- Raise 5 chicks from 2 days old until approximately 4 months old (laying hen breeds).
- Participate in training workshops to learn about chick care, husbandry, general health, housing, handling, and showmanship skills.
- Show your chickens with other program participants in the final WNC 4-H Pullet Project Show.
*Please Click Here to read the WNC 4-H Pullet Project’s rules and expectations for participants.*
Participants will need to obtain equipment for raising their chicks by the beginning of April. The startup equipment includes starter chick feed, chick size feeder and waterer, heat lamp, shavings, and larger feeder and waterer. We will go over examples of equipment needed in the orientation workshops. Common household items may be used for some of the equipment.
Youth who have participated in the WNC 4-H Pullet Project in previous years may participate in 2025. These participants must attend the mandatory orientations, showmanship clinic, and show. Second-year participants who pay for new chicks will be able to participate in BOTH breed and showmanship. Second-year participants who do not want additional chicks can compete in showmanship only if they choose to bring a bird from last year’s program.
Participation in 3 orientation workshops, a showmanship training clinic, and the final WNC 4-H Pullet Project are required! The dates are listed below:Mandatory Program Dates
Attendance is mandatory at all of the dates listed below. A Zoom option will be provided for the Brooding, Housing, and Best Management Practices workshops in March. Youth are strongly encouraged to attend at least one of the March workshops in person.
- February 28, 2025- Final date for program registration and fee due
- March 6, 2025 (6:00 - 7:30 pm) - Brooding Workshop @ Henderson Office/zoom
- March 13, 2025 (6:00 - 7:30 pm) - Housing Workshop @ Madison Office/zoom
- March 20, 2025 (6:00 - 7:30 pm) - Best Management Practices Workshop @ Buncombe Office/zoom
- Week of April 1, 2025 - Chick Pick-up
- July 19, 2025 (9:00 am - 12:30 pm) - Poultry Showmanship Clinic, Henderson County Center
- August 15, 2025 (5:30 pm - 7:30pm) – 2025 Western 4-H Pullet Roundup Show
Additional Program Dates
- February 20, 2025 (6:00pm-7:00pm) - Program Q&A Session held on Zoom
- April 3, 2025 (6:00 - 7:00 pm) - Zoom Check-in
- April 24, 2025 (6:00 - 7:00 pm) - Zoom Check-in
- June 5, 2025 (6:00 - 7:00 pm) - Zoom Check-in
- August 7, 2025 (6:00 - 7:00 pm) - Zoom Check-in
- October 2-4, 2025 (Day/Time TBD) - Madison County Fair Poultry Show (Mandatory for Madison County participants; Everyone is welcome!)
We will hold a Q&A Zoom on Thursday, February 20th from 6-7 p.m. for anyone to ask questions about the program. If you’d like to attend that, please check the appropriate box in the Registration Form (linked below).
Registration and a $40 registration fee are required by February 28th to participate! All participants must be enrolled in 4-H Online to register. If you have not enrolled in 4-H Online before, please click here for instructions on enrolling in 4-H Online
