4-H Chick Chain

4-H Chick Chain is a program designed to help youth learn how to raise baby chicks into mature production pullets. Youth learn responsibility, ethical treatment of animals, biosecurity, record keeping and communication skills.

Youth purchase or hatch pullets during March 2019, register their project and raise the chicks for 21 weeks.  They’ll participate in workshops learning how to care for their chicks, show hens and complete project books and participate in a show in September.

The Florida 4-H Chick Chain is open to 4-H members in the northwest district 5-18 (as of September 1st, 2018).  Contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Office if you have questions.  Read about last year’s show on our blog.

REGISTRATION

  • Open in 4HOnline March 1-31, 2019
  • New projects – $20
  • Returning projects – $10 (hens from 2018’s project only)
  • Siblings can share chicks but should register and complete project books individually
  • *NEW* – Purchase or hatch any number of chicks you choose from these breeds:
    • Autralorp       Barred Rock       Brahma       Jersey Giant       Leghorn
      Orpington           Rhode Island Red       Silky       Welsummer       Wyandotte

4-H CHICK CHAIN PROJECT RESOURCES

  • Orientation Video – STRONGLY recommended for 1st time participants! Watch this video for an overview of the program and instructions on how care for your pullets.

  • Getting Ready for the Show – this video will cover all the information you need to pack your show kit, prepare your hens and prepare yourself for showmanship and skill-a-thon.
  • Bio-security Basics Poster – ask for a laminated copy from your 4-H Agent

PROJECT BOOKS – you will receive a project book with an official 4-H project book cover from your 4-H Agent.
If you are a returning chick chain project member, you’ll use the production book, and place it behind your previous project book records.  Youth can participate 4-H Chick Chain project multiple years; just add the records to the back of your current book.

SHOW RESOURCES

IMPORTANT DATES (see youth guide for a detailed timeline):

  • March 1-31- Register for Chick Chain in 4HOnline & pay registration fee to your 4-H Agent
  • March 1-31- Purchase or hatch your chicks
  • Summer – Attend Poultry Perfection Workshops
    • July 10 – 6263 Dogwood Drive, Milton, FL 32570
    • June 4 – 1424 Jackson Ave, Chipley, FL 32428
    • July 27 – 84 Cedar Avenue, Crawfordville, FL 32327
  • August 23 – Re-enroll in 4-H and pay your FL 4-H Membership Fee
  • August 26-September 13 – Register for the 4-H Chick Chain Show in 4HOnline
  • September 13 – Project books and photography entries due to your 4-H Agent
  • September 28 – 4-H Chick Chain Show – 1424 Jackson Ave, Chipley, FL

QUESTIONS?  Here are your county contacts:

Escambia Aly Schortinghouse aschortinghouse@ufl.edu
Santa Rosa Prudence Caskey prudencecaskey@ufl.edu
Okaloosa Taylor Wilken twilken@ufl.edu
Walton Jena Gilmore
Baylee Sweat		 brooks15@ufl.edu
bsweat@ufl.edu 
Holmes Niki Crawson ncrawson@ufl.edu
Washington Julie Pigott Dillard juliepd@ufl.edu
Jackson Patti Peacock ppeacock@ufl.edu
Bay Paula M. Davis pmdavis@ufl.edu
Calhoun Whitney Cherry cherryw@ufl.edu
Leon Allison Leo aleo@ufl.edu
Liberty Kristi Matthews kristimathews@ufl.edu
Gulf Melanie Taylor metaylor@ufl.edu
Franklin Rachel Pienta r.pienta@ufl.edu
Wakulla Rachel Pienta r.pienta@ufl.edu
Gadsden Yolanda Goode yygoode@ufl.edu
Jefferson John Lilly
Allen Vanderson		 jgl@ufl.edu
avanerson@ufl.edu


Chick Chain Logo