What Child does not like playing with a kind of animal? A pet is a really great learning curve for a child. A pet teaches a child one of the main things in life and that is responsibility. People usually think of getting Dogs or Cats for Children and can

often be charged a fortune to buy them and then vaccinations, vet checks, food etc. usually add up to a hefty amount.

The best pet that I have ever had through out my life (and my Children have now) is Chickens (Chooks). You may be thinking "I don't live on a farm" but you don't need to live on a farm to have a Hen (female Chick) as a pet. Maybe not a good idea if you live in a unit but I lived in town with a little back yard and managed to keep a chicken for my daughter to have as a pet. Their are many varieties of chickens and you may have to do some research first to make sure you get a breed that suits your surroundings and that you do not get a rooster as thay are too noisy! We have several chickens now but when I lived in town we had just the one as it was enough for the small space.  A little Hen they call a "Buff Bantam" are really pretty and placid chickens that don't tend to fly and being small are comfortable in little areas.

What you need to keep them is:

• A small pen. its easy to get some chicken wire and fence off the corner of the yard (include some shelter for protection)
• Wheat, corn or pellets that can be purchased from pet shops and some supermarkets.
• A bowl or Water drip for their water.

Chickens dont eat much and can also be fed your kitchen scraps. If they are handled regularly then they will be very tame and come to you for a pat or cuddle.  Alot of people complain that chook manure smells but it is nowhere close to the smell of dogs. and as another Idea why not make a little garden with the little ones and mix some chook poo in with the soil as plants thrive on it. Children will have endless entertainment with this pet and get a surprise everyday when your chicken is laying and get excited when collecting the egg. My girls also love cracking their chickens eggs when helping me cook. (Rewarding)