The Chicken Project is BOK and BETTER! Registration is now open for the Jones County

4-H Chicken Project!

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What is the 2026 Coastal Plains Chicken Project?

First you pre-order chicks from us. Prior to getting your chicks, you will need to attend a brief orientation that goes over keeping chickens and specifics about the project. Depending on whether you get laying hen or broiler chicks, you will pick them up either the beginning of February or the beginning of March (more information to follow). Take your birds home and the fun begins!

Throughout the project, youth will have a project book that they need to fill out about how they are taking care of their birds. We will offer a chicken showmanship class as well, generally at the beginning of April.

The 2026 Coastal Plains Chicken Show will be on May 5th, 2026, at the Lenoir County Livestock Arena. Youth will have the opportunity to show their birds in two classes to conclude the project. If you have laying hens, you get to take your birds home and continue to care for them and wait for fresh eggs! If you have broilers, you will leave them with us at the show and they will be donated to local food banks!

Any questions about the Coastal Plains Chicken Project can be directed to the Jones-Craven-Pamlico County Livestock Agent, Kristi Welke at 229-402-2403or kristi_welke@ncsu.edu or Jones County 4-H Agent, Samantha Bennett at 252-521-6114 or sjwiggin@ncsu.edu

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Can We Choose the Type of Chicks We Receive?

Participants can either order broilers (which are meat birds) or laying hens. Birds are $5 each and participants must order a minimum of 2 birds of the same breed.

The laying hen breed selected this year is the Red Star. The laying hens will go home with the youth after the show and are theirs to keep! These hens will usually start laying fresh eggs around 6 months of age.

The broilers will be left with us after the show on May 5th. They will then go to their new homes at local food banks.

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What is Required for My Youth to Participate?

• Registration and payment need to be turned in to your county before December 5th, 2024 at Noon: 2026 Coastal Plains Project Registration Form
• Youth need to be enrolled in 4-H by registering on 4-H Online. Youth will need to register in 4-H Online in January 2024: Register with 4-H Online

Any questions about the Coastal Plains Chicken Project can be directed to the Craven-Jones-Pamlico County Livestock Agent, Kristi Welke at 229-402-2403 or kristi_welke@ncsu.edu or Jones County 4-H Agent, Samantha Bennett at 252-521-6114 or sjwiggin@ncsu.edu