Brahma or Buff Orpington for kids?

[chickenjones]

Trying to decide on a child-friendly breed for my girls to raise. We have silver and gold laced wyandottes. While they are not mean/aggressive, they are flighty and shy. They are still young (19-20 weeks) but they have been this way all along so we haven't been able to really handle them much for awhile. Strangely enough one of the golden laced roos let us hold him up until this week. He is over that now.

I am looking at Brahmas or Buff Orpingtons since I have heard good things about both of them. I am also considering bantam brahmas. What have your experiences been? I will try to post a couple of pics of our two year old holding this roo. I know it was totally the wrong way to hold him but I had to get a picture before she put him down and he obviously didn't seem to mind.

Thanks!
ChickenJones

 

[Sjisty]

What a beautiful little one, and the roo, too! I have Brahmas and orps, and I would say Brahmas. My guys are calm and friendly, and my girls will jump in your lap and just love to get petted!

 

[chickenjones]

Thanks for the compliments -on both accounts!

On the My Pet Chicken site it said the Brahma were the nicest chicken but after looking around I am reading the same thing about the Orpingtons. I really want a chicken my girls (I have two) can interact with. Nora, my oldest, was so disappointed when the roo pictured above decided he was NOT going to be held or petted anymore.

Thanks for your insite.

ChickenJones

 

[GardeNerd]

I love our orpington, and so do the kids. The chicken will let the kids hold her for long periods without complaint.
I doubt you could go wrong with either breed. I would pick Orpington over Brahmas, only because I don't care for feather footed chickens.

 

[Mandalina]

our daughters look like they coud be sisters lol! crazy! she is a cutie!

i love my BO's and they are friendly with me. they arent friendly to my kids though,even though my kids helped raise them. i dont know about brahmas though.i know my silkie is good with kids and ridiculousy easy to handle.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Adorable! And the chicken too.

I've had both. Of the 2 breeds you mentioned, I'd go with the brahma's. My Orpington was a nice bird (we lost her a couple weeks ago) but she was not the hold/lap chicken type. My brahma on the other hand is sweet, really calm with my boys and doesn't object to being held at all. She sometimes seeks me out to be held/petted.

 

[kristen2678]

We have both. The Brahma is nice but keeps her distance. The orp sits on my 3 year old. Both nice, but the orp is the most personable. Really our favorite is our EE. She has tons of personality and is really sweet. She does everything but talk to you. Our fav by far.

 

[NGT ANGL]

My buff Brahma (large fowl) are truly gentle giants and my buff Orpington is a sweetie too but what about a silkie for your girls? They are cute, very personable and touted to be the "puppy dog" of the chicken world. If my pair, Sara and Sam are any indication, silkies live up to the puppy dog title! They will follow me all over, jump in my lap and just generally like to be around people!

 

[chickenjones]

NGT ANGL:
how are silkies with other standard chickens? Can they be left in the coop? They briefly crossed my mind because I know my girls would love them but from what I have seen they almost look like "house birds" and my hubby doesn't want one in the house, nor does he want to build another coop for "special chickens".

Thanks for your Opinion!

ChickenJones

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I have both breeds and think either would do well around kids if they are brought up with them from the chick stage. I trust both around my Grandkids.