Chicken Story Ideas -- share your thoughts!

[orloffer]

I am thinking about writing a children's story about chickens, including information on general chicken knowledge and chicken care. Now, I am not certain whether or not I actually will write one, but I thought it might be a fun idea as writing practice.
Please comment about what things I should consider including. Some of my ideas are: how to tell a hen from a rooster, what chicks/chickens need, what they should and shouldn't eat, how to hold a chicken, common chicken behaviors, etc. I want to have accurate knowledge, and correct common misconceptions people have about chickens.
I'm going to set the story on a small homestead with a mixed-breed flock of around 20 chickens (including 2 roosters?), a little meat bird flock of Cornish X, a brooder with chicks, and an incubator.
A couple of questions:
-I personally own a very small flock, and have no experienced with keeping larger numbers of birds. How do you round them up to get them back into the coop at night, and what general coop/run design would be good for the main flock in the story? They would be free-ranged during the day.
-What are some good breeds to include that everyone should know about?

Anyways, feel free to share your thoughts, and/or talk about chicken stories you have written!

 

[WallyBirdie]

I am thinking about writing a children's story about chickens, including information on general chicken knowledge and chicken care. Now, I am not certain whether or not I actually will write one, but I thought it might be a fun idea as writing practice.
Please comment about what things I should consider including. Some of my ideas are: how to tell a hen from a rooster, what chicks/chickens need, what they should and shouldn't eat, how to hold a chicken, common chicken behaviors, etc. I want to have accurate knowledge, and correct common misconceptions people have about chickens.
I'm going to set the story on a small homestead with a mixed-breed flock of around 20 chickens (including 2 roosters?), a little meat bird flock of Cornish X, a brooder with chicks, and an incubator.
A couple of questions:
-I personally own a very small flock, and have no experienced with keeping larger numbers of birds. How do you round them up to get them back into the coop at night, and what general coop/run design would be good for the main flock in the story? They would be free-ranged during the day.
-What are some good breeds to include that everyone should know about?

Anyways, feel free to share your thoughts, and/or talk about chicken stories you have written!

I love this idea!
I started with only a dozen chickens, which was easily manageable- but when I got up to 30 and 50(!) I was a bit overwhelmed (at first). I can answer about rounding them up!

Most naturally want to go in at night. I personally herd in others. And my biggest roo likes to help, so he always goes in last. (He helps guide the hens in.)

Fun things you may add are how a rooster or cockerel courts a lady. My more suave roo likes to dig dust baths and show the girls where the best treats are.

As for breeds, probably include something's easily recognizable, along with something more ornamental. Too many people are not aware that there are unique breeds out there. (The first time my cousin saw a Polish hen, she refused to believe it was a chicken... And many people think my turkens are weird turkeys.)

 

[TheOddOneOut]

I love this idea!
Breeds....Leghorns, BO, BR, BA, Dominique, Easter Eggers, idk....also not all Roos are bad.

 

[orloffer]

I love this idea!
I started with only a dozen chickens, which was easily manageable- but when I got up to 30 and 50(!) I was a bit overwhelmed (at first). I can answer about rounding them up!

Most naturally want to go in at night. I personally herd in others. And my biggest roo likes to help, so he always goes in last. (He helps guide the hens in.)

Fun things you may add are how a rooster or cockerel courts a lady. My more suave roo likes to dig dust baths and show the girls where the best treats are.

As for breeds, probably include something's easily recognizable, along with something more ornamental. Too many people are not aware that there are unique breeds out there. (The first time my cousin saw a Polish hen, she refused to believe it was a chicken... And many people think my turkens are weird turkeys.)

Thanks for the input! So should the coop be left open all the time, so at night they can just go in when they're ready? Then close the door after checking to make sure all the chickens are there?

I thought of another idea--identifying comb types. Single comb, rose comb, etc.
Polish and silkies are both on the list.

 

[orloffer]

I love this idea!
Breeds....Leghorns, BO, BR, BA, Dominique, Easter Eggers, idk....also not all Roos are bad.

Those are all great breed ideas. They would offer a variety of egg colors too!
Should I add in any game breeds, or would that not work so well?

 

[WallyBirdie]

Thanks for the input! So should the coop be left open all the time, so at night they can just go in when they're ready? Then close the door after checking to make sure all the chickens are there?

I thought of another idea--identifying comb types. Single comb, rose comb, etc.
Polish and silkies are both on the list.

I usually leave it open during the day and lock up in the evening after I take a head count. Keep in mind that predators are always a risk...

Goodness gracious, I love the idea of comb identification! It is always a fun topic, and there are so many types/variations!

 

[orloffer]

I usually leave it open during the day and lock up in the evening after I take a head count. Keep in mind that predators are always a risk...

Goodness gracious, I love the idea of comb identification! It is always a fun topic, and there are so many types/variations!

Combs are fun! They range from hardly distinguishable pea combs, to leghorn single combs and those funny combs on Derbyshire redcaps!

 

[orloffer]

At what time of day is it best to give chickens treats--or does it matter?

 

[HomesteaderWife]

I wrote an article sometime back suitable for younger readers, but not quite understandable for really small kids, about clicker training. I think talking about having fun teaching chickens would be awesome. My cousin and I used to think we were weirdo kids and odd ones out for teaching our chickens to do tricks - but I think affirming that it's okay to bond with your flock like that would make it a special book.

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

So, you want a free-range setting? Maybe include some breeds that are known for good free ranging- whether because of their coloring, or foraging abilities. Like speckled sussex, for their coloring.