4-H Poultry Projects
Kentucky Youth Poultry Program
Poultry-related activities provide a wide range of learning opportunities for youth.
Kentucky-specific 4-H Poultry Projects
4-H projects provide youth and their families with diverse learning environments - poultry are an excellent model to teach nutrition, physiology, genetics, record keeping, production and health management. Because a poultry project involves living creatures, it requires regular care and management, developing these life skills in participants.
There are several low-cost poultry projects that require very little space, making them suitable for those interested in animal science but don't have the resources to keep a cow, sheep or pig. There are also large-scale poultry projects (e.g., managing a breeder flock), but no matter the cost of the birds or the facilities used, they have the same learning value.
In the 4-H Poultry projects, participants will learn:
- how to identify breeds and select quality poultry animals;
- best practices for animal care and management;
- safe and ethical practices for animal welfare;
- showing skills;
- how to promote the use of poultry products and the poultry industry; and
- skills such as decision-making, getting along with others, self-responsibility, planning and organizing, and improving your knowledge of general science and technology.
Kentucky-specific Poultry Project Curriculum
Here are some Kentucky-specific poultry projects. Curriculum is currently available for Pullet and Laying Hen projects. Additional curricula will be added as it becomes available. For more information, contact Dr. Jacquie Jacob.
- Pullet Project (zip)
- Laying Hen Project (zip)
Kentucky 4-H Poultry-Related Contests
Participation in competitive events teaches sportsmanship and character.
- Avian Bowl
- Poultry Judging
- Poultry-related Culinary Contests
- Poultry Showmanship
General Youth Poultry-Related Curriculum
Original educational materials developed for the classroom sponsored by the Kentucky Egg Council and the US Poultry & Egg Association. The material has been updated and reformatted into 4-H curriculum.
- The Egg and I - Binder Cover Page
- Chapter 1 - Composition of the Egg
- Chapter 2 - Egg Quality & Sizing
- Chapter 3 - Egg Safety & Handling
- Chapter 4 - Nutrition
- Chapter 5 - Cooking Methods
- Chapter 6 - Good For Your Health
- Chapter 7 - Cholesterol
- Chapter 8 - Basic Egg Facts
- Chapter 9 - General Egg Questions
- Chapter 10 - Egg Production
- Chapter 11 - Recipes
- Chapter 12 - Worksheets
- Chapter 13 - Experiments
- Chapter 14 - Easter
- Chapter 15 - Chicken
- Chapter 16 - Powerpoint
- Chapter 17 - Ordering Materials
- Egg and I Powerpoint Presentation PDF
With a grant from US Poultry and Egg as well as the Kentucky Poultry Federation, five lessons were developed to teach Grade 3-5 (and older) students on the nutritive, flexible and economical value of chicken.
- Contents - List of Resources Available
- Lesson 1 - Why include protein in your diet? (zip)
- Lesson 2 - Why include chicken in your diet? (zip)
- Lesson 3 - What do all those labels mean? (zip)
- Lesson 4 - Chicken meat product - how is it done? (zip)
- Lesson 5 - Chicken meat production - the facts (zip)
If you have any questions, contact Dr. Jacquie Jacob.
Resources
- Safe Handling of Chicks
- Risk of Human Salmonella Infections from Live Baby Poultry
- Leaders' Guide on Animal Welfare for Fairs and Exhibitions
- Youth Guide on Animal Welfare for Fairs and Exhibitions
- How to Pick your Chicken Breed
- Raising Broilers and Turkeys for Competitions
- 4-H Poultry Showmanship Questions
- Incubating & Hatching Your Own Eggs
National 4-H Poultry Project Materials (for Ages 8-18)
In this series, you will develop the skills necessary to care for poultry. You will participate in activities such as breed identification, preparing poultry for a show, exploring an egg, poultry health and judging market poultry value. The resource material listed below is available for sale online at the 4-H mall. See an overview of projects.
POULTRY Level 1: Scratching the Surface explores how to identify and select different species and breeds. You will learn the parts of poultry animals including eggs and feather features as well as feeding, handling, washing, and showing techniques. Available through National 4-H Council.
POULTRY Level 2: Testing Your Wings explores how to recognize sickness early, identify parts and functions of a bird, how an egg is formed. 4-H'ers are also taught about judging, pecking order, selecting hens, feed tags, advertising poultry products, and preventing poultry diseases.
POULTRY Level 3: Flocking Together guides older 4-H'ers in taking leadership roles, managing a laying flock, genetics, safe handling of meat and eggs, processing meat, poultry careers, and preparing for the workplace. Available through National 4-H Council.
POULTRY Leader/Helper Guide: This Helper's Guide will help you support youth in his or her efforts to set goals and complete activities, as well as providing resources for the members to use in completing the series.