How to Raise 4-H Chickens

Chickens are one of the most widespread domesticated fowls in the world. They can be bred easily and they are used for their meat and eggs. 4-H is a nonprofit youth organization in the United States, under the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, that engages young people in developing leadership and life skills while promoting healthy living, engineering and science. One of the popular projects of the 4-H organization is raising chickens.

Things You'll Need

  • Chicken coop
  • Chicken food
  • Feeders
  • Water bowls
  • Fans
  • Heaters
  • Files and documents
  • Financial records
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Instructions

    • 1

      Prepare a place for raising the chickens in your backyard. Equip the area with tools necessary for poultry farming, such as feeders, coops and water bowls. Also add devices for cooling, warming and lighting. Ask the help of 4-H organization members if you have trouble setting up your area.

    • 2

      Keep track of the whole process from the beginning. Make records, take pictures and document the process for future use. This will be used as references by the 4-H organization.

    • 3

      Record the finances for your 4-H chicken raising project. This will help you manage the project and have full control over it. Your records will also help similar future projects of the organization.

    • 4

      Provide regular veterinary care for the chickens and check them for diseases and parasite as often as possible.

    • 5

      Keep precise records of the number of sold, slaughtered, sick and healthy chickens. This should include the money earned and spent on the raised chickens as well.

    • 6

      Keep track of the prizes won for your chickens or poultry, if there are any. These and all the other records you and your team made will make up a complete documentation of the 4-H chicken raising project. Your documentation will help draw conclusions and tips on poultry raising that you can share with other organizations as well.