What to do with a broody hen named Jim who wants to be a mama?
That was the question for Castlehill Country Day School science teacher Pamela Tinley. As part of the lifecycle science unit at Castlehill, the school incubates and hatches eggs each year.
Last year, the school kept the young chicks to raise to adulthood. Animal husbandry and economics are now an everyday part of life at the private school for children ages 2 through fifth grade at 3225 N. Craycroft Road.
One of the hens, Jim, felt the strong instinct to hatch and raise young. Jim was lovingly named by the students after the late husband of longtime Castlehill office manager Mary Smith, before it was obvious the rooster was in fact a hen.
With no rooster in sight - roosters are not allowed within city limits - Tinley brought in fertilized eggs donated by a local chicken enthusiast.
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As the children kept watch, Jim sat on the eggs patiently for 19 days. Three healthy peeps now grace the Castlehill Poultry Palace.
Castlehill students are excited to care for the chicks. First-grader Katie Moseley thinks the chickens are "very friendly and nice to pet. They are so soft."
Emma Eastburn, also in first grade, warns that you need to "watch out for the poop, especially if you are wearing new shoes."
First-grader Jason Ward says the eggs are really yummy, and that it really doesn't take a lot of work to care for the chickens. "It's kind of fun."
Each week a different Castlehill classroom is in charge of the coop. The class is responsible for the daily care of the hens and collection of eggs.
"It is really fun to see what different foods the chickens will eat," Tinley said. "As long as it is not meat - we have vegetarian hens - or tomatoes, which are poisonous to the girls, all other fruits, vegetables and grains are up for testing."
Students are recording what foods the chickens like most for a future science fair project. They have also figured out how to lessen waste after lunch by collecting edible items and feeding them to the hens.
The school will incubate and hatch another clutch in the classroom this spring.
"It will be a great compare-and-contrast for students in this hands-on learning environment," Tinley said.
First-grader Claudia Mayo thinks it will be interesting to see how the incubated chicks get along with the ones Jim hatched. She hopes they will all be friends.
Castlehill is accepting donations of $1.50 per half dozen for fresh eggs laid by the flock, to offset the cost of caring for the chickens.
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