How to Raise Texas 4-H Show Chickens

4H is a national association designed to give kids hands-on experience in raising and training animals. The organization supports many different types of farm animals, including chickens, and encourages kids to exhibit their animals at the end of the year for grading and awards. Certain guidelines must be followed to raise chickens suitable for 4H competitions.

Things You'll Need

  • Shed/Coop
  • Fenced area
  • Chicken nesting boxes
  • Straw/Shavings
  • Water dishes
  • Water
  • Heater
  • Fan
  • Sand
  • Chicken feed
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Instructions

    • 1

      Confirm that you have the right basic setup for chickens before you start. Chickens need a coop--a barn or a shed--for roosting, protection at night and in harsh weather. They should also have a fenced yard for roaming. Lack of fencing will leave chickens vulnerable to predators like coyotes and foxes. Lack of outdoor time will result in unhealthy chickens, who might not be adequate for showing.

    • 2

      Measure your chicken coop and yard to determine how many chickens you can keep. Allot 2 to 3 square feet to each chicken in the coop, and at least that much outside in the yard. Crowding causes infectious disease in chickens, and could damage your chances at any competition.

    • 3

      Equip the coop with nesting boxes; this is where your chickens will sleep, roost and build nests. Put hay, straw or shavings in the boxes for them to burrow into, and place a generous layer of the same material over the floor of the coop.

    • 4

      Put both a heater and fan in the coop, and keep doors and windows open during the day in the summertime. Chickens do best with lots of air circulation and temperatures between 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This is especially important in Texas, where the summers are very hot and winters can be harsh.

    • 5

      Put dishes for water in both the coop and yard. Refresh the water consistently to keep your chickens healthy and happy. Since chickens are constantly scratching and bathing in the dirt, you may need to change the water once a day.

    • 6

      Feed chickens once or twice a day, depending on your preference, by throwing chicken feed (available in feed and poultry stores) into the yard by the handful. Allow chickens to roam in the garden to eat bugs and snails. Provide piles of sand in the yard for their dust baths.

    • 7

      Clean the enclosure once a week. Remove any waste, dirtied hay or shavings, and uneaten food. Refresh the water. This will keep your chickens healthier and the enclosure cleaner and less odorous.