Outside the Coop-

4-H Poultry Activities

Pam Watson March 2016

WSU Lewis County Extension 4-H Educator

pwatson@wsu.edu lewis.wsu.edu1

STEAM not STEM

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• Science

• Technology

•Engineering

• Art Art Art Art

•Math

Do we already include STEAM?

Currently

• Talk about anatomy

• Discuss breeds

• The basics of what an

animal needs

– Water

– Food/feed

– Shelter

– Containment/security

– Health

In the future

• Comparisons to other

animals

• Include more comparison

terms with +/-

• What do our birds need vs.

what do we need

– What would happen if …

– Can we make it on our own

– What makes us feel safe

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If you use it they will too!

• Continuing to teach youth the same way does

not change the way they think

• 4-H has fantastic hands on learning

• If you use the terms that you want kids to

think about

– They will use them

– They will start thinking in them

– They will share these ideas

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Let’s build a coop using STEAM

• How many birds might you have?

• What kind of birds?

• How/where will you provide the basics?

• What is the purpose or why do you want

birds?

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Let’s hypothesize

• What would happen if …

– I went from bantams to large fowl

– I went from land fowl to water fowl

– My coop is pink instead of red

– I got layers instead of meat birds

– I got Red Rangers instead of Cornish X

Now let’s draw/engineer our coop

What do you need?

vs.

What do you want?

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What other STEAM terms can we

use in our planning?

Math

• Measuring

• Angle

• Depth

• Width

• Square footage

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Science or

Technology • Air flow/ circulation

• Electricity

• Optimal roost

height

• Drafting programs

What other poultry projects can

we design?

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What can we compare between

kids and poultry?

• Exercise

• Nutrition/feed

• Safety

• Water intake

• Health

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Example Food/Feed• Correct protein for age

– Calories taken in

• Correct calcium for age

– Other vitamins or minerals

• Height of feeder for age

– Manner of eating

• Precautions-preparations

• Cool dry storage

– Safe food storage

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Outside Coop Containment

• Yard

• Free range

• Tractor

• Fences or barriers help keep out predators or pests

What makes some

stronger or better

than others?

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Biosecurity

• Cleaning /sanitizing

• Farm system

– Closed = no return/no new stock

– Open = travel in/out, new blood– This includes taking birds to workshops

– Taking birds to shows

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Managing Population

• Culls

• Local auctions

• Direct marketing

• Home use

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What Other Poultry Activities are in

Your Future?

• BIRDS Bingo

• Make an Incubator

– Embryology

• Insect control

• Grazing diversity

• Poultry Jeopardy

• Potential business/enterprises

• Chicken poop, the gardener’s friend

• National 4-H Poultry & Egg Conference15

Questions?

Pam Watson,

WSU Lewis County

Extension 4-H

Educator

pwatson@wsu.edu

lewis.wsu.edu/4h

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