Issues or problems taking chicks to school?

[Fuzzy_Hat_Farm]

I have a friend whose daughter is in the 2nd grade and they are studying farm animals. My friend volunteers at the school and she mentioned to the teacher that I raise chickens and I have some baby chicks (will be two-weeks-old by Friday). She asked me if I could bring in the chicks for the kids to see. While I would love to do this and I think they would have a great time, I worry about a number of issues. Like what if one of these kids get sick (because of the chicks or not) and the parents blame the chicks, blah, blah, blah… Unfortunately, we live in such a litigious society I’m worried about something happening with the kids. She wants me to bring them in this Friday, so I don’t know if a ‘permission slip’ could be sent to the parents or if I should get a liability release from the school… Geez!

I just want the kids to have some fun and learn a little! What has been your experience with taking chicks to school?

 

[DaughterOfEve]

Yep, I did the school classroom visit thing. Here are the precautions I took. Disinfected the dog kennel I used to transport them. Took a big bottle of hand sanitizer with me. Gave my presentation and then let the children approach the kennel one at a time to hold a bird. Lots of warnings about bits and not to kiss them or hold them near their face. Then upon returning the bird to the cage I squirted them with the sanitizer (in their hands) to make sure each one got a dose. It all went very well. Mine were about 5 weeks old.

 

[sparkles2307]

LOL wow you guys are good, I would be more worried about someone's kid hurting or making one of my chicks sick... (people tell me that I wasnt meant to be a mom...at least I'm good with my own kids!) I would never have thought about hand sanitizer for the kids' safety. Of course, I let my kids eat things off the ground (not really, its a running joke...) since we live on a farm and all.

 

[MissJenny]

I would think that since you were asked by a staff member of the school then the responsibility lies with the school. And I'm with Sparkles2307 -- I'd be more worried about my birds getting injured or illness from the kids rather than the kids getting something from the birds -- but I'm like that.

If you go I hope everyone enjoys a safe and valuable event.

Jenny

 

[Mrs. Turbo]

we have a incubator set up in my kids classroom right now. The kids will be able to touch the chicks after they hatch, but must wash their hands when they are done. The teachers are really excited because they get to take them home a few days after they hatch. i don't see any problems taking them to school.

 

[Fuzzy_Hat_Farm]

Thanks, I have a HUGE bottle of sanitizer I keep here just for that purpose. My friend's daughters have seen and held the chicks and it's funny how very careful the kids are with them, especially when you see how the hatcheries handle them. Actually, I think I'm more worried about the parents!

I have some 6-week old chicks too. I was thinking about taking 1-2 of each so they can see how they grow up. So far I have each set of birds separate from the other age groups - brooder, juvenile coop, adult coop - so I am worried but not frantic about illness in the flock.

 

[felidaet]

I will probably be taking some chicks to my 4th grade daughters class in a couple of weeks. I definitely plan to take a bottle of hand sanitizer.

Chicks a church Sunday school is also popular. I did this last year along with our two pet bunnies. The church has an easter egg hunt, crafts, etc the day before Easter. I took chicks for this event last year. I took my heat lamp to keep them warm. I would do the same thing this year but the timing is a problem. I am getting some of my chicks the morning that the event is ocurring. I don't think I can be back to the church in time.

 

[Camelot Farms]

My DD's school threw my chicks out! Not in the trash...just called me to come get them. Some parent complained a few years ago about allergies or germs or something and they had me come get the incubator and all. It was sad

 

[sparkles2307]

Quote:
I would tend to lean more on the side of the parent there... I grew up with severe allergies to almost everything but air and water... and most ppl

Even now I am so allergic to my chickens that I can only be with them for a short time before I have an asthmatic episode or start sneezing an watering. So yes that is a valid point, but it is kind of sad that the kids couldnt see the babies growing.

 

[oilcan]

It would be a huge pain for me to bring chicks to my kids school, but I let the neighborhood kids come and visit the chicks in my basement. The rules outlined above are about what I did last time and will do again. One at a time. Clean hands before and after. (I really have no idea what disease vectors exist in either direction, but I just think that is a good practice with infants of any species.) I usually like to pick up a chick and place it in the kids hand, unless they have demonstrated to me that they can be sufficiently gentle. I really think that the greatest opportunity for injury lies in the excited moment of trying to snatch one up.

Good luck!