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The "Chicken Egg-spert"

by Theresa Ratzlaff

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The "chicken egg-spert" has been busy visiting the first grade classrooms this year!  The first graders in Mrs. Ratzlaff's and Mrs. Steever's classrooms have learned a lot about chickens since our "chicken egg-spert," Marcia Traudt, has shared her eggs, chickens and knowledge about chickens with us.

Marcia donated eggs for our incubators so that we could have some chicks in our classrooms.  Unfortunately, the eggs never hatched.  Sensing the children's disappointment, Marcia was kind enough to bring five chicks to each classroom, complete with food and water dispensers.  The first graders had fun watching the chicks grow and change.

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Next, Marcia brought five grown hens to show the first graders.  Everyone was surprised to learn that there were so many different kinds of chickens.  Some of Marcia's chickens included the Silkies (the feathers were smooth like cat's fur), the Ameraucanas (very colorful feathers) and the Frizzles (the feathers resembled someone's bad hair day).

Finally, Marcia returned with different types of eggs including pullet eggs and a turkey egg.  She explained that eggs can be white or different shades of brown.  To our surprise, she said that the Ameraucana chickens lay green and blue eggs and are sometimes known as the Easter egg chickens!

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Thanks, Marcia!