CLAY COUNTY-The Clay County Extension Office recently announced registration is open for both their 4-H Broiler Project and Chick Chain poultry programs.

After signing up for the Broiler Project, 4-Hers will receive 15-day-old chicks to raise for approximately six weeks.

Chicks arrive mid-April and the show will be held during the fair in June.

This is a program to expose youth to the management, selection, and exhibition of commercial broiler chickens and further foster knowledge of poultry science and the poultry industry.

Participants will receive 20 broiler chickens and raise them to market age.  The program will conclude at the broiler show, auction, and skill-a-thon contest at the Clay County Fair on June 5.

The Broiler Project is open to all youth, not just in Clay County, who attend 4th through 12th grade.  The cost of the program is $60 and includes the chicks and a t-shirt.

The 4-H Chick Chain is a fun and educational program for youth who attend 4th through 12th grade in Clay County.

After signing up for the Chick Chain, 4-Hers will receive 13 baby chicks to raise until they are approximately 6 months of age.

Along the way they will have the opportunity to participate in educational opportunities.

In the fall, they will then bring three hens back to the Chick Chain Show and Sale, where others can also be shown and sold.

Participants will be given four breeds to rank favorite to least favorite. The breed with the most interest is the one participants will receive. Depending on participation, the top two breeds could be selected.

In the instance a breed is not available for the chosen ship date, the next breed in line will be chosen.

Breeds will include Barred Rock, Red Star, Easter Egger, and Black Australorp.  Along with the chosen breeds, participants will also receive a mystery chick of a different breed just for fun!

Mystery chicks can be brought to the show to compete against other mystery chicks, and they can also be sold the same day.

The cost of the program is $50 and includes the chicks and a t-shirt.

For more information or questions about either poultry program, call the local Extension Office at 931-243-2311 or email Kim at [email protected].

More information, including registration forms, can also be found at Facebook.com/clayagextension.

The registration deadline for the Broiler Project is February 16 and the deadline for the Chick Chain Program is February 15.