Someone just called me asking if I could take some chicks she has as a result of a school project. There are 3 chicks, one week old, unknown breeds. One is black, one is black and gold, and one is all gold. If you’d like to take these little birds off her hands, contact Heidi Hall at (614) 570-8633 or hhall@columbus.rr.com .
This isn’t the first such call I’ve received. I’m happy to help place little birds. The more small, backyard flocks, the better! But it kind of irks me that schools are encouraging children to hatch baby chickens that they have no way to care for, nor any intention of caring for. It seems irresponsible.
I think they’re also missing a great educational opportunity. The lesson shouldn’t end once the chicks are out of the shell. Children could learn nurturing and responsibility by caring for the birds. When the Girl Scouts first started out in Scotland (I think they called them Girl Guides back then), the girls raised money by selling eggs from hens they raised themselves. And toward the end of the year, the older children, say middle- or high-schoolers, could slaughter the birds for the cafeteria to cook up. It illustrates the full circle of life, teaches the kids useful, recession-proof skills they could use to feed themselves and/or earn a living, and teaches the importance of thinking ahead. Hatching is just the beginning.
