I thought I’d round up some of my nieces and nephews, and get some pint-sized advice from the future chicken farmers of America. Five of the six that I interviewed have their own pet chicken intermingled with my flock. The sixth badly wants some chickens and hopes they’re in her near future.
I asked if I could interview them to help chicken-less kids out there learn about chickens, figuring they might have some good advice to pass along. They all took the task quite seriously, and I recorded their answers below. Needless to say, there were a few times when it was hard to match their serious demeanor and not laugh out loud!
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Janessa, age 7
Proud chicken owner of Snowflake
Do chickens make good pets?
“Yes. They’re helpful. They give you food so you don’t have to go to the store.”
Do you have any advice for kids who want to get chickens?
“Let them have recess. Make sure they don’t get captured by a fox.”
How do eggs hatch?
“The eggs stay under the mom so they can stay warm and when they get warm, babies come out.”
Is it good to have roosters in your flock?
“NO! If he marries one of our girl chickens we’ll be having lots of chicks and we don’t want that!”
Kally, age 7
Pining away to be a chicken owner (but until then she likes to visit my chickens)
What’s your favorite thing about chickens?
“I like it when they lay eggs because then I can collect them. I like to feed them and pick them up and carry them.”
Do chickens make good pets?
“Yes, because you can collect their eggs and make scrambled eggs. And they also fly.”
Do you have any advice for kids who want to get chickens?
“They need water and food and a chicken house.”
“Do not chase the chickens. Feed them from your hand and pet them.”
What’s your least favorite thing about chickens?
”Chicken poop on my sweater!”
Ricky, age 8
Proud chicken owner of Jessica
What’s your favorite thing about chickens?
“They give you omelets and money for selling eggs.”
Do chickens make good pets?
“Yes. They’re nice, funny, silly and adorable.”
Do you have any advice for kids who want to get chickens?
“You’ll have to clean out the chicken coop a lot because they just poop all over everything.”
What are roosters for?
“They give us babies and keep hens safe and protected from coyotes. Just like a plain father, they will protect you from everything.”
Jacob, age 10
Proud chicken owner of Peep (the only chicken in the flock that could say her own name when she was a baby)
What’s your favorite thing about chickens?
When they’re babies they’re fun to hold and they sit in your arms and fall asleep.
Do chickens make good pets?
“Yes. They’re fun and they pay for their own food. They’re awesome.”
Do you have any advice for kids who want to get chickens?
“Make a big enough place for chickens to stay.”
Do you have any other thoughts you’d like to share?
“Roosters have babies with their girlfriends.”
Jordan, age 12
Proud chicken owner of Olivia
What’s your favorite thing about chickens?
“They have their own personalities. Mine hops like a grasshopper.”
Do chickens make good pets?
“Yes, because you don’t have to buy any eggs or you can use them to breed.” [What does it mean to breed?] “I don’t know.”
Do you have any advice for kids who want to get chickens?
“When they’re young, you need to play with them more. Don’t be mean to them.”
David, age 14
Unsure chicken owner of Makayla
What’s your favorite thing about chickens?
“They sometimes lay fart eggs.”
Do chickens make good pets?
”Yes, when they’re little.”
Do you have any advice for kids who want to get chickens?
“Be prepared to have poop everywhere.”
Having chickens in their lives have been good for them. They really do enjoy them. I’ll often find chickens contentedly nestled in their arms as they’re carted around the backyard. They also love collecting and eating the eggs. And, apparently, they love their role of chicken spokespersons to the chicken-less world out there.
