Your kids go to school all day long. How much of that learning is hands on though? If your kid is anything like mine, he craves learning opportunities where he can get his hands dirty, really get up close and personal with every part of it. As parents, we all want to give our kids that edge and love of learning. What we don’t want is a lot of extra work trying to come up with egg-citing ways to get them interested. Chickens are one way I get my kid learning about science and so much more. Not to mention, enjoying tasty eggs!!
Please note: This post is sponsored by Bayer and the Making Science Make Sense initiative. The love of chickens is 100% mine.
Don’t Be Chicken When It Comes To Science
I was on the fence about getting chickens in the first place. I won’t lie. My son was great at convincing me how much we needed some. I took this as an opportunity for him to learn so much everyday and earn the responsibility! Now I don’t know how I would live without my 20 precious babies!! (You don’t need that many! 2-4 is perfect for a home coop!)
According to the 2016 Bayer Back to School Survey: Parents say their top source of ideas for keeping their children interested in science are blogs and websites (49%)( so here I am trying to inspire you), and nearly a third (32%) are inspired by the science behind everyday activities(Like raising chickens and eating eggs right?!)
Reasons Why You Should Raise Chickens
They don’t need a ton of room-2-3 square feet inside the henhouse and 4-5 square feet outside.
They are pretty inexpensive to care for.
They make great friends while providing lifelong memories.
EGGS!! ALL THE EGGS!
The science related learning opportunities are endless.
The Science Behind Raising Chickens
Congrats you’re a mama-What do baby chicks need to grow?
Ages and stages! How long does it take for a chicken to lay an egg?
No, they don’t “poop” them out—Where does the egg come from?
We’re not talking easter eggs! Why are some chicken eggs different colors?
Grit, oyster shells and pellets, oh my! What do chickens eat? What should they not eat?
Which predators do you need to keep your chickens safe from?
Why food grade diatomaceous earth and the deep litter method are perfect for the coop!
Design your own coop! Don’t forget space for those nesting boxes!
What are the parts of an egg? Why is it nutritious for us to eat?
Chicken treats!! How do you grow a mealworm colony?
Can you train chickens to come when they are called?
You and your child can learn all of the above things and more about the science of chickens and so much more! The possibilities are endless.
More Ways To Encourage STEM At Home!
Turn bread baking into a delicious lesson on how yeast works!
Turn tending a vegetable garden into a lesson on backyard ecosystem!
Teach the science behind shimmery colors and why your skin loves moisturizing lotion!
Turn bath time into an experiment to learn why some things float and some don’t!
Get even more tips to encourage science at home on the Making Science Make Sense site! It’s so much fun! We all just need a little reminder in this always busy world!
(Goldie loves to sneak inside. Oops!)
What is holding you back from teaching your kids STEM based ideas beyond the classroom? What activities are you already doing to encourage science at home? Tell us in the comments!
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Bayer and the Making Science Make Sense initiative. Your experience may differ from ours. All opinions are 100% mine.
Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly says
September 27, 2016 at 7:14 amUnfortunately this NYC gal can’t raise chickens in her super small apartment! Not a good look, and I definitely think my neighbors would have an issue with it! LOL 🙂
Michelle Kay says
September 28, 2016 at 10:04 pmHAHA Tracy! Yes, NYC might be an exception for raising chickens! Maybe they might be ok if you shared the eggs? 😉
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
September 27, 2016 at 7:45 amThat’s a great idea! We live in Georgia, so we have no restrictions on animals like some in other places do. I think this would be a great addition to our lives.
Michelle Kay says
September 28, 2016 at 10:06 pmYou would love it Stacie! And I bet your kids would love it even more! Thanks for checking out the ideas!
Colleen Lanin says
September 27, 2016 at 7:53 amI would love to raise chickens. I’ve always wanted to for the eggs and because I think they’re adorable. I never thought about the science opportunities, though.
Michelle Kay says
September 28, 2016 at 10:08 pmHope you give it a try Colleen! I agree with the adorableness! I know more about chickens than I ever thought I would.
Catherine Sargent says
September 27, 2016 at 10:56 amI always thought it would be neat to raise chickens and have fresh eggs. It would be a great experience for my son. Unfortunately we live in the city and they don’t allow it.
Michelle Kay says
September 28, 2016 at 10:09 pmFresh eggs are the BEST Catherine. Sorry your city doesn’t allow it.
Brandy says
September 27, 2016 at 11:08 amThis is such a good idea! I think it would be fun to raise chickens with my kids.
Michelle Kay says
September 28, 2016 at 10:10 pmThanks Brandy! Let’s us know if you give it a try!
Meagan says
September 27, 2016 at 4:19 pmI really wish we were allowed to raise chickens. We are 5 feet within the city limits so they won’t let us.
Michelle Kay says
September 28, 2016 at 10:12 pmAww that’s too bad Meagan! I hope you have fun with science anyway!
Pam Wattenbarger says
September 27, 2016 at 6:05 pmWe raise ducks and my daughter has chickens. They really are a great learning experience. Plus it’s so rewarding when you get your first egg!
Michelle Kay says
September 28, 2016 at 10:14 pmThat is awesome Pam! Glad you are able to share that learning experience with your family! The first egg was really memorable, we had waited months!
Liz Mays says
September 27, 2016 at 7:41 pmThere are some serious perks to raising chickens! I like the idea of making everyday situations into science lessons.
Michelle Kay says
September 28, 2016 at 10:16 pmSo many perks Liz! It seems like my kids remember it more when I explain everyday things and their science. Relatable ideas help them so much!
Marcie W. says
September 27, 2016 at 7:47 pmI would love the ability to raise chickens but unfortunately that is fairly difficult given our harsh desert climate and city restrictions. I can easily see how the experience could serve as a wonderful learning opportunity.
Ann Bacciaglia says
September 27, 2016 at 9:40 pmI would love to have chickens. My kids loved to learn about Science when they were little. We were always trying an experiment.
Toni Dash says
September 28, 2016 at 1:55 amI got so excited with the eggs! lol! And of course that’s an awesome way to teach my kids about science! I love the idea of raising chickens!
briannemanz says
September 28, 2016 at 11:47 amWhat a great read! I would love to raise chickens. In fact, my kindergartner is this year in school!
mommytalkshow says
September 28, 2016 at 12:05 pmI’d love to have chickens. Companionship for our son and fresh eggs for the adults. We’ll talk about it at our next family meeting.
Chrystal | Nevermore Lane says
September 28, 2016 at 2:24 pmI loved having chickens. A lot of people just dont understand that they are actually pretty smart and enjoy human attention.
Beeb Ashcroft says
September 28, 2016 at 3:02 pmI homeschooled my children and Science was one of our favorite subjects. We lived in the country so chickens were always welcome. We hatched some from eggs, raised some from chicks we bought and even rescued some that had been born in the dead of winter. I wouldn’t change those experiences for anything. My children loved learning about and working with animals. It made the science “come alive”. It is a great learning tool.
Janell Poulette says
September 28, 2016 at 8:48 pmMy husband has been wanting to get my son chickens for a long time and I have been hesitant. I think I am going to rethink my decision and stop being a chicken! There is a lot to be learned here than I thought.
Tracey says
October 2, 2016 at 5:26 pmThis is so cool! Our neighbour actually has chickens and I see them roaming around their yard from time to time. Not sure if I could raise my own, but its a cool concept.