AJuff Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 My daugter's school hatched eight chicks last week and the children are all so excited. Five are hens and three cockerels. A letter came home with DD looking for homes for the chicks. It suggests keeping them in a shed or garage for another few weeks before putting them out. It also seems to suggest they are sending home one chick rather than in twos or threes!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 no offence but I'm disgusted, that's so irresponsible of the school and how do they expect to rehome cockerels! I've just spotted this on my local freecycle as well... Wanted Incubator Message List Reply | Forward Message #17197 of 17222 < Prev | Next > I would like to hatch some eggs as a school project so I wondered if anyne has an incubator they no longer have a use for please? Any type will do as long as it works! Thank you why do schools encourage this, it's not right!!!?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I think its really stupid aswell. We're planning to have chicks at school (I'm in Lower Sixth) and I was the one who suggested it. The head of Biology said we could and that we'd drown the chicks when they hatch I've planned it all out and written a Hatching Guide, and I've already found homes for birds in and out of school, so hopefully in the summer we can hatch some Cream Legbars. At the moment we're costing everything up and getting everything ready Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I think its really stupid aswell. We're planning to have chicks at school (I'm in Lower Sixth) and I was the one who suggested it. The head of Biology said we could and that we'd drown the chicks when they hatch I've planned it all out and written a Hatching Guide, and I've already found homes for birds in and out of school, so hopefully in the summer we can hatch some Cream Legbars. At the moment we're costing everything up and getting everything ready well done you!!!! I'm disgusted at your teacher though, such a flippant way to treat a living creature! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I think its really stupid aswell. We're planning to have chicks at school (I'm in Lower Sixth) and I was the one who suggested it. The head of Biology said we could and that we'd drown the chicks when they hatch I've planned it all out and written a Hatching Guide, and I've already found homes for birds in and out of school, so hopefully in the summer we can hatch some Cream Legbars. At the moment we're costing everything up and getting everything ready well done you!!!! I'm disgusted at your teacher though, such a flippant way to treat a living creature! Thats what I said to him, it's pointless hatching chicks and doing all the preparation for it and drowning them at a few hours old. Apparently developing chicks are really easy to mess with, and you can take fast dividing cells from one body part and put it on another, so they could have feet on the ends of their wings like bats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 not sure I want to know how you know that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 You see I really have a problem with this school hatching thing, I know there are companies that hire out incubators and eggs and then come and take the chicks at the end. Yes I know it's fascinating for the children and yes, chicks are THE cutest things, I've done two hatchings and it really was one of the best things we have EVER done. But NONE of the schools ever seem able to deal with the chickens at the end. At least with Legbars you can sex them as they hatch and I appreciate that at least lwescott has done a lot of planning and preparation, but every hatch I've done has had at least 50% boys and I've struggled to find homes for the boys. As far as I'm concerned if the school is hatching the chicks then why don't they then raise the hens as layers (to show continuity to the children) and keep the boys as dinners. That way they are not just showing the children the cute fluffy chicks and then teaching them that some nice man from the company will come and take away the results for you so you don't have to see it, they will be teaching them that raising an animal is a responsibility for the duration of it's life. They will be showing them the food chain that involves chickens from start to finish. There's all these car stickers saying "a dog is for life not just for Christmas" and we try to teach children that they can't just have a puppy or a kitten that they will grow into adult animals and not be as cute but that they are a lifelong responsibility but yet we're happy for schools to hatch out chicks then get rid of the results. Sorry. I know there was another thread that said the company took the chicks away to a happy life among the orchards but I just don't buy it. And anyway, I think it gives ENTIRELY the wrong message to children. I think it's wrong. Sorry. BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 why do schools encourage this, it's not right!!!?? I do think it depends on which school you go to so lets not tar all schools with the same brush. The centre i used to work at hatched chicks every year as we had a link with a local farm and come what may, male or female, they would expect all the chicks to be returned at 2 weeks of age and they would live a free range life back on the farm. EDIT in response to BeckyBoo. It would be good if all schools could go on to raise the chickens however school budgets and care during the holidays would be a huge issue but if a responsible link with a local farm could be created the benefits of the students witnessing a hatching far outweigh not doing it at all. The farm that provided the eggs for hatching is one which our students used to visit regularly too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Last year I took my incubator in to playgroup with my last group of meat bird eggs in. So they got the fun and I got the girls back. They wouldn't have done it if it wasn't that way around. they now have their own girls. Rescued ex free range girls. Maybe some places need lessons from places liek our playgroup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Bex, as usual you have summed it up beautifully and eloquently. I couldn't agree with you more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Just to add if the eggs have come from a nearby farm and they are taking ALL the results back to be dealt with as they see fit, either as layers or dinners then absolutely fine. But there was another thread where the school was asking around for homes for their chicks, goodness knows what they would do with any boys because as I said, as far as I can see you NEVER get a hatch with ONLY girls and we all know how hard it is to find homes for boys otherwise we'd ALL be hatching chicks. And I still don't think that the companies that hire out incubators with eggs have happy homes for their boys, I have no problem at all with the boys being eaten but cannot imagine a commercial company investing the time money or food into cockerels when they are not widely eaten by the public and therefore would be of limited commercial value. Maybe I'm too cynical..... BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Last year I took my incubator in to playgroup with my last group of meat bird eggs in. So they got the fun and I got the girls back. They wouldn't have done it if it wasn't that way around. they now have their own girls. Rescued ex free range girls. Maybe some places need lessons from places liek our playgroup. that's the way to do it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brambles Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 I am shocked at the school's lack of knowledge for caring for the birds. Next week the reception class from the school over the road are coming over to see my hens. The class teacher is teaching them about where food comes from and I've told her that I'll make sure there are eggs in the nesting box - or the girls will! If we are really lucky maybe my new pair will also be laying as they are 'combing up' nicely. The children will get a little talk about looking after hens and will also see the compost bins and the tiny sprouting veg in the cold frame next to the veg garden. They will go back to school with the eggs and, knowing the teacher, will do something lovely with them. The school itself has thriving veg beds and very healthy compost bins (I should send a bag of chicken 'offerings' back with them!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 I've been asked to raise some chicks for a school locally. Still in negotiation about timings and details and it might not happen till next year. I shall be delighted to do it. However, all chicks will come back to me afterwards and be raised for the table if male and kept as layers if female. I am going to try to persuade them to keep a couple of the hens on as a project for the older children. All up in the air at the mo, but rather exciting, not at all impersonal money orientated. In fact, I expect it will end up costing me money and time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
