popular for beginner chicken keepers as well as families with young children. Similar to their Buff counterparts, they are agreeable to nearly any living condition and tend to do well in small spaces. They are also quite quiet and are not apt to fly much, making them a great choice for neighborhoods and a wonderful urban chicken. A Lavender Orpington hen averages 250 eggs per year.
Great Chicken Breeds
Australorps
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Kids Jennifer Keating - Keene, NH
R
aising backyard chickens can be a fun experience for the whole family! With chickens’ adorable antics and unique personalities, children are inherently drawn to them. Around the farm, children can be responsible for their flock and feel a sense of pride and ownership. Younger children can help to fill the feeders, gather eggs, and round up the chickens in the evenings. Older children can assist with cleaning the coops, letting the chickens out each morning, and filling the waterers. Additionally, kids can teach chickens to come when called (with the help of dried mealworms), learn about the joys of gardening with chickens, and even bring their favorite chicken on a tour of the neighborhood using the Valhoma Chicken Harness. We have even heard of some young chicken enthusiasts teaching their birds tricks and we have watched some incredible videos of chicken agility on social media! Any way you look at it, a small flock of friendly chickens can be a fun addition to your farm, especially when you have kids in the mix. Keep reading to learn more about some of the friendly and calm chicken breeds that are excellent choices for raising when you have young farmers involved. Spring 2022
Maddison of Highland Farm in Swanzey, NH
Buff Orpingtons Often referred to as “Golden Retrievers of the Chicken World,” Buff Orpingtons are one of the most popular breeds of chickens for poultry farmers of all ages. These beautiful golden-colored dual-purpose birds respond extremely well to attention and generally enjoy being handled. The breed tends to be non-aggressive, which makes them an excellent choice for families. Many children use Buff Orpingtons as their 4-H and/or FFA poultry projects. Additionally, Buff Orpingtons are very laid-back birds that can handle both free-range and enclosed environments. They tend to be quite quiet as well, making them a popular choice for neighborhoods or homesteaders with a limited amount of space. As a heritage breed, they are inclined to be healthy, hardy, and cold-tolerant. You can expect a hen to lay 200-280 large brown eggs each year.
Lavender Orpingtons Possessing many of the great qualities of their Buff Orpington relatives, Lavender Orpingtons feature a gorgeous silver-purple coloring. These friendly birds love attention and have been known to jump on laps and come when called when they are raised from chicks. This breed is exceptionally docile while also being extremely beautiful. They are
An Australian cousin of the Buff Orpington and Lavender Orpington (are we sensing a trend here?), the Australorp is a large, docile, black chicken breed. They are excellent mothers, making them a great choice if you want to raise a flock with your children. Typically, the Australorp is a black bird, but when the sun hits them, they have an amazing beetle-green sheen… they are stunning birds. The Australorps are very popular as 4-H and FFA projects because they have such sweet temperaments for dual-purpose birds; they can commonly be seen competing at country fairs. Notoriously calm and friendly, the Australorp does well in a mixed flock or a single breed flock. They are highly productive egg layers, with hens averaging 300 brown eggs a year.
Ameraucanas
Ameraucana chickens, also referred to as Easter Eggers, make an exciting addition to any child’s flock. These nonaggressive birds do best if handled by children from the chick on to the adult stage. It is important that they are handled early in life, otherwise, they can be shy and a little f lighty. They are known for building strong bonds with their humans. Easter Eggers are excellent foragers and can provide backyard tick control. They are mainly prized for their beautiful-colored light blue, seafoam green, and pink eggs. Children will love running to the nesting box and seeing the treasures that have been left for them by these fabulous layers. You can expect up to 280 extra-large eggs each year. They can also tolerate a wide range of temperatures, making them ideal for the New England climate.
Barred Plymouth Rocks
Showcasing unique black and white stripes that help them to stand out in a flock, Barred Plymouth Rocks are well known for their gentle personalities. These chickens are one of America’s Continued Next Page
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