*”Ethical questions are raised when unwanted animals are brought into
this*
* world, diminishing our sense of the inherent value of the living
creature. The*
* positive lesson that can come from observing and respecting normal
parenting*
* of adult birds for their future offspring is lost. In these school
hatching*
* projects, any sense of parent birds carefully preparing nests and
tending*
* their future babies is lost because the eggs are hatched in a piece of*
* equipment. The surviving chicks are usually doomed to a life expectancy
of a*
* few days spent miserably. Young birds need nurturing and rest. They are*
* difficult to feed in the classroom and can suffer starvation and
dehydration*
* that is not even noticed.” *
– Dr. F. Barbara Orlans, Senior Research Fellow, Kennedy Institute of
Ethics,
Georgetown University, Washington, DC

On April 18, United Poultry Concerns received an email exchange between the
mother of a young child and his teacher in Maryland. Learning the teacher is
hatching “intentionally orphaned babies” in her son’s classroom, she
implored
the teacher and the principal:

*”As a mother myself, I feel pain for these chicks and their mothers who
are*
* separated to become an experiment for school children. I would encourage
you*
* not to hatch chicks and instead have a conversation with the children
about*
* why it is important for animals to be treated with kindness and respect
for*
* their families.”*

The teacher responded dismissively about teachers “hosting” the motherless
chicks in these projects:

*”Thank you for reaching out. I understand your concerns. To answer some
of*
* your questions, please view the program website: RentACoop
<https://www.rentacoop.com/about/>. I’ve shared some*
* of your questions, and I’ve had positive discussions with teachers who
have*
* hosted chicks in their classroom in years past. I hope this information
helps.”*

______________

*What Can I Do?*

If you have a child or know of children whose teacher, school or school
district
is planning to hatch chicks, ducklings or other birds in mechanical
incubators,
please object. These projects abuse animals and take advantage of children’s
ignorance. Please read and share our information with educators and parents.
Schools are more sensitive to parental criticisms than to other sources of
criticism. Parent-teacher meetings provide opportunities to publicize this
issue
and enlist parental support to end these projects in favor of humane
education.

For more information please visit:
Hatching Good Lessons: Alternatives To School Hatching Projects
<http://www.upc-online.org/hatching/alternatives.html>

*A Home for Henny*

Melanie is a 3rd grader who is excited about a chick hatching project in her
class at school. The project seemed like a good idea at first, but
unexpected
problems arise and the whole class learns a lesson in compassion. When the
project is over, Melanie adopts one of the chicks she names Henny. A Home
for
Henny explores the challenges and concerns with school hatching projects
while
evoking the lively personality of Henny and her loving relationship with
Melanie. Grades K-4

Do you have elementary school-age children at home? Nieces or Nephews?
Friends
with children? *A Home for Henny* is the perfect story to teach children
compassion for chickens and why chick-hatching programs don’t belong in our
schools. Donate a copy (or several!) to your local elementary schools and
the
children’s section of your local libraries.

A Home for Henny
$6.99 – Single copy
$15.00 – Five copies

Order online:
A Home for Henny
<http://www.upc-online.org/merchandise/humane_child.html#home_for_henny>

*Learn more: *
Rent-a-Chicken Business
<http://www.upc-online.org/backyard/170517_rent-a-chicken_business_and_backyard_chickens.html>

—
United Poultry Concerns is a nonprofit organization that promotes
the compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl.
Don’t just switch from beef to chicken. Go Vegan.
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View this article online
<http://upc-online.org/hatching/180419_classroom_chick-hatching_projects_teach_bad_lessons.html