So, if you are looking for the best low-maintenance chickens for kids, you have come to the right place.
We have made a list of the best low-maintenance chicken breeds to help you find gentle chickens for your kids. Keep reading to learn more.
Raising chickens is a joyous and rewarding experience. Chickens not only give us eggs and meat, but they also give us companionship.
Chicken keeping is also a great way of teaching responsibility to your kids. There are hundreds of chicken breeds, and each is unique in its own way.
If your kid is fond of chickens and you plan to add some to your backyard, you must ensure you choose the right chicken breed so you do not have to worry when they interact.
However, with the many chicken breeds in the poultry world, choosing a kid-friendly breed can be daunting, especially if you are a starter.
Buff Orpington
First on our list of the best low-maintenance chickens for kids is the “Buff Orpington.” These adorable birds have a fluffy golden appearance and friendly personalities.
They are also good for both egg and meat production.
The breed was developed by William Cook, a coachman from Orpington. He started off by breeding a Minorca, Plymouth Rock, and Langshan.
He initially created a black Orpington and went on to create a Buff Orpington. After several years of breeding efforts, Cook successfully produced blue, white, splashed, and patterned breed variations.
Buff Orpingtons are known for being friendly and calm. They love being held and are perfect for affectionate kids who love being around their pets.
They are hardy chickens that can handle cold and confinement. However, they like to have a large space to roam freely.
Buff Orpington hens start laying eggs at 5-7 months old. They normally lay large, brown eggs. Under good care and proper nutrition, a Buff Orpington hen can lay 200 to 280 eggs per year.
They tend to go broody and protect their nesting boxes and eggs. When they hatch, they make good mothers to their baby chicks.
Plymouth Rock Chicken
The Plymouth Rock is one of America’s oldest chicken breeds, but it is never too old for kids.
Like many other chicken breeds, these low-maintenance birds can be a great addition to your backyard flock, especially if you prefer practical chickens.
These adorable birds have distinctive black and white bars as patterns. However, the pattern levels and ratio are inaccurate and vary from one chicken to another.
The bars can vary depending on the bird’s gender. Female birds tend to have slightly wider black bars than white ones. On the other hand, male birds tend to have a 1:1 ratio for their black-and-white bars.
Plymouth Rocks have soft, loose feathers and are often confused with Dominique chickens. However, there is a distinct difference between their bars.
While Plymouth Rocks’ bars are defined and clear black and white, Dominiques have fuzzier bars that appear grayish.
These sweet chickens enjoy being cuddled and love being with their handlers. This makes them suitable for families with kids. Even Plymouth Rock roosters are docile and friendly.
Therefore, you will not have to worry when they are interacting with your kids. They are the type of chickens that will follow you as you work in the backyard.
Plymouth Rocks are also good for meat and egg production. They can lay up to 200 large, brown eggs per year. They start laying eggs at 4-6 months.
Brahma Chickens
The Brahma is a large-sized chicken breed. While they may look intimidating due to their large sizes, they are among the gentlest and sweetest chicken breeds.
Because of their gentle nature, they are called “gentle giants.”
Adding these gentle giants to your backyard flock helps raise the flock’s protection and security. Their size gives them a protective and intimidating appearance that protects the flock from predators.
They are also known to have feathers on their toes and shanks. Besides, they have bushy eyebrows and a pea comb.
This is one of the best breeds if you want a low-maintenance chicken breed that your kids will enjoy playing with.
Their fluffy features and smooth-looking feathers make them adorable and fun for kids to play with. While their size can be intimidating, they are friendly and will hardly hurt your kids.
Not all large-sized chickens are aggressive. Brahmas chickens are suitable for families with kids and beginners. They do well in cooler places since the cold helps them lay eggs.
They tend to lay often during cooler months and can lay up to 200 medium-brown eggs yearly.
Cochin Chicken
Cochin Chicken originated in Shanghai, China. They were originally referred to as Cochins-China and were bred for their looks.
The breed was one of the reasons for chicken fever in the United Kingdom and the United States of America in the 1800s.
The Cochin chicken is an adorable bird known for its fluffy appearance. They have feathers all around their bodies, including their shanks.
Therefore, they may not be suitable for places with high rainfall because their feathers collect dirt. However, Cochins are generally considered a low-maintenance chicken breed.
These large-sized chickens are poor flyers. This means you must keep them in a safe place to protect them from predators, such as raccoons, coyotes, and stray dogs.
While they are heavy and huge chickens, they are mellow and easy to get along with. They make great pets for families with kids.
Because of their gentle and friendly nature, your kids will enjoy playing with them. Cochins are hardy and adaptable chickens that can do well in hot and cold climates.
They also have the instincts and gentleness to serve as foster moms. Under good care and proper nutrition, a Cochin hen can lay 120 to 180 eggs per year.
They usually lay medium to large light brown eggs.
Polish Chicken
The Polish Chicken is one of the most adorable and fashionable chicken breeds in the poultry world. They have unique head feathers that anyone will quickly fall in love with.
While their ancestry is unknown, they are believed to have made their way to England in the 1700s. They eventually arrived in America from 1830 to 1840.
Polish chickens are often labeled “blessed” because only a few chicken breeds have head feathers.
Despite their quite sophisticated appearance and snobbish attitude, they are friendly and gentle chickens that get along well with people and other chickens.
They like being held and will not mind having a cuddle session with kids in the family.
These adorable chickens are great for kids and provide a good source of eggs. They can lay 3 to 5 tiny white eggs per week. This translates to about 200 eggs per year.
However, because of their small sizes, they do not provide a lot of meat. In addition, their head feathers are their crown of glory and are raised for the show.
Golden Laced Wyandotte
Last on our list of the best low-maintenance chickens for kids is the “Golden Laced Wyandotte.” This dual-purpose chicken breed is good for both meat and egg production.
They start laying eggs at 18 weeks old and can lay up to 200 large, brown eggs yearly.
Golden Laced Wyandottes have heavy bodies and small rose combs that help them do well in cold climates.
They have golden feathers with black lacing around each one of them. Generally, the Golden Laced Wyandotte is a hardy chicken breed that will do well in any climate.
They will also do well in both confinement and when allowed to free-range.
These gentle and friendly chickens are known to be child-friendly. However, despite their gentle nature, they do not tolerate bullying from other chickens.
When threatened or bullied by other birds in the flock, they stand their ground and assert dominance.
They are great moms who will care for their baby chicks very well. Therefore, if you plan to raise chicks in your backyard, this is one of the breeds to consider.
They are also great for those looking for a low-maintenance chicken breed.
Conclusion
Running around the backyard with chickens is a fun activity for many children. If your kids love to play with pets, you should consider adding a kid-friendly chicken breed to your backyard flock.
The best low-maintenance chickens for kids are Buff Orpingtons, Plymouth Rocks, Brahmas, Golden Laced Wyandottes, and Polish chickens.
