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:
- Australorp Barred Rock Brahma Jersey Giant Leghorn
Orpington Rhode Island Red Silky Welsummer Wyandotte
- Australorp Barred Rock Brahma Jersey Giant Leghorn
4-H CHICK CHAIN PROJECT RESOURCES
- 2019 Youth Project Guide
- Setting Up Your Brooder Video – watch this video to learn how to set up a simple brooder for your pullets.
- 2019 4-H Chick Chain Webinar 1 – Watch this video for helpful tips and reminders as you work through your project.
- *Coming Soon!* 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.
- Cloverbud Project Summary (5-7 years old)
- Junior Project Book (8-10 years old)
- Intermediate Project Book (ages 11-13)
- Senior Project Book (14-18 years old)
- Poultry Production Project Book
SHOW RESOURCES
- Sample Showmanship Questions for Cloverbuds
- Sample Showmanship Questions for Juniors
- Sample Showmanship Questions for Intermediates
- Sample Showmanship Questions for Seniors
- Sample Showmanship Score Card
- Skill-a-thon Study Guide
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 |