Chick Chain! Chick Chain! Chick Chain!
Sounds like a train trying to get underway or a rap star about to unwind. But, Chick Chain is the beginning of a whole lot of chirping going on around southeast Alabama.
On Friday, area 4-H’ers received their chicks for the 4-H Chick Chain project.
In Pike County, 18 young people are participating in the project.
Not only are they excited to be mamas or papas to baby chicks, so is Grant Lyons, Pike County Extension coordinator, excited to see them participate.
“I’m very excited about the opportunities the Chick Chain project offers 4-H’ers and even more excited that we have 18 Pike County youth participating in the project,” Lyons said. “Each 4-H’er received 18 chicks or pullets and must care for and manage them over the summer and early fall.”
The Chick Chain in a growing 4-H offering. This is the second year the project has been offered in the southeast and the response has been outstanding, Lyons said.
“Not only do the youth have an opportunity to be involved in a poultry project, they also have the opportunity to make new 4-H friendship across counties.”
Before picking out and taking home their chicks, the 4-H’ers and their parents attended a mandatory training meeting.
“The meeting allows time for Extension agents to go over proper chick care, coop building and feed management, among other things,” Lyons said. “We want to make sure the youth and parents know they will be caring for live chickens over a 21 week period and there are easy ways to ensure the chickens are properly taken care of.”
On pickup day, the youth selected their choice of 18 chicks. Each 4-H’er picked six chicks form three of the five available breeds — Silver Laced, Wyandotte, Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Reds, Easter Eggers and Light Brahma.
“Once the 4-H’ers selected their chicks, they transported them home and the project began.” Lyons said.
Over the summer, Extension agents will make home visits to all participants’ homes.
“The home visits give us a chance to visit with the 4-H’ers, hear about their projects, answer questions and ensure they are properly caring for the chicks,” Lyons said. “The youth get very excited about sharing their projects when we make home visits.”
In October, each youth will pick his or her top three birds and enter them in the Southeast Chick Chain Show where they will compete in showmanship and for Grand Champion and Reserve Champion.
“The remaining 15 birds are the youths’ to keep,” Lyons said. “Hopefully, those birds will be laying eggs and contributing to the family.”
The Chick Chain project is yet another way the 4-H clubs expose youth to agriculture.
“One of the neat things about this project is that it is available to all youth,” Lyons said. “Whether you live in the city or in a more rural area, any youth can participate in Chick Chain.”
Lyons said Chick Chain exposes youth to agriculture by managing a live poultry project and they also learn life and business management skills.
For more information about the 4-H Chick Chain project and other 4-H projects, contact the Extension Office at 334-566-0985.