amys garden Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 My children's primary school are planning on keeping chickens Does any one have any experience and advice what breeds mIght be suitable what homes? Do's and dont's? I'm not really excited! Honest...: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenthelibrarian Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Hi! Slightly late reply as have been away for the weekend... I work at a primary school where we keep a couple of bantams. They have an eglu house but inside a large, very secure roofed walk-in run that was built by our very lovely school caretaker. This allows the kids to go in with the chooks and they have plenty of space. The school is on the edge of town with loads of local foxes so the bantams never FR. There is a rota for chicken-keeping at weekends and in school holidays. Quite a few local parents keep eglu-chooks so there is some expertise but, to be honest, the novelty has worn off a wee bit! Lots of willing helpers to feed, not so much enthusiasm for cleaning out, needless to say... The girls came from a local keen breeder who is available for advice. One of the bantams went broody just before half term and the breeder has given us some fertile eggs for her to sit on so fingers crossed for chicks after the break. I think, with kids, you need to be very careful about foxes, potential rat-problems and aware of parental concerns about hygiene and allergies. We did a sort of poll/questionnaire to parents before we went ahead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Yes, I help a friend manage chickens at a local primary school. It works very well, but you do need to thrash out who will have them for holidays, who will be responsible for feeding, watering and egg collection during the week, and who will be doing the clearing out. I am the daft so and so who was volunteered to clear out the run every half term or so, and jet wash the Eglu, but the classes take it in turn, week by week, from Reception to Y6 to do the daily care, under adult supervision. In these days of elfnsafety, no doubt you will need a risk assessment, and parental consent forms for the children to be allowed to take part in caring for the hens. I would also suggest that you decide, before you start about what you will do with a sick chicken. I shouldn't imagine that many schools can afford a budget for vets bills these days. The main problem is people feeding them cake and crisps! I had to speak to the children at an assembly about this. We have Pekin Bantams and a Silkie at the moment, but another time, I'd go for hybrids, as this particular group of hens are relentlessly broody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amys garden Posted June 7, 2012 Author Share Posted June 7, 2012 Thanks for replying you guys I was a bit skeptical at first but the school a planning to build a large vegetable garden and The chooks will be part of that I've already said they'll need a walk in run. There is a small housing development next door to the field so we planing to get them to pay for some of the work (ahem sponsor the school) I was thinking hybrids or even a pure breed as we hatch chicks at the mo but they could run a small hen enterprise scheem for year 6 I think the head is also planning a partnership with a local school... Jenthelibrarian is it pos to see a pic of your WIR (without kids obviously) ? Thanks again for your replies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karencopas Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Hi, have just read this post we are a nursery school and have decided to keep six ducklings we hatched a few weeks ago. We are very keen to involve the parents to make it more of a community project and manageable during the weekends and holidays and I'd be very grateful for your top tips we are planning to order a cube and WIR from omlet but I have to say I'm still worried about foxes!! Any help will be gratefully received Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
