Laying Hens
Laying Hens S.A.E. Project
By: David Lindsay and Madison Lane - Placement S.A.E.
2013-2014 School Year
David was a freshman for the 2013-2014 school year. He joined the Alcona FFA Chapter in the fall of 2013 and has been one of our most active members since joining. David started his S.A.E. project in November of 2013 and completed it upon graduating in 2017.
Madison was a freshman for the 2013-2014 school year. She joined the Alcona FFA Chapter in the fall of 2013. As well as being active in the FFA Madison also participated in sports throughout the school year.
Pictured above: Madison feeding the chicks, changing their water supply and inventorying the health of each chick.
Project Write-up from David and Madison:
The chicks hatched on January 20-21, 2014. They were shipped from Townline Hatchery in Zeeland Michigan. Their scheduled arrival date was January 22, 2014. However, due to weather conditions they arrived one day late. One of the major concerns we had with the chicks delivery were extremely low temperatures in the negatives. Luckily the chicks were well taken care of by our local post office and all arrived healthy.
We inventoried the chicks and found thirty-one were shipped to us - while counting them they just kept popping out from behind one another. Before the chicks arrival we made sure to have a pen ready and waiting for its inhabitants. We prepared, had feed trays with chick started feed, a watering system set up and heat lamps turned on in the pen three days before the chicks arrived. We ensured the pen was set up plenty of time before the chicks arrived incase they came early and to ensure the pen was properly heated for their arrival.
Over the chicks first weekend in their new home, one of the chicks unfortunately died. Therefore, our current total is thirty. The chicks are all well and thriving. They are gaining weight like crazy and getting settled in their new home nicely.
Upon coordinating with Mrs. Read we decided it would more efficient to order chicks instead of trying to hatch eggs ourselves. I ordered twenty-five Rhode Island Red Chicks, a straight run. This means there are a mix of hens and roosters. At this time another FFA member stepped up to assist me with the care of the chicks, Maidison Lane.
We ordered two dozen certified laying hen eggs from Michigan State University arrived. The eggs arrived on November 8, 2013. On November 13, 2013 the eggs were taken home for a the long weekend by the other lead student, Sam Schopfer. I stayed in contact with Sam throughout the weekend and learned two of the eggs hatched. Unfortunately one of the chicks died. The remaining eggs never hatched.
This S.A.E. project was put into my hands at the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year. Originally Mrs. Read, AgriScience Instructor, asked another beginning biology student to be the lead student involved in our classes project of hatching and raising laying hens. I was fascinated with the project ever since the beginning and asked Mrs. Read about being added as the lead student for the project.
Before the chicks arrived David and Madison ensured their pen was properly set up and the heating lamps were turned on so the pen would be the proper temperature.
Project Expense Record
Upon arriving to the AgriScience shop each chick was individually weighed and banded.
Total Cost of Project: $115.26
