This is one of the best methods of teaching children responsibility.
I had a flock of 200 birds, free range. The deal was that my children took turns watering, feeding, and gathering the eggs. They got all the money from selling eggs and I paid for the feed. That was their allowance.
My daughter was four years old, and the big mean white rooster used to chase her and flop her every time she went to collect eggs. She came in the house crying, feeling overwhelmed and helpless.
I gave her one of those big “Fat Albert” whiffle ball bats and went with her to the chicken house. At first she was timid and afraid, until her swing hit a home run on the rooster coming at her. Soon she was chasing the rooster with the bat. It never came near her again.
That single event changed my daughter’s personality in a very positive way. No longer was she timid in life. I used to joke that I pitied my daughter’s future husband as she wore the pants.
I taught the kids how to hypnotize chickens and they would play a game to see how many chickens they could hypnotize and line up on the fence rail.
I highly recommend a flock of chickens to teach children responsibility. I’ll never forget my son eating breakfast and I asked him if he fed the chickens. (They were always to be fed before we ate.) He replied “No, I’m hungry.” I replied, “So are the chickens and they can’t feed themselves.” Lesson learned.
What a great Dad you were to your children! Roots and Wings. Love it!