Ducklings Going To School - Need Help With Display

[Captain Cluck]

Thank you for all the wonderful suggestions and stories of successful school visits. We only get 1/2 hour at the end of the day, so I don't know if I can do the blanket thing - we will be outdoors in the school gazebo.

My husband found me an extra wire crate that we are not using for anything else, I have a pet carrier to tote them in, a towel, and some outdoor carpet & hay to line the wire crate with to reduce the mess. I will give them some water to play in and give a little presentation about incubation and ducks in general. I only have 4 ducklings right now and don't want them too stressed.

I found some plastic eggs painted to look like chicks and got some stickers and loaded the eggs. Each child will get one to take home after the visit.

Thank you for the book suggestion... I will look into getting some duck books for the class, too (we are limited on funds, that is why I only spent about $6 for the eggs full of stickers).

I will try to post pix of the visit. My grand daughter (it's her class) and her mom are going to help me.

 

[featherfinder]

Maybe a dog crate. Like the metal ones you use to train puppies in. They have a bottom, they fold, and the are protected so the kids cant get in it.

 

[Muggsmagee]

My DD's 2nd grade class hatched our chicken eggs (we brought the chicks home after a few days) and I brought back the following week adult chickens into the class in totes. 1 Buff Orpington, 1 Lav Ameraucana, 1 Silkie, 1 Polish, 1 Light Brahma Bantam, and 1 freakaziod (silkie/polish mix). The kids held the birds, passed them around, and eventually all 6 birds were on the classroom floor "freeranging" while we talked. I brought a bag of oats and sprinkled some on the floor. The kids were so happy and excited and not one of the birds was hurt or mishandled.

My advice to you, would be to have the teacher give a "serious" talking to the kids BEFORE you bring the ducks in. Let them know that if you choose to let them hold them, that they must sit/stand in one place, take turns, be gentle, listen to you, etc, etc. You could even type something out for RULES you'd like the kids to follow.

The kids will likely remember this experience for a long time. I love hearing so many people exposing school kids to chickens and ducks! Good job!

 

[hippiehen]

Everyone's stories are so sweet! I'm getting a little teary eyed over here!

 

[pirtykitty]

A guinea pig cage would work good !!! Momma might not fit in there but the babies would . I used one to raise my ducklings two years ago.. and am using it now for the 3 chicks.