Chicken breeds for children: which will work best for your family?

Chickens can be a wonderful way for children to learn about caring for other living things, and to understand where their morning eggs really come from!

Which chicken breeds are good for children? Pin for later.

But choosing the right chicken breed for a family isn't always straightforward, especially if you're new to keeping poultry.

Some breeds are naturally calm and people-friendly, while others are better suited to experienced keepers or quieter households.

On this page, I'll help you start thinking about which breeds may suit your children and your family life best.

It isn't about finding a single "perfect" chicken, but about narrowing the field and avoiding common (and sometimes costly) mistakes.

General considerations.

  • If you have very young children, you may want to look first at bantam breeds. Not every breed comes in a bantam size, but smaller chickens are often easier for little hands to manage and less intimidating than large, heavy birds.
  • It's also worth thinking about your home environment and climate. A gentle, friendly breed still needs to be well suited to your local weather and the amount of space you have available.
  • Don't automatically rule out roosters, especially if you're planning a flock of ten hens or more. While some males can be challenging, many are excellent flock guardians and surprisingly calm around people.
  • I've linked to my articles about male chickens at the bottom of this page if you’d like to explore that further.

How to use this page.

Below, you’ll find links to chicken breeds that tend to work well with children of different ages and temperaments.

Click on any of the links or pictures below to visit a more detailed page about each breed, including its history, temperament, and egg-laying habits.

The Light Sussex

The Light Sussex chicken breed - link.

Curious and ultra-friendly, the Light Sussex is often a good choice for families with confident children who won’t be phased by a larger bird.

They cope well with cold climates, are equally at home in spacious gardens or smaller runs, and are excellent foragers, which is helpful if you're watching feed costs.

As a bonus, they lay large, pinky-brown eggs for most of the year.

Red Stars

Link to information about the Red Star chicken

If your children are excited by the idea of collecting lots of eggs, Red Stars are hard to beat.

Gentle, friendly, and endlessly curious, they're one of the most reliable layers and will keep producing even when the weather is less than ideal.

Children often enjoy watching their enthusiastic (and sometimes clumsy) attempts at flying, although some families may see this as a problem and prefer a slightly calmer breed.

Silkie chickens

Link to facts about the Silkie chicken breed

Silkies are one of the most popular chicken breeds for children of all ages, and they're especially well suited to younger ones.

Fluffy, sweet-natured, and very tolerant of handling, many Silkies seem to see themselves as lap chickens. They're also excellent mothers and are often used to hatch chicks.

It's important to check that your climate suits them, though. Silkies don't cope well with prolonged cold, wet conditions.

The Speckled Sussex chicken

Link to page about the Speckled Sussex chicken

Chatty, curious, and very people-friendly, the Speckled Sussex enjoys being part of family life.

Their striking feathering often appeals to older children, and their calm, sociable nature makes them easy to live with.

They're also known for being good "listeners" as well as talkers, which can make them surprisingly comforting companions.

Chickens that lay lovely coloured eggs

Which breeds produce colourful eggs? Link.

If your children are drawn to the idea of a colourful egg basket, you may enjoy exploring breeds that lay blue, green, white, or deep brown eggs.

This article looks at a range of breeds that produce different egg colours, and also answers the common question of whether black eggs really exist.

Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds

Thumbnail: Storey's guide to poultry breeds - book review.

If you're still unsure which breed might suit your family and situation best, a good reference book can help.

In this review, I look at one of the most popular illustrated poultry guides by one of the world's most respected poultry experts.

It covers more than 128 breeds, with clear photographs and straightforward descriptions, making it an easy read, even for older children.

If you liked this page, you may find these helpful, too.

Raising chickens: a beginner's guide - link.
Are chickens for you quiz – thumbnail.
All about what chickens eat - link.
Treats for chickens: which are healthy? Link.
Which plants are good for chickens? Link.
Omlet chicken runs reviewed: link to article.
7 chicken coop design ideas - link.
All about roosters - link.
Raising chickens - month by month tasks - link.
Link to Raising Happy Chickens home page.