how involved can the dc be with these?

[gill89]

other than collecting the eggs (if there are any!!) how much do your dc do with the chickens?

is it ok for dc to clean them out?

thnaks

Well mine help to clean them out, in that they put in the clean shavings and straw, they don't shovel out the old as that is a five minute job anyway and they would probably make more mess than they solved! (they are 4 and a half and 2 and three months)But I expect they might help with that in the future (hols the bag for the dirty bedding or something like that).They feed them little snacks and they handle them.No eggs yet anyway with our newest lot of hens as they are too young.

My older 2 (7 and 6) check for eggs, clean out with me, check food and water and help me catch the escapee's.
they love the chicken care and even after such a long time, still haven't stopped fighting over who's turn it is to collect eggs etc

My two (8 and 6) love helping to clean them out, fetch the eggs, feed them treats etc. Our chickens have also got used to my youngest carting them around under his arm, or sitting them on his skateboard. The things a chicken will put up with for a raisin!

DS (6.5) lets them out / puts them back into their pen/house when nagged asked and will fill their feeder and water thing as well as collecting eggs. Both he and DD (2.5) feed them scraps and corn.

Cleaning them out is an occasional punishment/ penance for DS!

DS1 likes to run around the garden with some food so they chase him. He's never been hugely interested in animals but is really very fond of the chickens and always wanting to let them out for a run around (they're usually fenced in their own area at the bottom of the garden for poo control and rhubarb protection...) He also carries the eggs in and throws food into their area for them. He's 5. DS2 who's 2 likes to carry their eggs, feed them, and scream and run away when they're on the loose!