Should I take a chicken to school?

[janeyo]

No1 son is having a bring your pet to school, morning on wednesday.

I was wondering whether to take one of the chickens (the friendly tame one obviously). He would have to tell them how we look after her and care for her.

I don't want to stress her so she drops down dead in shock (the chicken not the teacher lol), but it's got to make a change from dogs cats and hamsters!

And yes they are not technically pets but we think of them as pets that earn their keep by giving us eggs.

What do you guys think? Good idea or Bad idea?

[sheena]

I think it is a great idea, but then I'm not exactly conventional like most parent's and tend to do things that can be looked upon as "stupid"!

Please don't take my advice, and wait for someone who knows more about chickens than me (should be too hard, everyone knows more than me).

[janeyo]

I am a tad worried she might escape and run round the classroom squawking like a headless variety of herself!

[Glutton4...]

I was worried when I had to take four of mine to the vet. Bundled them all into a cardboard box, and they were model patients!

If the kids can be relied on to be quiet and not yell like banshees, then maybe, but take two, so they have company. I would worry that one may panic on her own. Perhaps keep them in a box in the car and let the kids see them there. Much safer than having to rugby tackle a chook under the desks LOL!

[RichmondHens]

I took some youngsters in to my children's school last year. Ok, so they had been hand reared and were very tame but the children loved them. When one of the cocks became a bit flappy I just picked him up and held him by the legs and took him round the children so they could stroke him but I kept hold of him so he couldn't escape. The other two just wandered round the classroom. The only downside is that they will poo everywhere so take plenty of cleaning up materials. I did put newspaper down but they moved off it pretty quickly and poo'd on the carpet! A pack of baby wipes plus a bag to put it all in worked best. Also take a pot of grain as I found the children loved feeding them by hand. It certainly won't panic your chicken if she is already tame and it won't matter if you take her on her own or with another for company. Have fun!!

[janeyo]

Right I am gonna be brave and take a chicken. Will prob only be able to catch one as only one comes and eats from my hand.

Just need to tell a) OH as he will have to help me! and b) the school in case they are only really expecting dogs cats and hamsters.....

[Suechooks]

Have you got a dog crate you could put her in? Then the kids can see her and she's not going to escape.

[janeyo]

I was going to put her in either a large carboard box like when we picked her up from the farm, or thew biggest cat carrier we have. But wasn't sure if she would like the fact that it prob smells of cat.

No dog carrier unfortunately. It's going to be hilarious watching me walk to school with my little boy, the toddlie in the buggy and a chicken in a basket! Expect to see me on youtube sometime on weds afternoon

[HayleyB]

The cat crate would be safer less likely to escape, I hope you do a good rugby tackle....
Good luck

[bluemoon]

I'm the sort of mum who would have taken a chicken to school without a second thought; my kids are the sort of kids who would have been embarrassed and appalled.

[janeyo]

I have just asked the teacher and she says she can't see a problem with a chicken coming as last year they had a HORSE! lol
But she gonna check so I dont catch her, crate her walk her to shcool for them to say ' oh no poultry allowed'

[davefromthechipie]

along time ago i took a duck in to school for show and tell ... But Less said about that the better

[janeyo]

ooooh now I am all agog about Davefromthechipie's duck!

[sheena]

I'm the sort of mum who would have taken a chicken to school without a second thought; my kids are the sort of kids who would have been embarrassed and appalled.

I see where you're coming from here bluemoon, I'm the same too.. and my boy's won't even bring their friend's home cos they think i'm barking mad anyway! lol

[hmk]

I've taken chickens in to school before, and as another embarrassing mum, I didn't even think about not doing it...
It was really for the youngests topic, but the other two insisted I visit them too!

I took two in a cat carrier, and got them out one at a time. The children sat in a circle, I held on to the chook, we had a chat about what they eat etc, any that wanted to stroke them could and then I took them home. Our motley crew lay various coloured eggs, so I took some of them in to show. Most teachers assumed the blue egg was a ducks egg.
Taking grain in is a good idea. I'm sure there'll be another visit, so I'll remember that.

HMK