Animal Science
4-H Poultry Project
The Colorado 4-H Poultry Project teaches youth how to raise, care for, and evaluate poultry while developing responsibility, goal setting, and record-keeping skills.
Beginners learn about poultry anatomy, nutrition, feeding, disease, and producing safe, wholesome products. Intermediate members focus on bird care, management practices, exhibiting poultry, goal setting, and developing sportsmanship and public speaking. Advanced participants raise their own birds, address current industry issues, gain leadership skills, explore poultry-related careers, and build lasting friendships.
Project Overview
Project Options:
- Show Chickens
- Market & Breeding Chickens
- Market & Breeding Turkeys
- Geese
- Ducks
- Pigeons
- Game birds
Starting Out – Beginner
Designed for members 8-18 years old.
Inspiring youth to:
- Learn about poultry
- Learn how to produce a safe, wholesome product
- Identify the parts of various poultry
- Learn about nutritional requirements and different types of feed
- Practice evaluating poultry
- Learn about a chicken’s digestive system
- Identify common poultry diseases
- Learn how to keep records
- Learn how to assume responsibility
Learning More – Intermediate
Designed for members 8-18 years old.
Inspiring youth to:
- Investigate technology’s impact on poultry production
- Learn how to exhibit your animal
- Purchase, feed, and care for birds
- Learn about goal setting
- Gain knowledge of sound management practices
- Develop sportsmanship and public speaking skills
Exploring Depth – Advanced
Designed for members 8-18 years old.
Inspiring youth to:
- Raise your own birds
- Learn how to deal with current issues related to raising poultry
- Gain leadership skills by helping others learn about poultry
- Explore career opportunities in the poultry industry
- Build lifelong friendships
Official Project Materials
Materials & Curriculum
Member Resources
Find Your County
Counties play a crucial role in 4-H by providing a platform for young people to learn and grow.
Counties facilitate the delivery of 4-H programs that are of particular interest in their area and qualified, compassionate adult leaders run local clubs to support our youth 4-H members.
To find out if this project is supported locally, contact your local extension office.
Upcoming Events
Currently there are no events scheduled at this time associated to this page. Please check back for the latest events as they are scheduled.
Project Tips
- Poultry require around 2-6 square feet per bird depending on species.
- They need a pen or a shelter from the weather and from predators.
- Poultry for fairs are usually born between January 1st and April 30. Market Chickens may be born later.
- Good nutrition is critical for the success of the project. Visit with your Extension 4-H Specialist and your local feed store for feeding help.
- Clean water daily is essential for poultry.
- Parasite control is necessary to promote poultry growth and health. Visit with your veterinarian for a parasite plan.
- Egg production can be a business!
Careers
Poultry Producer
Raise and sell or manage poultry operations for breeding, show bird, and meat purposes
Food Safety
Work with producers and manufacturers to ensure poultry products safety
Diagnostic
Provide diagnostic services to test for potential diseases or illnesses
Research
Study different aspects of the industry to help improve poultry production and ensure safe products
Education
Opportunity to teach others about poultry production
Political Appointments
Support regulations to assist those involved in animal production or public health
Information
Technology
Provide critical services utilizing technological advances
Processing Plant
Owner
Provide retail meat cutting services or supply poultry products to consumers