Chickens. They are everywhere. If you don’t have any in your own backyard, them I’m sure that you have some neighbours who do.
So, what’s so great about keeping chickens?
Along with the benefits and responsibility that come with caring for any pet, keeping chickens also teaches children about where food comes from. Rather than eggs magically appearing on the supermarket shelf they learn about the energy and care that is needed to produce food.
If you are interested in reading further about chicken husbandry you can find a load of information in our great collection in both Adult and Junior Non-Fiction at 635.5.
Chicken Books
Nick Bland is one of my all-time favourite children’s authors and this book is yet another banger. Popcorn is the friendliest chicken on the farm until she discovers a smart phone. She becomes so absorbed in the device that she forgets who her true friends are until she is in danger and they stage a rescue.
This is a lovely cautionary tale about the dangers of modern technology. This story is a great jumping of point for discussions about cyber security and stranger danger.
The Book Chook is a sweet book that breaks the fourth wall. What’s the difference between a chicken in a book and a chicken in real life? Would a book chook want to be a real chicken? Could a book chook escape from the pages?
This is a fun book to read aloud with the protagonist speaking directly to the child.
The follow up to the classic Rosie’s Walk, this book became an instant classic. The illustrations are in the same gorgeous 1960’s style as Rosie’s Walk and are beautiful. This book really offers two stories in the same book. One in the narrative and one told through the illustrations.
Rosie is looking for her chick and cannot find it anywhere. Where could it possibly be?
This is a lovely little book that you can read over and over again.
Chicken Rhyme
TEN LITTLE CHICKS
Five eggs and five eggs, (hold up ten fingers)
That makes ten.
Sitting on top is the mother hen. (cover one hand with the other)
Crack, crack, crack, (clap 3 times)
What do I see?
Ten little chicks,
As cute as can be! (Hold up ten fingers)
Chicken Craft
Make a Rockin’ Chickadee.
What You’ll Need:
Yellow, orange, and red card.
Wiggly eyes
Tape and glue
What to do:
Cut a strip of yellow card 5 x 20 cm
Roll it into a cylinder shape and fasten with tape.
Cut a small triangle out of orange card and glue to the cylinder.
Cut out a comb shape from the red card and glue it to the top of the yellow cylinder.
Glue on wiggly eyes.
