4-H Poultry Project

Poultry projects give youth the opportunity to experience raising a family flock! Learn about different poultry breeds, how to properly handle poultry, fitting and showing techniques, and more.

Objectives

Youth will:

• Learn and apply recommended principles of poultry production
• Demonstrate a knowledge of sound breeding, feeding, and management proactices
• Identify breeds, types of poultry, and employ efficient Marketing methods

4-H Poultry Curriculum

Poultry 1 – Scratching the Surface

Activities include parts identification, species and breeds, selection, exploring an egg, feather features, cooking eggs, feeding, handling, washing and showing.

Poultry 2 – Testing Your Wings

Covers budgeting, pecking order, feed tags, retail products, bone identification, carcass grading, health care and egg exploration.

Poultry 3 – Flocking Together

Plan a judging clinic, manage a flock, exploring careers, processing chickens, conducting poultry games and discuss values and ethics.

Poultry Helper’s Guide

Project helpers will find many fun and engaging group games and activities to further expand the Poultry project experience for youth.

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4-H Poultry Showmanship Digital Download

Poultry showmanship begins long before the competition. The time and effort spent by members in properly caring for their birds and training them for showmanship will be reflected on the day of the competition. The activities in the competition give members the opportunity to present their birds in their best light. In addition, members must learn to follow instructions, speak before an audience, and maintain a poised and professional manner throughout the event. This manual goes over many of the criteria judges look for when judging poultry, and how 4-H’ers can work towards putting their best feather forward!

Washington 4-H Records, Forms, and Guides

For youth members

C0780E – Poultry Record

Used to record inventory, meat bird production, breeding information, expenses, and income.

C0531 – Poultry Show Card (Pack of 25)

Used to verify identification of 4-H poultry entries. Individual claim ticket numbers are printed on each card.

For adult helpers and club leaders

PNW768 – Market Poultry Lesson Plans:  From Egg to Animal (PDF)

C0056 – Pigeon Chart

C0791 – Duck Chart

C0819 – Chicken Chart

EM080E – Poultry Leader Guide Introduction

EM081E – Poultry Leader Guide Level 1

EM082E – Poultry Leader Guide Level 2

EM083E – Poultry Leader Guide Level 3

EM084E – Poultry Leader Guide Level 4

PNW494 – Raising Ratites: Ostriches, Emus, and Rheas

Helpful Resources

Washington Specific Reference Material

Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory – Birds

Other Reference Material

From 4-H Programs

National 4-H Poultry Judging Contest Manual