My GF is a pre-school teacher. She may think I am a bit odd for having chickens but says she would love to hatch some in her classroom. The school accepts kids from 1yr old to kinder garden age (half day thing). I have a few questions After the hatch would it be OK to keep them in a brooder IN the classroom..let say for about a week till they come home? What is the acceptable age of kids around poultry chicks? Any health concerns? They eat snacks and lunch in there rooms not in a cafeteria. I would hate for the board of health to shut them down because peeps in the classroom. myself i don't see a problem with hatching them...its keeping them there after the hatch that may be a problem.
At first I thought you said your GP (Great Pyrenees) was teaching a classroom. I must have gotten mixed up because of the white dog in your avatar? Back on topic, I know what you are saying about having the brooder in the classroom with little kids. That will all depend how long they keep the brooder in the classroom. Chicks tend to be dusty and kids tend to have weak immune systems. As long as the teachers make sure each kid washes his/her hands after coming into contact with any chicks and the chicks are not kept in the class room too long, I think they would be okay.
you need to check with the administration, many of hte public schools around me no longer permit any animals in the classroom.
Personally, I wouldn't allow any of the kids to hold the chicks, but I'm really funny about that sort of thing. My youngest goes to a private preschool, and they have requested that we hatch chicks at the school. I think it'll be a lot of fun, though I admit it'll be tough to be so hands off. After they hatch, I thought I'd keep them in the classroom for a week or so, in a glass tank (with mesh lid) so the kids can watch them run around. I also plan to hatch in my 1st grader's classroom. I'm assuming the teacher will take care of all the permissions, but I don't expect trouble- the kindergarten does frequent hatches.
