4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[jomaxsmith]

My youngest son (aged 5) bought home a letter today checking if he has any allergies as his class are going to be hatching some eggs soon.

 

I chatted to his teacher about it and said I had no concerns about allergies but what was she planning to do with the chicks after the experiment ends. She said that the teaching assistant was thinking of taking them home, if her two terriers turned out to be ok with hens

 

Then she said meaningfully that since a lot of people seemed to have hens she could probably re-home them easily (er, not with me thanks!). I then pointed out that she is likely to get more boys than girls which made her look a bit confused and asked me at what point she would be able to tell. When they start to crow, I said!

 

I also mentioned the mess they make as they grow (they are keeping them for a few weeks) and the likely mortality rate.

 

I don't want to make too much fuss (or somehow become responsible for the project!) but I do feel the teacher isn't looking beyond having some cute flufflies tottering about and when live animals are concerned that's really not acceptable.

 

Jo

[Redwing]

I would make a bit of a fuss at least by writing to the head

 

its not a great time of year to be hatching chicks and when they go home they will still need to be kept indoors (as you probably know) so a novice rehomer is going to need to do some more research on this

[Egluntyne]

Has she sorted out a brooder etc.

 

You are right to be concerned. I agree that writing to the Head is a good idea.

 

Apart from anything else, it is a daft time of year to be considering hatching chicks.

[jomaxsmith]

She hasn't even sourced a heat lamp. Youngest came home from school asking if we have one and if not, why don't our hens need one?!

 

I'm in a bit of a tricky position as in that it's a small school with a core group of parents that actually bother to get involved (I'm one of them) and I'm loathe to be too negative about things that could, in theory, be a good learning experience.

 

Perhaps I'll have a look for good resources on hatching and print some off for her.

 

Thanks

 

Jo

[sjp]

are they using this place http://www.livingeggs.co.uk/ they supply all thats needed then they take the chicks back if homes can't be found

Edited September 18, 2009 by Guest

[jomaxsmith]

They're getting the fertilised eggs from a local school farm. We do have a very good poultry centre locally but they won't be able to help much if they didn't provide the eggs

 

Thanks for the link, I'll have a look at that

 

Jo

[fluffyknickers]

couldnt get that link to work - try this

 

http://www.livingeggs.co.uk/newsite/

[CluckyBucks]

Ofcourse you have a right to be concerned, its just a shame that more parents arent as concerned but they probably dont keep/understand chickens.

 

Imagine the kids faces if thier favourite fluffy chick dies, thats not going to go down well at a school.

 

I think that you should write a letter to the head, your doing the right thing

 

xx xx

[debbier]

She said that the teaching assistant was thinking of taking them home, if her two terriers turned out to be ok with hens

 

That just about sums it up, then (speaking as a terrier owner!). They definitely haven't thought it through. Great idea, but needs a lot more thought. The whole planning, thoughts and issues would in themselves make a worthwhile learning experience, but maybe not for children who are quite so young?

 

 

As an aside, did anyone hear the story of the lamb at the primary school

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_8250000/newsid_8250300/8250365.stm

 

The media were getting involved: several newspapers had varying different angles on it.

 

The Times writer (who is a vegetarian) had a far more grounded view than some of the other "Save the Lamb" stances.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/article6837108.ece

 

quote: "But what a masterclass in realism that teacher has given those children and their parents! What a valuable dose of truth. We can hardly claim it wasn’t needed. Children are becoming so remote from the food production process that a recent survey showed many think that cows lay eggs and bacon comes from sheep. One in ten eight-year-olds has no idea that pork chops come from pigs."

[Egluntyne]

There is a whole thread about the lamb in the Nesting Box

 

**Here**

[jomaxsmith]

Thanks for all your input.

 

I have spoken to a friend of mine who has a smallholding and she would be willing to take the girls if homes aren't found and although less keen on having the boys she would take them and make use of them. So that's one side of it I don't need to worry about.

 

I had a look at the Living Eggs site and it looks fantastic but I noticed that they charge £200 for the service and if the school has that kind of money spare I'd rather they spent it on a laptop or some books!

 

Jo

[Griffin]

Rearing chicks at this time of year is an expensive business because they'll need heat for longer. If I hatched any now then I'd be keeping them in my garage until at least February next year. My heating bill is expensive enough over the winter without having to pay for heat and light out there too

[Mayo]

Hi jomaxsmith,

 

Make a fuss with whoever is important, about the terrible irresponsibility. And it's hardly likely to be a good learning experience if the whole exercise turns out to be an unmitigated disaster, which it just might.

 

Feel sorry for you : just glad the teacher wasn't involved in my kids' education !!

 

M.

[sjp]

appologies for the link thats what happens when I don't check them after I've posted them

I've fixed the link

[jomaxsmith]

Feel sorry for you : just glad the teacher wasn't involved in my kids' education

 

She's generally ok, I just don't think she's put much thought into this - probably got offered some eggs and thought it would be a lovely thing to do. That's partly why I hate to put a downer on it

 

Jo

[smokiechicken1969]

What an interesing post.

 

Do you know why the teacher wants to hatch the eggs?

 

there was an article in the paper about a school that was hand rearing a lamb and then the headmistress was going to send it to slaughter and raffle the meat. some of the children where emotionally distressed by this.

 

maybe if the chicks are to be kept as permanent pets at the school they could adopt a couple of battery hens instead. the children could take a sense of pride rearing the chickens back to permanent health.

 

although then id be worried some of the children would be too shocked by the state of a battery hen even if it did show them where the majority eggs come from, so i take back that idea!!!

 

taking care of animals is an important lesson and a positive experience for children but it seems churlish to hatch eggs just for the sake of it, and a previous and very valid point, what happens to the boy chicks that cant be rehomed. i think we all know the answer to that.

 

my oh has just said an interesting point (now there's a first ) 'animals are breed and disposed of all the time, does it really matter over a few more chickens'

 

i would have to say yes, it does.

 

emotive post though and lots of debate. well done!

[Lavenders_Blue]

I hope you do manage to come to a solution with the teacher about this project as I think it would be excellent for the kids (although I agree it's not the best time of year to be hatching chicks).

 

I remember hatching eggs in my class at primary school (about 22 years or so ago now... ) and I remember it being a really fun yet educational experience. I also remember crying when I got home from school and realised it was my day to turn the eggs and I had forgotten!! I was convinced they would all die!! In fact I still have the folder of work that accompanied the project squirrelled away at home with pictures, diagrams and info etc.

[jomaxsmith]

After a lot of soul searching (mainly because I always seem to be the parent who objects to things - you should have heard me after my then 6 year old came home asking about gas chambers after an assembly on the Holocaust ) I have emailed the Head and asked her to pass the message on to the teacher (i.e. I expect the Head to read it, although I've worded it as info for the teacher).

 

I've flagged up my concerns about the hatching process in terms of the mess and care of the newborns and also about the lack of a plan for the resulting birds. I've also said about the need to be sure of the cleanliness and parentage of the eggs in the wake of e.coli being in the press so much recently (I got this from the Living Eggs people - not sure how much that is part of their sales pitch though)

 

I've said my friend would be able to rehome them if necessary.

 

I also put in a bit about Living Eggs (it's based not that far from here) and their comprehensive service.

 

So hopefully, having said my piece I can feel more at ease with myself. I really hate having an inner busybody - it nags at me until I do things I'm not always comfortable with

 

Thanks for all the advice

 

Jo

[Chucky Mama]

ooh I am one of those parents who speaks up too so I know exactly how you feel. It is so difficult to walk away when this sort of thing happens. I think that your approach has been spot on. Well done you It is refreshing that the school is thinking of doing something like this. Our old primary school wouldn't allow frogspawn in the classroom for Health & Safety reasons . Having said that though they do have to do it sensibly and look at the bigger picture.

[Mayo]

Quote : She's generally ok, I just don't think she's put much thought into this

 

Encouraging kids to hatch anything without Very careful consideration of the consequences can only lead to problems.

Any connection with the fact that we have one of the highest proportions of teenage pregnancies ?? !!

Sorry - way off topic now !!

 

 

Quote : although then id be worried some of the children would be too shocked by the state of a battery hen even if it did show them where the majority eggs come from, so i take back that idea!!!

 

Most kids are Way more resilient than we imagine, and being shocked by the first sight of a battery hen won't traumatise them for life.

 

 

My Mother was a vet, so I was brought up with animals in pain; badly neglected; dead and dying. Really think that it taught me respect for all life : to cherish all living things and the time we are lucky enough to spend with them.

 

Right. Enough pontificating from me for one night ; off to cook something tasty and chill.

 

Stay cool, guys.

 

M.

Edited September 18, 2009 by Guest

[sjp]

What an interesing post.

 

Do you know why the teacher wants to hatch the eggs?

 

 

there's been a lot of schools doing it this year I did some work at one in may were the reception class had some from living eggs (thats how I heard about them) the teacher arrange it but the class room assistant was incharge of it but she hadn't been given all the info pack just the care bit she'd hardly got a clue

i supose this teachers been on a course were some one else as done the same thing thourght it was a good idea so copied it but I'm an ald sinic

[Janty]

I would love to hatch chicks next Spring in school but it has been firmly poo-pooed.

 

I was going to hatch some quail eggs...I could cope with any offspring that emerged and although I have never hatched before, I have enough experience to know what I'm doing with the rearing, etc. and research wouldn't be a problem...I have you lot for starters!

 

Apparently there's disease and allergies and disease and more disease.

 

 

We have decided to hatch some at home and enjoy the experience selfishly.

[smokiechicken1969]

well, it they go ahead then maybe theres the opportunity for a junior omlet forum for the children to log on to for advice.

 

you could call it the mini eggs? (im always thinking about chocolate )

 

ahem.

[Olly]

That's a real shame, because it can be done very well and the children learn a lot from it. My friend is a primary school teacher and has done this twice - in the summer term. She did it through an organisation that supply all the kit including heat lamp etc, and collect them after two weeks. I'm not sure if it was the one posted above, but something similar. She checked very carefully what would happen to them afterwards, and was assured that they will live out their natural lives on a farm. I was a bit sceptical, but she went to some lengths to get the detail!

 

I don't know what breed they use, but I believe it's an auto-sexing one, so you can tell boys from girls as soon as they are hatched. She plans to do it again next year, because the children really enjoy it and they use it as a focus for all sorts of lessons.

 

Well done for speaking up Jo, hope you get some answers to the questions and at least make the Head (and the teacher) think this one through a bit more.

[fluffyknickers]

I spoke to the head teacher at my son's infant school about the egg hatching places that supply it all and then take them away - they are very interested.

 

I just have th find out all the info and give it to her then she will decide. I said I would be happy to be involved.

 

So why not do the same? Say you think its a great idea but why not take the stress out and have a company come and provide it all and set it up - then give them some print outs from the site and a cost breakdown etc.

 

Michelle