Classes visited the nursery daily to check in on the eggs. (Submitted/Jennifer Huddlestone)

By Alison Sandstrom

Feathered friends

‘Chicken Adventure’ big hit at East Flat school

Jun 4, 2021 | 12:00 PM

Amid a difficult year, staff at W. J. Berezowsky Public School in East Flat hatched an idea to keep students engaged.

For three weeks in May, students counted down the days until a small flock of chicks emerged from eggs in an incubator set up in the school’s library. Educational support teacher Jennifer Huddlestone brought eight eggs for the “Chicken Adventure” from her acreage. In total, four hatched.

“Right now, the kids can’t go on school trips because of COVID. It’s been very restrictive with activities. We can’t have assemblies,” she told paNOW. “So, we thought this would be a really wonderful way to kind of get the school doing a little project together.”

A fluffy baby breaks out of its egg. (Submitted/Jennifer Huddlestone)

Huddlestone said every class from kindergarten to grade eight was involved, creating crafts, learning about the bird’s life cycle, and doing other chicken related activities.

BDO Debt Solutions

Deck the Halls Without Breaking the Bank: Tips for a Budget-Friendly Holiday

17h ago

RPCN Artist

'Felt like a movie': Chris Chipak making waves in the art world

17h ago

MMA

"The Lion" roars in New Brunswick

18h ago

“I think it just boosted everyone’s spirits and gave everyone something to look forward to,” she said.

The feathered friends, who hatched over the May long weekend are still at the school, living in a heated enclosure.

“It’s kind of a little bit weird because I’ve never seen a school have a chicken in their library,” Grade 2/3 student Cienna Bighetty-Cook said. “But when they’re chirping, when you’re close to the chickens, it might be a little bit hard to concentrate.”

A newborn chick. (Submitted/Jennifer Huddlestone)

Her favourite thing she learned during the Chicken Adventure involves how baby chicks use their fluffy wings to stay warm.

“They lay down and they act like they’re pulling a blanket on themselves, so they’re pulling their feathers to keep them warm like a blanket,” she said.

The chickens, who were named through a school-wide contest, will likely stay at the school for another week, said Huddlestone. Then Nugget, Fluff, Dinner and Sunshine will head to a more permanent home – either or at her acreage or with another school employee who’s interested in taking them.

–

alison.sandstrom@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @alisandstrom