Learn More About The Program:
- Demonstrate Responsibility: Effectively care for chickens, showcasing good animal husbandry practices.
- Manage Records: Maintain accurate records of animal management and finances, including feed costs and feeding schedules.
- Understand Chicken Basics: Define key chicken terms and identify the various parts of a chicken.
- Comprehend the Life Cycle: Understand and explain the different stages in a chicken's life cycle.
- Exhibit with Confidence: Present and showcase a chicken with poise and assurance.
Who can participate in the Chicken Chain?
To participate in the 4-H Youth Chicken Chain Project, individuals must meet the following criteria:
- Age: Be between 5 and 18 years old as of January 1, 2024.
- Location: Be enrolled in 4-H in Chatham County.
Chicken Chain Important Dates
| Registration Opens | Aug. 9th, 2024 |
| Registration Closes | Aug. 29th, 2024 |
| Chick Care & Biosecurity Virtual Meeting (Mandatory) | Sept. 5th, 2024 from 6-7:00 pm |
| Chick Arrival / Pick-up Week | Week of Sept. 9th, 2024 (Actual Pick-up Date TBD) |
| Project Record Book Meeting | TBD (End of Sept.) |
| Project Record Books Due into Cooperative Extension Office | Feb. 21st, 2025 (Tentatively) |
| Chicken Chain Show (Greensboro) | March 8th, 2025 |
| Inclement Weather Show Date | March 15th, 2025 |
What do I have to provide?
As a participant in the 4-H Youth Chicken Chain Project, you will be responsible for the comprehensive care of your 6 chicks. This includes:- Housing: Providing a suitable and safe environment for your chicks to grow and thrive. Initially, they need to be kept under a heat lamp to stay warm. Once they are fully feathered, they can be transitioned to an outdoor coop or pen. Make sure they will be safe from predators (Hawks, Racoons, Snakes, etc.)
- Feed: Ensuring a proper and balanced diet by supplying appropriate feed for your chicks.
- Water: Maintaining a clean and consistent water supply to keep your chicks hydrated.
- Additional Needs: Addressing any other care requirements to ensure the well-being of your chicks. This could include medication costs in the event birds need to be treated.
This hands-on experience will help youth develop essential skills in animal care and management while fostering a sense of responsibility and commitment.
Now that you have read all about the program and how it will work let's get you signed up.
Link to Register & Order Chicks
If you have multiple children who would like to participate in your family, siblings are allowed to share birds if they choose to. If they choose to share birds they need to indicate that on the event registration. It will say "Shared Birds" and click the plus button to indicate that.
4-H OnlineTo participate in this program all youth must be signed up in 4-H online. If your children are not yet enrolled in 4-H online you will need to create an account and enroll.
Rules & Regulations
Chicken Chain Website (Additional Resources, Updates, and all things related to the program can be found here.)
If you have any questions about the program or would like to learn more contact Dalton Suits at (919) 542-8242 or by email at dalton_suits@ncsu.edu
