September is National Chicken Month, and there’s no better time to explore one of the most common—but often overlooked—livestock animals. Chickens are not only a source of eggs and meat but also a fun way to dive into science, food systems, animal care, and agriculture with kids.
At Agriculture Unboxed, we’re all about making ag education engaging and hands-on for kids ages 9–18. Whether you're learning at home, in a classroom, or through 4-H or FFA, here are fun ways to celebrate National Chicken Month—and great resources from our shop to support your lessons!
1. Start with the Basics: Chicken Terms and Egg Anatomy
Before jumping into breeds or coop planning, it's helpful for kids to learn basic poultry terms and understand how eggs are formed.
🧠 Try This Activity:
Crack open an egg and examine the yolk, shell, chalazae, and albumen. Identify each part and describe its function.
🔍 Helpful Resource:
Our Eggsploration: Egg Parts and Formation printable includes diagrams and easy-to-understand explanations to bring this activity to life.
2. Explore Chicken Breeds and Their Traits
Chickens come in hundreds of breeds, each with unique feather colors, egg-laying abilities, and temperaments. Learning about breeds builds animal science vocabulary and helps students understand how farmers select birds for purpose and environment.
🧠 Try This Activity:
Create a “What Breed Am I?” matching game or breed profile posters showing traits like feather color, egg color, and origin.
🔍 Helpful Resource:
Use our Chicken and Turkey Breed Identification Cards Companion Guide and Flashcard Set to make breed ID fun, visual, and engaging.
3. Create a Happy Chicken Coop Plan
What does it take to raise happy, healthy hens? Teaching kids about a chicken’s basic needs (space, food, water, protection, shelter) ties in animal welfare, design thinking, and project-based learning.
🧠 Try This Activity:
Challenge students to design a small backyard coop or enrichment area that meets the five basic needs of a chicken.
🔍 Helpful Resource:
Our Happy Chicken Plan printable walks students through using the Engineering Design Process to create their own flock housing plan.
4. Understand the Chicken Lifecycle and Poultry Terms
Learning the correct terms for chickens at different life stages helps kids build confidence in animal science vocabulary and better understand how chickens grow and develop.
🧠 Try This Activity:
Create a lifecycle chart showing each stage: egg → chick → pullet → hen or rooster. Label each stage with the correct terminology and discuss how long each phase lasts.
🔍 Helpful Resource:
The Introduction to Chickens printable covers key poultry terms and the lifecycle from egg to adult, making it an easy starting point for beginners.
5. Dive into Chick Embryology and Incubation
If you’ve ever thought about hatching eggs at home or in the classroom, National Chicken Month is the perfect time to explore this topic! Chick incubation introduces students to life science, animal development, and responsibility.
🧠 Try This Activity:
Use a 21-day incubation chart to follow the growth of a chick inside an egg. Talk about temperature, humidity, and egg rotation.
🔍 Helpful Resource:
Our Successful Chick Incubation in the Classroom or At Home guide gives step-by-step instructions and science background for beginners.
Wrap-Up
Chickens might be common, but they offer uncommon learning opportunities! National Chicken Month is a great chance to explore everything from egg science to coop design with your learners. Whether you're new to poultry or already raising a small flock, these activities will help kids connect with agriculture in meaningful and memorable ways.
👉 Ready to get started? Explore our chicken and egg education printables, flashcards, and lessons in the Agriculture Unboxed Library.