 😁😁 @Lewis that's the problem, they have everything, having to set a maximum number of hens then decide which ones we want the most... not the worst problem to have 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeAyeMagpie Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 We've got two Silkies. We got them for our children and I'm so pleased we did. Although they're classed as large breed they're still the smallest in our flock of 6. They are very easy to pick up and pet, my 2 year old is very confident going up to her black Silkie, Nora and picking her up on her own without any trouble. They lay really nice small eggs with big yolks and a strong shell. They are in a predictable pattern of laying a batch of eggs then going broody for a little bit, which is just as nature intended. Our black one lays light brown eggs and our white one lays a pale white/blue egg (not as string in colouras our Cream Legbar), so I guess she must have a throwback to auracana somewhere in her DNA but appears to be all Silkie. The breeder said all of her white ones lay that colour. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 I have a flock of pure breed bantams, they are all lovely, although the Araucanas are nuts, but then they always are. Some are friendlier than others but it really depends on the individual bird rather than the breed. I wouldn't say that I handle them a heck of a lot, but they are all pretty biddable and trained to come when I whistle. I'm not a fan of Silkies 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 (edited) On 2/27/2019 at 6:41 PM, Chick Chick said: Thanks @mullethunter, it's friendly Im looking for mainly, my current hens are quite nice and sorted out their own pecking order without much fuss so I'm hoping they would take to new hens well. Sorry if its a silly question but are they ok with the steps up to the cube? My pekin bantams were just 16 weeks when we got them. They needed to be lifted up the ladder the first time. After that they worked it out. First few days were a bit hit and miss but they all managed it after a couple of attempts. Now they manage just fine. No modifications to the ladder at all and no clipped wings. All the big old hybrids we before were worse with the ladder at first. Hiubby crawling into the run and putting them in the cube door for days. My kids love the little chickens but were nervous around the. If ones who could peck quite hard sometimes. The pekins our up with slight inept handling from the kids and might protest but they’ve never pecked or retaliated. Edited March 1, 2019 by ajm200 Pekin not Parkin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick Chick Posted March 1, 2019 Author Share Posted March 1, 2019 Thank you for all the replies it is great hearing how everyone has gotten on with the breeds. @Lewis thank you for recommending the Wyandotte, they look lovely and will definitely be getting some, they are on my list, not just the children's. My children keep changing their minds about the Silkies, though we have another month before they will be ready for sale (just balls of fluff at the moment) so they have a bit of time to choose. Knowing them I will end up increasing the maximum amount of hens I have said they can have and they will get a mix of both..... Not sure who is more excited me or them 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeAyeMagpie Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 I'll be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of Silkies before I got them and didn't really count them as proper chickens, but I'm happy to have proven myself wrong. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natspringy Posted March 7, 2019 Share Posted March 7, 2019 (edited) My rescues have turned out excellent chickens for children, they are so unphaseable and easy going. My daughter regularly carts them around the garden under one arm and they are always there under foot if we are about. That's with very little handling, just a few months of having them and some tlc. We hand reared the others and the rescues are by far more amenable with my 5 year old and me! They like to hop on my foot and follow me constantly hoping for treats! Edited March 7, 2019 by Natspringy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
