Needing some ideas

[pcosmom]

Ok so I have some baby chicks and I am not opposed to getting a few more if needed. My 3rd grader wants to use the chicks for her sciece fair project and I need some ideas.

The only thing so far that I have come up with would be to mark some of them with leg bands and then seperate them into 2 groups and feed one group medicated feed and the other group unmedicated feed and let her measure them over the next few weeks to see if the type of feed affects their growth..

So is that a good idea or any other ideas?

 

[N&MSchroeder]

This is interesting. You would have to maintain two identically controlled environments to conduct your experiment. Were you thinking straight run or all pullets? This may affect the findings. You would need to document starting weights and would probably need to select chicks who were relatively uniform in size. I am not sure if you will find much of a difference between the two, unless you have an outbreak of coccidiosis. You could also monitor chick behavior. Does one group appear to be happier than another? Pecking? Wasting more feed? etc. Hmm. Have fun with this!

 

[a123andpoof]

Maybe compare a egg layer and a meater and show the diffrence in growth between them? Or show the diffrence in growth between two diffrent breeds?

 

[pcosmom]

N&MSchroeder :

This is interesting. You would have to maintain two identically controlled environments to conduct your experiment. Were you thinking straight run or all pullets? This may affect the findings. You would need to document starting weights and would probably need to select chicks who were relatively uniform in size. I am not sure if you will find much of a difference between the two, unless you have an outbreak of coccidiosis. You could also monitor chick behavior. Does one group appear to be happier than another? Pecking? Wasting more feed? etc. Hmm. Have fun with this!

Well I have 6 pullets that are about 2.5 wks old, and they are about the same size. I wasn't thinking weight I was thinking height with pictures, but weight sounds great.

I also have some straight run that are about 1.5 wks old that I could use

Of course I could also get some new chicks 3 of one type and 3 of another type and let her do weight, height and behavior of the different breeds

I didn't really think that their would be a huge difference in the outcome but its an experiment and I guess you don't always get the results you think you will...

What do you all think would be a better project 2 different breeds or the different food. She will be watching them over the next 3-4 wks that is when the project is due.. or any other ideas..​

 

[pcosmom]

oh for the environment I have a big 4wx8lx4h brooder outside that I can but in half with chicken wire to they can still see each other but not get to the food they are not suppose to have.

also do you think it would be best to start with some 1 wk old chicks or would the 3wk old chicks be ok..

 

[N&MSchroeder]

You could do two different breeds. a123andpoof suggested egg layer vs. meat. This would be okay if you and your child would be open to having them processed when they are ready. You might adjust this to measure the differences between production egg layers (RIR, sex-links, etc.) and a more decorative breed. I have found that production chicks are incredibly efficient in their use of feed. They are egg laying machines! You would see differences here. If you use the ones you already have, measure their height and compare end weight and feather development maybe. You could make this work!

 

[pcosmom]

I don't know how my DD would feel about eating the chicks she raised for a project..

The ones I have are RIR, and BR's and what ever the 6 yellow ones are the I got from TSC.

I think maybe we will get 6 more this weekend, 3 more of the RIR or BR and 3 of another type I lost my little blue/grey one and want to replace him anyways..and let her do it on the difference in size, development, temperment ect. With this I wouldn't have to seperate them and they can all stay on the same feed...

I would use the ones I already have but I really think picture wise it will be important for her to be able to show how fluffy they are at first and how quickly they can change and grow..

Do they sell little colored leg bands for chicks, that way I can mark the ones she is doing her project on..

 

[pcosmom]

another question how do you weigh a chick?