Success Story2024 Chick Incubation Project



2024 Chick Incubation Project

Author: Ryan Spicer

Planning Unit: Breathitt County CES

Major Program: Agriculture & Natural Resources

Plan of Work: Develop Individuals for Leadership & Volunteer Roles

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

 The problem: Livestock and livestock products account for about half of Kentucky’s farm income.


The educational program response: Therefore, the role of livestock and livestock projects in the Kentucky 4-H curriculum is fundamentally important. Youth must understand the role of agriculture in their daily lives, and the importance of livestock and livestock products in the type, kind and quality of the foods that they eat.


The participants/target audience:To ensure this is accomplished in Breathitt County the 4-H agent partnered with 17 classroom teachers across the county and provide materials needed to complete the a chicken incubation project in all of their classrooms for approximately 500 youth. In the project youth are taught about the development of the embryo to a chick, the processes needed to incubate eggs, and then care for chicks once they have hatched. The project was designed to not only provide educational materials, but also allowed to youth to see the process take place right before their own eyes.


Other partners (if applicable)


Program impact or participant response: 100% of the youth that participated in the project identified that they now had a better understanding of chicken development and the importance of livestock production in their daily lives. The 4-H agent feels that this project was great success in the county and want to continue to grow the project to reach even more classrooms in the coming years.  






Stories by Ryan Spicer


Lunch at the Market 2019

about 4 years ago by Ryan Spicer

According to the 5-A-Day program developed and promoted by the USDA, citizens are encouraged to incr... Read More


Breathitt High School 4-H/ Life skills Club

about 4 years ago by Ryan Spicer

According to Kentucky: By the Numbers, Breathitt County in 2017 had 2,114 youth between the ages of ... Read More


Stories by Breathitt County CES


Master Cattlemen Program Creates Positive Change for East KY Farmers

about 4 years ago by Reed Graham

Beef cattle operations are the economic backbone of agriculture in Eastern Kentucky. In light of re... Read More


Breathitt County Family Gardening Program 2019

about 4 years ago by Reed Graham

According to the Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky, (CEDIK), the percentage ... Read More